The Labor enquirer., 1883-10-20
aA JUDGE oE RARE mERIr., ),

"a JUDGE OF RARE MERIT.0
There is no judicial position in the state
OF more importance to the people than
the judge of the superior court of Den
yer. "
1t is of supreme importance to the
people of this city. tits in that court
that all important litigation must be
tried in the city, unless the parties can
afford to wait at least two years for a
hearing. The docket of the district
court is so crowded that there is no hope
of reaching the trial of a new suit within
less than two years time. In a very large
proportion of cases this delay amounts
simply to denial of justice, and delay
is ruin. Hence, the Importance of the
superior court, where trial can be had
in two or three months at the farthest.
When Judge Dawson went upon the
bench of this court last spring, there
were grave doubts as to his fitness for
the duties of the place, growing out of a
lack of knowledge of his ability and
character; none exist in any quarter
now; it is conceded by all who have any
knowledge On the subject, and especially
by the members of the bar, regardless
of party, that never has there been
better judge of any court within the
city. He is laborious, careful, courteous
and decided has proved himself jurist
of highest ability, and possesses the in
dependence 10 decide causes upon their
merits, no matter who the parties may
be. In word, he is an upright, inoor.
ruptlble and just judge. What reason,
therefore, can any good citizen give for
wishing to put another in his place?
The InterO Ocean, while conceding re-
spect for Judge Dawson, prefers Mr.
Rogers, his opponent, because ."he will
make judge of rare it."(?) This is
matter of conjecture merely. Mr..
Rogers has never been tried on the
bench and his merit as judge, there
fore, cannot be established. Mr.. Rogers
is worthy man and gentlemen. |
would not detract from him in any de-
gree, but much as ! respect him, untried
as he is, l prefer to keep Judge Dawson
in the position he has proved himself so
worthy to fill. While Mr.. Rogers has
never been upon the bench, yet he is
not wholly untried in matters that
must be taken into account in consider
ing the fitness of Judge. Mr.. Rogers
has been tried as law maker, he was
chairman of the judiciary committee of
the senate in the session of 1881, and as
such was the chief legal adviser of that
body. 1t was his duty to see that the
bills passed were constitutional and 9TH
erwise proper. II is remarkable fact
that never in the history of any state
loor c,,oh hntoh rnoIa in lariolo
ton as by that body In no single in
stance has one of the acts prepared by it
stood the test when its constitutionality
has been attacked. 1t passed bill Gre
ting criminal courts, which was declared
by the supreme court,
and which cost the people hundreds of
thousands of dollars by delaying the tri-
ais Of criminals, and the clogging of the
civil docket, That same legislature, with
Mr.. Rogers as chairman of the law COM
mittee, undertook to revise the law reg
ulating the punishment Of murder, and
by inexcusable bungling, prepared a
bill by which Garvey, Packer, Jim Bush,
and many others charged with murder,
and some Of whom have been convicted
of the most diaholical murder, snap their
fingers in the face of outraged justice and
will probably 60 scott free.
That same legislature, still by the ad-
vice of Mr. Rogers, undertook to revise
the mechanics lien law, and under the
pretense of securing laboring men as
we'll as contractors so shaped the act as
to destroy practically the lien af any
but contractors, leaving the labor!ng man
to whistle for his pay after he had per-
formed the work. These and many other
blunders were perpetrated under the
guardianship of Mr., Rogers. | impute
no wrong intent to him in regard to
them, but must say, that he was either
not competent for the position he then
filled, or that he was guilty of inexcusa-
BILE negligence.
The blunders were so numerous and
50 grave as to almost amount to crime.
In theilight of this record, of which l
have given but few isolated instances,
must be excused if | doubt whether
Mr.. Rogers would make "a judge of rare
merit" the opinion of the Inter Ocean
to the contrary notwithstanding.