The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1898-12-01
The Judiciary Scandal.

The Judiciary Scandal
In Cleveland, Ohio, legal scandal
lis in process of fermentation. The
trial of Vernon Burke on charge OF
unprofessional conduct has resulted in
bringing to light many facts which
point to corruption in the courts OF
justice of that community. The affair
certainly duplicates two Of the leading
opponents of law and order in Cleve-
land, one from the bench, the other
from the bar, and possibly even others
whose names have not yet been con J.
spicuously mentioned in connection
with the disgraceful business. In his
speech at the close of the trial, Judge
Blandin, who was asked by the Bar
Association to serve as Judge in the
case, said, relative to the degradation
of COur is of Justice That the gen
eral administration of justice should be
torn down and degraded and dragged
in the mire is of the utmost and last
Importance to every man, woman and
child in the county, and, [ may say, to
unborn generations, because when once
you have degraded the courts of this
country the last sheet anchor to which
we can hang for the preservation of
our rights and liberties, you have as
sailed the roots and the foundation Of
all that is important and sacred to men
who have liberty and property to be
preserved.
In vain will you write constitutions
and laws and rules of procedure unless
high character, integrity, freedom and
prudence can clothe the Judge who
sits upon the bench"
The whole trouble in Cleveland be-
gan with an attempt to buy vote: 1t
was the introduction of politics into
the transactions of justice which
wrought the mischief. The endeavOr
to subvert the sacred oath and office
of bench and bar to subserve personal
political ambitions will, if Judge Blan-
din is successful, redown to the dis
grace and deposition of the malefac
tors. Judge Blandir deserves most
hearty laudatian for the heroic stand
he took in defense of the dignity and
honor of the bar. In these days such
men are manifestly lacking.
But the Cleveland case is only one
isolated instance of the wide spread
corruption due to the abuse of politics.
Every community is perfectly familiar
with it in one shape or another. The
great trouble is too great familiarity.
So accustomed have we become tC the
absolute rottenness of politics in
many of it's phases that we endure
it much as, after long confinement,
one becomes recOnciled to foul
air and cramped quarters. The
evils growing out of corrupt poll
tics are gathering in legions which it
will take.all the wisdom and states
manship of posterity years to overcome.
In the midst of prosperity, from a
purely business standpoint, it is our
habit to sit by and smile at the man
who cries out against corruption.
When hard times comes those most
affected are ready at once to place the
responsibility on these least affected,
ADD hasten to agitate some such legis-
lation as free silver in order to disarm
their imaginary oppressors. 1t is only
when such concrete instances as the
above are brought to our attention that
we fully realize that it is not class
legislation which causes our mistor-
tunes so much as the wholesale cor
ruption, which, regardless of party,
platforms and professions, character
ICES present day politics and makes all
thinking people pause in apprehension
for the future.