Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1881-04-22
Tie Municipal Judgeship.--Last Chance

rOOSt.
Tie Municipal Judgeship.--La Chanee.
To the Editor of the Globe.
The writer challenges dispute that it
has oeen shown, already, in the
GLOBE of last week, that Mr.. Burr or any
body else could not have been legally
elected last November, or that the legis-
Iature could not legalze any such
election, or that the act passed for that pur-
pose is not unconstitutional and void,
or that for these reasons the office of
municipal judge. is not now vacant or
at least, is not now open to be tilled at
the next May election. No one has dared
to contradict any ofthese assertions.
All these facts ana circumstances were
placed tirst before the chairman of the
city Democratic committee, but that COM
mittee failed to insert in their call for a
convention to nominate candidates for
city officers, the office of
The judge Of municipal court.
convention failed to nominate a
candidate for that office, although their
attention was specially called to the mat
ter.
Every innocent Democrat naturally
asks: ''Why is this," and echo only, thus
far, has answered, "Why?" Even rumor
does not give an answer, although it is
understood that she says that Demo-
cratic nomination for this Office now
would stir up great ''rumpus." If some
enterprising Republican had run last No
vcmber, and received the majority of
votes for city attorney, and
afterwards, the Democratic mem
bers of the legislature of this city had
got an act passed to legalize such election,
would there have been no nomination, no
designation of that office in the notice of
lection, and would not Mr.. Murray now
be running for that Office all the same,
because it would create 'rumpuS?" 1t
| was for fear of rumpuS that the Abe
Hcwett's of the nation allowed Hayes to
hold the Presidency without right. Was
| it for fear OF rumpus that the Demo-
cratic delegation from this city voted for
this act legalizing Mr.. Burr's pretended
election? Let Us scratinize this rumpus
business little.
| Well, then, why not nominate a can
didate for that office? "Oh,' say some,
"the Democrats nominated a candidate
against Burr last fall, and the candidate
was beaten.' To be sure; and haven't
the Democrats ever before nominated
and gone into an election and
cot ,atcn; and were these,
yer before, considered to he
4 series of such solemn, grave and bind
ing transactions that they enforced it as
a point of honor aud obligation upon the
Democratic party to stand aloof and let
all illegality of the election pass unchal-
! Il ka hat
who urge this view would contend that
if the present illegal incumbent was now
disqualified for the Office for any other
cause than his present little difficulty of
not being elected ut all, it would still be
point of honor for the Democracy to
surrender and quit claim to Inc Republi-
cans al, light, title and interest IN and to
that Office until May, 1855, or for the full
ERIN If four and haf years from No
vrmbrr last, to the sole use and benefit Of
Mr.. Burr, or in case Of his death or resig-
rion (!) then to any body else whom the
| Repuhlicans choose 10 elect or have ap-
pointed to that Office, undisturbed by any
rumpus of Democratic nominations OF
other interference.
"But," say they, ait was our city Dem
ocratic members of the legislature, who
framed, presented, urged through and
voted for the act legaizing the illegal
election of Mr.. Burr, and extending his
term of office" Yes, it may be answer
ed, but when did the Democrats request
or direct these accommodating Demo
cratic Legislators to legalize the illegal
election of Il Republican de facto office
holder! And where does that tlimsy old
instrument, the constitution, authorize
these liberal law makers to elect, in eff
feet, an officer, who, that instrument de-
clares, shall be elected by the peoples Is
this legislative freak to be justified as a
preventive of "rumpus,' and as a meas
ure simply in furtherance of carrying out
the aforesaid Democratic pledge OF
plighted faith, and sacred point of honor
Again they say, "Well, you see the
contest for that Office, if it is opened and
renewed now, will create great c0nfusio
in this election, and besides, Burr's
friends would have his name printed or
the Republican ticket anyway, whether
the Republicans nominate him or not
and then you know he might be elected
because it is said some Democrats woulC
vote for him, and even if Democratic
candidate should be elected, it is very
likely that the supreme court, as it il
no,o Organized, would decide that Burr
election is legal, and, in any event, to rul
and test the question would be very ex
pensive."
Now we can see little light on thi
rumpus business. Who is to be hurt il
this election by the dreadful confusion
spoken of Who and aohat are the Demo
Gratis, who would vote against square
and fair and worthy Democratic can
didste for that office, if regularly nomi
mated? And who is it, that carrying
such profound head on his shoulder:
that he can assume to talk about our su.
preme court, ''as it is now organized, .
therefore deciding enormously. Perhaps
when we discover these great rumpus
philosophers and soothsayers they may
answer whether they have any interest in
keeping Mr.. Burr in his dc .fdct0 position
or in avoiding confusion in this election
Perhaps they will tell us what difference
it will make to them if Democratic can.
didate for the Office of municipal Judge
should run and be defeated; or, on the
other hand, should be elected, and the su.
preme court, 'as now organized" should
enormously defeat his claim! Are they
the gentlemen who are always volun.
tarilv paving the electioneering expenses
of other candidates. And do they feal
they will be made liable for the expenses
of "testing the question" if they don't
protest against any rumpus in the SUI
preme court about this dangerous ques
toni
THE COURTS.
! Supreme Court.