The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-01-05
LET THE BAR SPEAK.

Governor Russells friends assert
that he is governed entirely by the
action of the bar of the State"-Rus-
sells organ. otherwise known as the
Southern Railways Morning Post.
Those railroad attorneys and others
who are moving heaven and earth to
get an excuse to foist Russell upon the
State as Chief Justice are bringing
every influence TO bear upon lawyers
to write letter in favor of the scheme.
Nobody is io oiled by the authorized
statement that Russell will be ''gov-
erned entirely by the action of the
bar Of the State" but since that state
ment has been published it behooves
the bar Of the State to prevent the
stigma of siich an infamous appoint
ment being laid at its door Not
twenty-five lawyers of prominence
have written in favor of Russell's APP
pointment. Most of them are attor-
neyS of the Southern Railroad or have
received big fees from Governor Rus
sell during the past four years. There
are few others, who owe no obliga-
tons to Andrews or Russell, who have
without reflection signed in favor of
Russell. One lawyer was approached
and asked to sign lie hesitated, when
the man asked Wouldn't you pre-
fer Russell who knows some law to
Charles A. Cook who doesn't know
any? / tell you it is either Cook or
RUSSELL" AS between the two, the
man signed for Russell. That is the
sort of pressure brought to bear to
secure the half-hearted support of the
handful of lawyers who have not re-
ceived favors at the hands of Russell
or Andrews Such recommendations
obtained in that way, ought not to be
regarded.
The bar owes it to itself not to APP
prove, wink at, or quietly permit the
elevation of Russell after his organ has
officially announced that he will be
governed entirely by the bar of the
State" The Rocky Mount bar in Wig
orous resolutions declare they would
regard Russell's appointment las one
of the most UNSEEAILY AND DIS
GRACEFUL JOBS ever performed by
the Governor of great State" That
sounds like the utteranee of the old
time lawyers who made the legal pro-
fession second only to the ministry
in the highest ethics.
1t would be a reflection upon the
bar of the State if it should GO out
that any considerable number of the
members of that profession approved
of packing the Supreme Court bench
in the disgraceful manner suggested.
If Russell were the greatest lawyer in
the State, if as Superior Court Judge
he had not been guilty of rendering
an Infamous decision that offended the
white people of the South, if he were
not the plant tool of the Southern
Railway and the Tobacco trust, if he
had not shown himself so unfit to be
Governor that the people of the State
had clamored for his impeachment,
if he had every qualification which he
|notoriously lacks, even then it would
be an 'unseemly and disgraceful job"
for him to appoint himself Chief JUS
tice of the State. The very suggestion
of sl1ch an indecent procedure would
offend lawyer like Henderson, or
Taylor or Nash or Ruffin. The fact
that Russell even considers it is proof
of his unfitness.
The bar will fall in the estimation
of right-thinking people if it sanctions
the disreputable dicker which the To
bacco TRUST, the Southern Railway
and other noneyed interests are seek
| ing to carry out. 1t would be dis
grace that would stink to high heaven.