Emmons County record. [volume] (Williamsport, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1884-current, 1896-06-26
EMM0NS COUNTY RECORD,
BY d. r. STREETER.
Williamsport, North Dakota.
Pioneer journal of the County.
The Record is entered at the WIllidmsport
F0st017ce as sec0nd-class matter.

Pioneer Journal of the County.
The Record is entered at the WIllidmsporf
P0st0d7ce as sec0nd-cldSs matter.
THE LAST GUEssERs.
1t is an undoubted fact that throughout
this state there is growing feeling that
our supreme COURT is a burlesquc. Through
self-advertising In various eastern law
journals. which advertising matter has
been republished by servlle papers in this
state. an effort has been made to convince
the public that we have paragons of
learning on our supreme bench. Our
lawyers know better. They are able to
estimate at their true value the capab,l.
tiles Of our appellate Judges. We find,
however. that there IS very general feel.
Ing among lawyers that Judge Wallln is
not unworthy Of his position, although
why hs permits himself to subscribe to
some Of the decisions that are rendered is
a matter of wonder. Certainly. there
must be some log-rolling on the bench
which the general public is unaware of,
or he would hand IN a few dissenting
opinions.
Judges Oorliss and Bartholomew are
politicians first and judges afterward.
Corliss demonstrated his f0olishness soon
after his first election, when, In a theatri-
cal manner, he returned to the railroads
his pass, and Immediately gave his letter
of transmittal to the newspapers for pub
licatlon. But it is said that he rides on a
pass now, just the same. Judge Barthol.
omew has. since his last election, "had a
rod in pickle" for all those who took part
in the last Grand Forks convention, and
on that occasion committed the heinous
offense of trying to secure the nomina-
tion of Judge Lauder.
Appellate courts too frequently seem
to think that superior knowledge Of the
law Is shown, not by affirming the action
of the trial court, but by standing in an.
tagonlsm to it, aud by cri,icising its ac-
ton. 1t Is like the case of the bold, open
critic, who frequently gets credit for su-
perior knowledge by the audacIty of his
criticism, when in fact he knows little of
the subject. Wanting knowledge OF
the law, our supreme court frequently re.
verses trial court on some technical rule
which has really no relation to the merits
Of the case.
The Record thoroughly understands
that it is sort of high treason to intimate
that our supreme court does not know 1t
all. But it has made US sick at heart dur.
ing the last few weeks to see the way
that, in nearly every case that has gone to
them, Judges Templeton. Mcconnell
Rose, Lauder, Winchester and Morgan
have been reversed. 1t won't do to say
that these district judges are inferior in
legal ability to the men who are in TEN.
porary power as judges of the supreme
court. The three judges OF the supreme
bench would much better earn thelr
money If they had had term of service
on district bench. where they would acl
as trial judges 1t is their lack of expert
ence in this capacity that tends to make
them not merely the laughing stock OF
able attorneys, who dare not open their
mouths, but there is something worse
than that The lopg-suffering communi.
ties which are called upon to bear the ex.
pense of the incessant new trials of civil
cases are the real sufferers.
What is the remedy? Let the press
gather facts that lie all around them
touching the usurpation of authority BY
appellate judges, simply to "get even
with somebody, and show them up. II
this is done, and the public is enlightened
sentiment will have been created which
will send, at the proper time, to theil
homes the present occupants of the su
preme court. We have thorough ap
probation Of the importance of the high
Office of judge of the supreme court OF
this state. To that court are entrusted
the liberties Of our people. to great ex
tent. But we have supreme contemp,
for some of the individuals now occupy
ing that position. and here and now tht
Record desires to blaze the way for othel
adventurous editorial souls who are no,
afraid to state the truth. Thank heaven
IN this country, even where the right Of
trial by jury In all cases does not exist
"the cat may look at the king"