New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1894-10-24

sacred interests of humanity A man
who has no, higher conception of the
judicial function than to prostitute his
high place to the uses of political
mountebanks would be more dangerous
on the supreme bench than he would be
as governor of the state, for in many
possible instances the supreme court may
set aside the acts of the chief executive.
Such q man is John w. Willis, the
Populist candidate for associate Justice
of the supreme court. Finding himself
without practice in the fall of 1892,
Mr.. Willis allied himself with the
most Objectionable political element of
Ramsey county, and through it's aid Sc
cured nomination for judge of the
district court By the same means
which encompassed his nomination, he
was elected. He has served his mas
tiers well, for upon the first occasion in
which his services were demanded he
laid his honor, his integrity and his
good name upon the altar of the gang,
and rendered decision which has made
him the laughing stock of the state. It
was to the effect that a man might
come into court as a witness, swear that
he had not voted, but that he wanted
to vote, and if he had, he would have
voted for certain candidate, and have
this statement checked up as vote for
such candidate.
This decision resulted in the seating
of man who was defeated at the polls,
and Judge Willis became still more pop
ular with a certain class of voters. It
is matter Of record that Judge Will
lis decisi ons have been overruled in
the supreme court in nearly every case
where an appeal has been taken. He
is so thoroughly repudiated by the bar
of his own judicial district, that nearly
every lawyer therein is appealing to the
people of the state to avert the calamity
of his election. Judge Charles E.
Flandreau, one of the most prominent
Democrats Of the state, one of the
brightest lights of the legal profession,
and a man who was himself an honor
and an ornament to the supreme bench,
has stated upon a public platform in
the presence of candidates for state of.
fees, that no self respecting Democrat
can vote to degrade the supreme bench
by the election of John w. Willis.
Mr.. Willis subscribed to the platform
and principles of the Populist party,
which he promptly repudiated when he
found it was likely to defeat him for
the Democratic endorsement, and when
he declared that he had not expended
one dollar to any campaign fund, his
check for 500 turned up with the en-
dorsement of the Populist committee.
The legislative department. of the
state government may be corrupt and no
fatal consequences need follow. The
! executive department. may be weak,
and the state could survive it.
But once permit the judicial
department. to fall into the
hands Of political demagogues, and no
single industry in the state could pros.
per. The supreme rights of man would
at once become subservient to the de.
mands of political expediency.
There is no question of party involved
in this matter, for John w. Willis rep
resents no party, except the party Of
the first part, to wit, John w. Willis.
He repudiated his Democracy at the
behests of the Populists, and as readily
repudiated his pledges to the Populists.
It is simply matter that involves the
honor and credit of a state, and woe
betide that state if the rights Of the
people are to be lightly weighed in the
balance against the demands Of dema-
gogues, with John w. Willis as weigh
master.
In conclusion. we urge upon the vot-
ers of the state not to overlook the i'm
portance Of casting their ballots for
associate justice of the supreme court
in the right direction at the coming
election. The ballot is long one,
and voters should be careful to mark
the candidates Of their choice clear to
the last man.
AND VOTE FOR Z. w. COLLINS
FOR ASSOCIATE JUSTICE OF TIL TT.
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