The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1933-07-17
Defeating Justice

Defeating Justice
Unless one takes a second thought
on the subject it is natural to assume
that justice was done in the case in
volving the removal-and the restor-
alton to office of Axel Solder,
Charles Swanson and H. F. Tedman
as Burleigh county commissioners.
The fact, however, is that exonera-
ton of the three accused men did
not and could not give them full
justice. The attack on them was un-
fair from the beginning and moth
ing can change that fact.
The completeness with which they
vindicated their action is shown by
the fact that Governor William
LANCER, none too friendly to them
judging by the speed with which he
ordered their removal, gave them a
clean bill and returned them to Of
flee.
But this action did not and can
not erase from the commissioners the
stigma of having been removed from
office. 1t cannot repay them for the
time and money which they were
forced to spend in clearing their good
names.
Among those who know them and
to whom all the facts are familiar,
their regulations are better and
brighter than before. This is so be-
cause the record shows that they
opposed political chicanery as prac-
ticed by a disgruntled contractor and
refused to be coerced by threats
against them. BY their actions in
this case they proved their worth in
office.
But calumny speeds on the wings
of the wind while truth finds the
going much slower. Many outside of
Burleigh county may find it diff
cult to believe that the charges
against these men were so utterly
baseless as actually proved to be the
case.
The evidence shows clearly that
the basis Of the whole custer action
was the desire Of a disgruntled bid
der on county contract to make the
commissioners do his bidding. When
they refused representations were
made to the governor, and his action
was swift and immediate.
A removal order was issued without
inquiring into the matter, the gov
ernor thereby making himself the
victim OF his own impetuosity and of
the Misrepresentation OF his alleged
friends. That he decided the mat
ter fairly, once the whole truth was
known to him, is In his favor.
For the instigators OF this case
nothing commendable can be said.
Five men lent their names to
charges which were given them to
sign, alleging that the three COM
missioners were guilty Of crime, COL
fusion and other offenses, any one of
which would shock a decent citizen
if true. They did so without per-
sonal inquiry or adequate reason, get
ting the things which they alleged
as facts, either wholly from their own
imaginations or else relying upon the
word Of parties inimical to the COM
nissioners, who were not themselves
willing to sign the charges.
Judging from the fact that each of
the five men apparently was solicited
to sign the accusations, the latter
appears to be the fact.
We have here q case in which a
disgruntled bidder, defeated in an
attempt to dictate to the county COM
mission, attempted to misuse the
power of the state to achieve selfish
ends.
The fact that lawyer profited to
the tune OF $3.50 as a result OF his
activities, not to mention any fees
he received from sources other than
the state, merely intensifies the fact
that selfish interest caused the peo-
pie Of the county to be deprived, for
a period Of two months, OF the serv-
ices Of their rightfully elected off,
Gals.
This practice misuses the avenues
of justice and serves to defeat good
government. II officials can be re-
moved and embarrassed every time
they violate the will of disgruntled
bidder. honest government has been
struck a vital blow. In its place will
come i4trenched greed, oppression of
the taxpayer and an invisible gov
eminent which neither understands
nor cares for the interests of the
people.
It Is this phase Of the matter which
deserves the attention of Burleigh
county citizens now. Those interest,"
ed In good government. justice and
fair play should express their dis
gust with this whole proceeding in
all WAYS possible