The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-09-09
A TIMELY SUGGESTION.
A Democratic Organ Thinks Thurman Should
Retire from the Telephone Gases.

A Democratic Organ Thinks Thurman Should
Retire from the Telephone Gases.
New York sun.
This is the proper time TO say something
which must be said. sooner OF later, and which
had better be said by friend than by fee
Before the canvass closes in November, the
Garland Pan-elestric telephone suit will come
% again before the United States Supreme
Court at Washington. The hearing will prob
ably occur in the early part of October. This
wretchsd, hopeless. and scandAlladen case,
which all good Democrats would be glad now to
ees buried forever in the deepest hole OF obliv-
ion, will once again occupy public attention for
q brief time.
has been clearly indicated by previous decisions
of the Supreme Court No well-informed per-
son now doubts that the ultimate result will be
disaster, mortifcstisn. humiliation for those
who inaugurated 1t and who have been engaged
in L.
Judge Thurman is one of the special counsel
retained by the Department of Justice in this
case. We understand that he intends TO be
present in his professional capacity at the hear
ing In Washington next month, and that he Is
already engaged In preparing his brief.
No other course.of action could be expected
OF so honorable lawyer, so conscientious o
counsel, and SO loyal an advocate as Judge
Thurman. When he accepted a retainer from
Mr.. Garlands Department of Justice he was q
private citizen, employed In the practice OF law.
In undertaking the case he did nothing against
which there can be q word or thought or
criticism.
Nevertheless, he should be released, and the
initiative toward his release should be taken by
others, and. in q manner shaped with especial
consideration for Judge Humans delicate
sense of professional honor
Circumstances have changed since Judge
Thurman was retained in the telephone case
Although he holds no public Office yet, be
no longer he regarded as a private citizen
engaged in the practice Of the law. He Is in the
largest sense the representative of the United
Democracy of the United States OF An erica
While none of the responsibility for the Garland
telephone adventure rests upon his shoulders,
and none OF the odium Of the case can in any
event fall TO his share. bis appearance in court
as an assistant at the closing scenes OF the
scsndalous process would bs in many respects
unfortunate.
There is no occasion for it. Toe list of special
counsel il large enough without Judge Thurman,
the Dsmocraeys bororsd aud believed candidate
for VIce-president. IL there are not special
counsel enough. let the Attorney &c neral him.
self 60 into court and openly assume 81 the end
of the litigation the burden OF the responsibility
which he evadsd at the beginning There 10
scarcely anything else that he can do to better
his position before the country.
We commend these suggestions to these per-
sons ia whose power IL is 10 arrange the matter
for the best interests of the Democrats party.
1t can be done without the slightest wound 10
Judge Humans high ideal OF professional
loyalty, but he himself will never take the first
STE