The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1874-10-22
Auh- aNuuopulist.
THE ASSOCIATE JUSTICEsHIP.

In the heat of other matters the
canvass for the Judgeships should not
be forgotten, and especially the contest
for Associate Justice. Upon one side
we have f. r. E. Cornell, and upon
the other VIM. Lochren, as candidates.
Mr.. Cornell is an attorney of consld-
cradle experience. though by no means
profound or brilliant. His especial
qualifications consist in his having been
a standing railroad attorney, and In
having made poor Attorney General.
1t is to this latter matter-his dis
charge of the duties of public Office
to which we wish to call attention.
Mr.. Cornell was for three terms
Attorney General of Minnesota,
and we record only the verdict
of all who know the manner
in which he discharged his duties when
we say that he was the most inefficient,
inattentive, worthless public officer
with which this State was ever afflicted.
Save for about thirty days during the
closing portion of Legislative sessions
he rarely visited the city even. If the
State officers desired any information
from their law adviser, they were I'M
a BILE to find him and were often COM
PEELED TO take other counsel. His neg
lect was notorious and outrageous.
Letters written him on public business
were almost invariably left unanswer-
ed. 1t was by his neglect that the
State lost $l2,500 as developed in the
investigation into Mr.. Mcllrath S
accounts. 1t was by his care
lessness-or worse-that Munich,
the defaulting State Treasurer was
wrongly indicted, the indictment being
found in the Second Judicial District
but drawn for the First. His career as
Attorney General was a positive swim
die upon the State. Weeks would
olapse without his spending a single
hour in his office, but he was devoting
the time for which the State paid, to
the transaction Of his own private bust
ness.
This is the man who now asks the
public to trust him with
a still higher and more re-
sponsible position. After shamefully
violating and neglecting one public
trust, he asks the people to give him
another, more la borious; more import
ant. One which requires the most I'M
renting attention and labor and ability
of higher order than that possessed
by lawyer who relies upon technical
tricks for whatever success he has
achieved.
These charges are not made against
Mr.. Cornell for any partisan effect, but
because they are the solemn
facts. and facts which
the people ought to know. Careless,
Enthusiastically and lacking the requi-
site ability for the position, ne should
be invited down and out at the polls.
That the public may understand the
force of these facts, the DISPATCH will
make this proposition to Mr. Cornell
and his friends. If they will secure an
affidavit from the State officers who
served while he was Attorney General
setting forth that he was faithful and
attentive to his public duties, thai he
was diligent in attendance at the CAPT
tai, that he was prompt II
his correspondence, and in every
way watchful of the public interests
that they were even generally able tc
find him in the city or get response
from him when they desired decisions
relative to their public duties-we say
# he will procure such an AFFIDAVIT
from his associates in office during hi.
term, we will place it at the head of oul
editorial columns and keep it there un
til election day. Further than this
We will pay tor the insertion OF such al
affidavit as conspicuous advertisement
in every daily paper in the State. lfyo'
do not meet this proposition, you stant
self confessed as unworthy Of publ
confidence and especially unfit for
position of trust and responsible,
such as Associate Justice of Ninneso
ia.
The limits of this article do not per
NIT us to draw a proper contrast be
tween MI. Cornell and his opponen
WIN. Lcchren. Politically, Mr.. Loeb
rem afiliatcs with the Democratic party
but when the first call to arms wa
made IN 1861, he abandone
a lucrative law practice
locked his office, marched to Fort Sne
ling and enlisted as private In tn
First Minnesota regiment. He was
holiday soldier. He went into tn
army to light and he did fight unit
.s,he cruel war was over" in 1865. !
n.3ar +o maintain the morale of IL