The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-01-04
What End Has the Southern
in View?
Il is Asserted That They Would Buy the North
Carolina Railroad, That They Know the
Directors Would Appeal 10 Courts
and That They Want Rus
sell as Chief Iustceto
Declare Sale Valid.

O6CldIc SdlC vattu'
Who is the inspiration Of the plan,
well matared and systematically
pressed, to have Russell make himself
Chief Justice of the Supreme court
by sleight of hand performance?
1t did not originate with Loge Har-
ris and Bill Day, who are the public
managers Of the machinery that is be-
ing employed to work up a spontan-
eous demand of the bar for Russell
to wear the crmine. 1t was not born
in the brain of any man who has re-
ceived favors at Russells hands. They
are but cogs in the wheels. The in
SEPARATION IS TO be sought in other quar-
ters.
Who is it that wants to foist Russell,
the irascible, vacilIating, corporation
tool upon the people in the office hon
ored by Taylor, Nash, Henderson,
Ruffin and ether great jurists? Who
is back of the suddenly created notion,
industriously spread broadcast that
Russell has qualities that suit him for
a judicial flee? For what purpose
is there secret caLal at work to pack
the Supreme court? Who is doing it
and what is it being done for?
These are questions which the peo-
pie are asking. What are the answers
TO these natural inquiries?
IL cannot be that any sensible man
thinks Russell is fit to be Judge. If
the State were searched from Murphy
to Manteo to find the man having less
judicial temperament than any other
II. l,.a
Executive Mansion. Russell knows
some law, but that is not the only re-
quirement of a Justice of the Supreme
Court. Supreme Court Judge needs
to have some discretion, some judicial
fairness-to be free from choler, eX
citement, prejudice, incorporate use
OF words and sudden passion that
warps judicial fairness or propriety.
His best friend would not say that
Russell has judicial temperament.
Then why should there be any demand
for his elevation to the bench? 1t is
not because anybody of power par
ticularlv loves him or because they
wish to see him elevated. What then
is the motive and the influences that
are so solicitous to have Russell made
Chief Justice?
Somebody wants to secure something
they ought not to have. Somebody is
moving heaven and earth to do some
thing that calls for man who is
plant and pliable in their hands!
Who is that somebody" and what
does that somebody" want?
The first suggestion of Russells ele-
Walton as Chief Justice was made by
n prominent political railroad official
before Judge Faircloth had been bur-
led. The second was the earnest adj
vocacy of that course by the Morning
Post, the organ of the Southern Rail-
road.
Does the light begin to break?
Why does Vice President Andrews,
of the Southern Railroad, want Rus
sell made Chief Justice? And why
does he have his organ, the Morning
Post, to advocate that course? Here
is what the Post<says:
WHAT THE ORGAN SAYS.
"A chief justice is to be appointed to
fill vacancy The law requires it.
There are no two opinions that we
have yet heard as to the pre-eminent
ability Of Governor Russell over every
member of his party in Eastern Carolina,
to which the selection is limited, for the
position
THAT he should resign his present
office but few days before the expira-
ton of his term to accept the appoint
ment from mis- successor is naturally en-
barrassing. of course, but the exigencics
OF the occasion are peculiar, and should
go FAR towards relieving the situation.
Not only party considerations, but the
question of fitness for the position to be
filled are involved AS Democrats we
cannot complain of our political enemies
for holding every advantage that legiti-
mately falls to them. The Democrats
would do the same under similar or any
circumstances. The choice of a successor
TO the late Chief Justice being limited to
his party. and, also to the Eastern section
OF the State as announced, then the
qualifications OF the party to be chosen
must be considered and is all that is left
10 be considered
How is it that the Southern Rail-
ways land Russell's, now, too. it
seems) organ knows that the selec-
ton is limited ito Eastern North Caro-
linaa" And when did il learn of Rus
sells ''preeminent ability?" But
that by the way.
Let us proceed to find the motive.
Democrats. desiring party advantage.
might we'll wish that Russell would