Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, Ramsey Co., Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1905, 1903-08-07
OFFICIAL PAPER OF THE COUNTY AMI
THE CITY OF DEVILS LAKE.
FRIDAY, AUGUST 7, 1908.

SAOAA\AON SAUV ~ ASN
q right to strike and interfere to pre-
vent others from taking the places of
such strikers. If the newspaper re-
ports can be relied upon, the state of
facts upon which the court based this
judgment was the same as that upon
which a Chicago court recently held
acontra opinion. If they were the
same, the judgments Of the courts
should have been the same. But they
were not, hence, it seems probable
that some ultra motive had some in
huence with the one or the other. It
is not our purpose to criticise the one
or the other Of these decisions at this
time, but to suggest that there is a
growing evil IN this country, which
causes courts to often be influenced by
motives which should not enter into
the considerations Of judicial matters.
We do not say that that the growing
tendency of labor on the one hand to
make itself felt in politics influenced
the last decision, nor that the in
fuence of corporate wealth had ought
to do with the former. But there
must have been some aus for the
divergence. 1t is becoming a very
serious question in this country if the
judiciary ought not to be removed from
these influences. The purity of the
American courts has been the proud
boast of this nation for years, and not
without cause. But after all, judges
are human--men like the rest of us
with the same hopes, the same
feelings, the same ambitions. In
this strenuous age are we not tempt
ing them by making them to some K
tent, dependent on political influence
and schemes2 If SO, are we not plac-
ing them where improper influences
can readily be exerted. Careful men
those who are looking at the facts
without preiudice--have been con-
tending for years that the courts
should be absolutely removed from all
influences that would naturally in
f1uence them in decisions Those who
hold Utopian ideas contend that none
but pure men should be selected.
Very good If it were practical.
Another class urge the appointive
life term as the remedy, but that
course has its attendant evils. The
candidate must secure his masters
will before he can hope to be success
fma. TO do this, he is, in these poll
:tical times, compelled to be an active
friend Of the appointing power, and
will naturally remember that power
and it's friends. We believe the most
practical way to accomplish the result
is for the people to demand and make
a non partizan court. The closer the
governmental power is to the people
the pJurer it will remain. If politics
be removed from the selection of
judges. and the people, irrespective
of party, be given the power of max
ing the courts, they would be amem-
able only to that great master-the
public, and it is we'll known that the
public asks only that they % pure.
In q number of the older states this
method is being introduced, and is
not only giving the states ADLER mon,
but they are as a rule as pune as it is
possible for men to be. The method
is practical, and has the endorsement
of the greatest men, both lawyers and
laymen. 1t is a step in the direction
Of avoiding these conflicting opinions
that are fast making our courts the
laughing stock of the world.