The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1934-07-18

or not otherwise credited In this
newspaper and also the local news Of
spontaneous origin published herein.
All rights Of republication Of al other
matter herein are also reserved.
A New Chapter
The decision Of the supreme court
in the LANCER custer case was no sur
prise to those who were even re-
motely familiar with the law. There
never was any question as to the cor
rect decision In the case at bar,
though street gossip often surround
ed it with vague and mysterious pos
sibilities.
The plain fact Of the case Is that
the members Of the court examined
the facts, read the law carefully and
applied 1t In the instant case. There
was no other fair decision possible,
despite the dissenting voice Of Judge
Moellring, appointed to the court by
William LANCER while governor.
Nevertheless, while the courts de-
cision might have been taken for
granted. the judges who thus resisted
terrific political pressure in order to
fairly interpret and apply the law
deserve the commentator of the
people OF North Dakota. They proved
definitely that courage still exists in
high places and that pressure and
political artifice mean nothing when
balanced against the judicial oath.
The decision writes the opening Of
q new chapter in North Dakota. It
Is sincerely to be hoped that 1t will
be one Of peace and progress and
that the state will be spared further
rantings and rawlings and further ef-
forts at rabble rousing. In republic
such as this the law is the basis of
individual as well as general we'll
being and wholesale non observance
leads quickly to chaos and disaster.
From the standpoint of william
LANCER the situation Is unfortunate,
but his distresses were brought upon
himself and he has no one else to
blame. II, as some contend, he lis
tended to bad advisers, the fault lies
with him. He was fairly convicted OF
q crime against the government and,
unless the decision Of the trial court
IS reversed. he must pay the penalty.
He is entitled to appeal his case to
such courts as will accept jurisdiction
over it. It is well that he has pre-
pared to do SO, for there should be
no question left in the mind of any
one. when all the judicial processes
have been exhausted, that he was
rightly and fairly convicted. II It
Ehould be shown that he was wrong
fully convicted he Is entitled to q new
trial. Until and unless that eventu-
atty develops, however. the state Is
entitled to observance Of the law, not
only by private citizens but by all
public officials or persons pretending
or claiming to be such.
The consequences Of any failure to
do 50 are liable to be far more severe
than q breaking down In the moral
tone alone. North Dakota Is on its
good behavior. not only before the
nation but with the federal govern
ment, and any further breaches Of
the rules Of good conduct are liable
to result In drastic penalties to the
common people Of the state.
There exists, by way Of pertinent
example. the possibility that federal
relief viii be withdrawn from this
state unless the situation here quiets
down. Such action would bring thou
sands Of families to the verge Of
starvation. II not actually into its
clutches. for the counties Of the state
have been unable to care for their
poor for many months and the state
has no funds available to assist in
this work.
What North Dakota needs Is the
cooperation Of every citizen that we
NAV work out OF the difficulties
which now beset us and eventually
reach q better day. We never will
attain that situation II political and
other prejudices are permitted 70
take the place Of common sense and
the observance Of law and order.