The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-06-26
AT THE STATE HOUSE.
Justice Wflkin of Illinois Visits
the Supreme Court.
Comments on Judge DOster's
Opinion, to a Reporter.
Thinks Governor Tanner Is Innocent
of the Things That Are Charged
Against Him.

Associate Justice J. Will1in, of the
supreme court Of Illinois, does not agree
with the theory of Chief Justice Doster
of the supreme court of Kansas that
the tendency of the judiciary is, in these
latter days, to arrogate unto ITSELF
powers which do not justly belong to it.
I have not seen any Indication of
any such tendency" said Judge Wilkin
TO a Journal reporter last ngiht. ION
the other hand believe that judges and
courts are today as conscientious and
reliable as they have ever been and no
man, no difference how learned or how
ignorant he may be, will charge that
the courts of this country have at any
time lacked integrity and honor of the
highest character.
Although judges and courts some
times, in constructing a law, do not
arrive at the conclusions which are de-
manded by political conditions and 9TH
er environments, yet I do not believe, in
fact 1 would be very sorry to belive,
that the honor of either is seriously
questioned by the people. It would Ger
tainly be a misfortune but I am con-
ndent that no such conditions has ex-
listed or ever Will exist in this country
Judge Wildn resides a t DanVille, Ill
Accompanied by his wife and daughter
he is en- route to California to spend the
Mr. and Mrs. John NJ Terrence. Mrs.
Terrence and Mrs Wilkin are sisters.
Judge Wilkin has occupied the bench
IN Illinois since 1873 He was first in
the circuit courts which correspond to
the district courts of Kansas Nine
years ago he was elected TO the supreme
bench and was reelected early in June
by the Republicans for another term.
There are seven justices of the supreme
court Of Illinois. The state is divided
into seven supreme court districts
from which a judge is elected, the peO-
pie Of the state at large not having the
selection of the members of the court as
in Kansas The judges of the court
select a presiding or chief justice from
among their number who occupies the
position for one year At the expiration
of one year, the judges then select the
one who is next in seniority. Asked il
the supreme court of Illinois has been
subjected TO the denUnciatiOn which has
characterized utterances of Kansas peo-
pie with reference to our supreme court
Judge Wilkin said;
NO indeed. 1 have never heard of
anything of that kind. I know but little
about the affairs Of Kansas courts, but
have noticed that, particularly in the
west. the courts have been assailed very
vigorously by the people 1 cannot I'M
derstand why this condition should pre-
vail. / do not believe that the judges
Of the most inferior courts in this coun-
try are a marketable commodity as has
been charged, even against the judges
or the higher courts. 1 myself, as a
private citizen. would refrain from ex-
pressing such opinion in the absence
Of any evidence in support of the theory.
This believe has never been produced
to support a single charge which has
been made 1t is a sort of criticism
which though not general is very dam
aging and dangerous. It should not be
INDUCED in unless there is some ground
upon which TO base the charge"
OF general conditions. Judge Wilkin
said; Following great political victor
les there is always a period of depres-
sion. This accounts in a large measure
for the present adversely, which I be-
lieve win speedily pass away when mat
ters become more settled and the cOun-
try adjusts itself to the new conditions
/ belieeV that before the next campaign
the tariff bill will have brought bene-
fits to this country; that the present ad-
min1stration Will have established con
fdence and the long promised and much
anticipated conditions of prosperity will
come to US. The record has been that
one great political victory is followed
at the end of four years by an absolute
reversal of the opinions of the people at
the ballot box This may be true agafn
In 1900. but I hardly think so. I believe
the present policy is the correct one and
believe also that 1t will be so proven
within a short time. I believe the pend
ing tariff bill when placed in operation
and business IS adjusted to its prOVis-
ions. will prove beneficial I think a
sound money and tariff policy the best
calculated to make prosperity"
ASKED MS opinion OF Governor Tan
ner Of illinois, whom the people of the
state are charged with having been
bought by the corporations and with be-
ing. by improper motives, induced to
sign the Allen bill. Judge Wilkin said:
Governor Tanner, 1 have known for
years. I have always been his warm
personal friend. I know nothing of the
truth of the charges which have been
made against him and have made no
examination of the bill about which so
much has been said My experience
with Mr. Tanner would lead me TO be-
heve that he is innocent of the charges.
I do not believe that he acted upon the
suggestion of improper motives. al
thOush many people insist that he did
So The bill in question is a local meas
ure principally applying to Chicago and
the violent fight which was made on
both sides, accounts in my opinion, in
O. large measure for the bitterness of
the charges and insinuatiOns which /
have since been made because of the !
passage of the bill and its signature by
the governor
Judge Wnkin visited and was intro |
duced to the judges of the Kansas su-
preme court yesterday afternoon.
AFRAID OF ED LITTLE