The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-03-10
JUDGES WHO GAMBLE.



The Case Of Sachs shouIA 10 warning
70 OEegon JuSises.
Portland Ofsgontan.
Judge Sachs has escaped, but his technical
victory Is . moral defeat, and he ought I'm
stantly 10 resign his position. In face Of the
House voting for his removal and tie vote I'm
the Senate, NO judge with . particle Of self
respect would continue TO hold his petition, for
the result Of his trial II at least fatal 70 his
claims TO further public confidence and respect
The vote of the Washington House will b
Endorsed by public opinion. Il wn proved
beyond dispute that Judge Sachs was gambler,
and the question for the House 70 decide was
whether judge who CANDLES u . nt pefDon TO
administer the law: whether gambling does
not stand for conduct unbecoming the dignity
due the superior bench. The defense answered
that the judge gsmbled outside Of business
hours; that il did not interfere with his duties:
that many other persons holding public trusts
gambled; that the prosecution Of the Judge was
personal persecution. None of these answers
are valid II there are other judges who gamble
1t ID high time public example was made, and
because the net Of the law has not yet caught
all the offenders Is no reason Why the offender
It has caught should be Get free. Offended law
and justice would be helpless If Il never were
vindicated because many guilty persons escaped
The position Of . judge II one Of high dig
nifty, and most delicate and far-reaching re-
these responsibilities, but having once ~
sumed them, he has no business TO COM
plain If he is impeachea when he deliberately
and persisfently drags his ermine in the dust.
Gambling II under the ban Of the law which
judge is called upon to administer, and
gambling in its various forms rather than In
temperance il peculiarly the vice OF this Coast
hibition states are more given to the public dis
play of intemperance than the people Of this
Coast, but gambling is more universally prsctic-
ed among our people. 1t ID worse vice than In
temperance, because you can sober drunken
man and sometimes persuade him to become alb
sfemions, but 1t il very difficult to persuade
men to abandon the gambling habit, when
once acquired. Furthermore, . man enlight-
ened and intellectual enough to be ft for the
bench knows that the gambling habit sooner or
later lays the Ak to the root of sound integrity
in pecuniary matters; that It IL 1t bottom in
stinct with greed and fatal to the spirit Of honor
and honesty. 1t 10, for this reason, in all its
forms, under the ban OF the law by all the
great civilized countries of the world. Gam
bling 10 deemed contrary to sound private virtue
and public policy, and no lawyer who knows
the law needs to be told that it 10 serious pub
lie outrage for Judge to treat the law with
irreverence, and very gross wrong for judge
70 discredit It BY the contempt which he ex-
presses when he personally and habitualiy vio-
lates IT,
Political partisanship IL so strong In America
that many crimes are committed in its name
which would be without correction were II not
for the courts, and ii the general confidence in
the purity and integrity of our courts were
sensibiy shaken, we would be near revolution
or anarchy tomorrow. For this reason, every
intelligent people appreciate the vast importance
Of keeping the courts In the hands of judges
who are known to hold themselves aloot rom
all influences that may directly or indirectly
impair their mental and spiritual health: their
impartiality OF spirit and integrity Of judgment
For this reason it Ii the unwfitten Law of the
land that judge shall keep aloof from partisan
politics; shall not be Q trader in the stock
market; nor an active officer, agent or owner in
any great corporation whose conduct 10 liable to
bring it into the court ct any moment These
facts attest the public sensibiIity to the public
and private behavior OF . Judge. This
public sensibility Is not ct all the result
OF an over-strained puritanic sentiment, but
10 born OF common sense, and the knowledge Of
the greatness of the stake which the community
commits to its courts. The right Of every man,
woman and child to life, liberty, property and
comfortable existence il dependent for its in
corrupt aud unbiased vindication upon the in
flexible equity, courage and clear-eyed integrity
of the courts. 1t il not too much to say that no
right-minded judge who appreciates the grave
importance Of retaining public confidence and
who respects his Office, will consent to be gam
bier. No right-minded man can long practice
gambling without suffering certain degree of
mental and moral deterioration Of the very
qualities which are most desirable in q judge
who would retain the official confidence and
respect of his fellow II Judge Sachs is too
dull to see this he is too dull for the bench;
and If Judge Sachs does see this, but elects
to defy his knowledge and sin against his best
Light, then Judge Sachs is not At for the bench
and ought to step down and out.
There have been, and there may still be.
judges in Oregon who have been just as guilty
as Judge Sachs and IT is largely due to this fact
that our supreme bench has not always enjoyed
the fullest confidence and respect OF the people.
If there are any such judges still in Oregon,
they had best take warning by the fate of Judge
Sachs, and devote more time to judicial labor
ana less to high pIay.