The Bemidji pioneer., 1900-10-11
I NON.PARTISAN JUDGES.

The friends Of Judge Holland
in this distrss3t are attempting to
make capital, politically, for their
candidate by claiming that he is q
non-partisan aspirant for the position.
II there is one place above another
where other than partisan c.'nsidera-
tions should have, and rightfully do
have, acknowledged weight in the
minds OF thinking men, it is in con-
nection with the judgship. No Office
is fraught with more meaning no man
has greater authority in civil life than
the one who Sits and weighs evidence
and interprets law and determines
cases which have to do, not alone with
property interests, but the most vital
concerns OF the community, social Or
der, and even life itself. Great care
should be taken in the selection OF q
Judge, and there is no room whatever
for discussion over the fundamentals
principles that a law officer who pre-
sides over the court in this district
should be capable and honest. Here
is one place where the .paramount Is
sue'' is so plain as to be indisputable.
Rnt when .Tndge Holland attempts
to appropriate it to his own use, or
his friends do for him, they overdo the
matter and the argument falls to the
ground because overweighted with ex.
traneous matter. Is III
To begin with, Judge Holland is po-
tlitically known to be, from one end OF
the district to the other, a dyed-in-
the-wool democrat. This, in itself,
neither fits or units him for the high
Office which he now holds and seeks &c
|continue in. But his desire to pose as
nom partisan candidate for judge, is
masquerading III SO thin disguise
that the semblance will not concea
the reality.
There are, however, reasons from
non-partisan standpoint why Judge
Holland should not be called upon tc
stay where he is. AS u judge, more Q.
| his decisions have been reversed by
the. higher courts than has fallen te
the lot of any other judge in Minneso
| ia during the same length of time
AS q Judge, he is noticeably slow and
lhesitating on the bench and he does
not expedite business. This of itsel
lis a serious loss OF time and money te
counties and clients and tends to clog
the progress OF justice. Moreover
Judge Holland has no earthly need q
the office. Personally wealthy, he
simply seeks to hold it as a matter q
personal ambition. From the stand
point ofsuperior qualifications, or I'M
usual claims of any kind upon the
Office helhas none.
He has a competitor Hon. w. s.
McC lenahan, a man ia the full vigol
OF his mental powers, quick to dispatch
business and of unimpeachable per.
sonal integrity. Mr.. McClenahan is
admittedly one Of the brightest and
ablest members OF the legal profession
in this part of the state. It is because
he possesses all the qualities claimed
for Judge Holland and many that he
does not possess that from a non-par-
tisan standpoint standing upon MS
merits, judicial and personal, that
the Enterprise believes Mr.. McClen-
ahan to be entitled to election, at the
hands of the people, as judge OF the
fifteenth judicial district Of Minnesota
We hope the people of Hubbard and
the other counties will clearly under
stand that on the issue of special fit
ness for the Office and personal worth
Mr.. McClenahan' friends are willing
to contend, confident of triumphant
endorsement from voters of intelli,
gence and honesty. Park Rapids
Enterprise.
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