The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-01-04
Some Recent Official Changes.

Inc governor mas IlllSQ Sli the va
cancies resulting from Judge Collins
resignation except one. That one Is
the office of second assistant to the I
attorney general and inas1nuch as the
attorney general and his first assist
ant come from ST.. Paul and Mime,
apol1s. respectively, the appointment
is likely to be made from the country.
Good politics would suggest this. and
there is no reason why the country
cannot afford the proper grade of
talent necessary for the position.
The elevation of Attorney General
Douglas to the supreme bench, while
1t does not place there a lawyer Of
towering ability, recognizes good work
on the part Of Mr.. Douglas in the
office which he has filled, the possess
sion of respectable ability, and insures
to the people of the state the services
OF aS1nan whose integrity commands
the. confidence >-of the public This
latter is certainly. one of the highest
qualifications for a position on the
bench. Anybody would rather see
fair average abilit y,,. coupled with un-
impeachable honesty, taken as a dual
ification for the bench than higher
order Of ability not associated with
a reputation for integrity.
The promotion of Mr.. Donahower
to fill the unexpired term Of less than
a year was in the natural order of
things. '.'-'<.E - 4
The vacancy on the board Of con-
-
essarily a part Of the change made
necessary by the retirement Of Judge
Collins from the supreme bench.
There was q vacancy on the board Of
control simply because Mr.. Martin has
chosen to accept the important post
Of manager Of Judge Collins cam
paign, and because he recognizes the
manifest improperly Of attempting to
do a., thing of this kind while holding
a state office. 1t would be particu
larly unfortunate for a member of
the board Of control to become active
in politics inasmuch as the -insinua-
ton has been made from time to time
3 by. those opposed to the board of
control that that body was likely to
become a part Of the political. ma
chine. Mr. Martin has relieved the
board OF control of any such charge
30 far as he is concerned. He chooses
TO play politics. but he chooses to do
at as a private citizen and not as a
public officer. His resignation from a
desirable position Is Indicative Of his
confidence in the result Of the work
he has undertaken. The same Is true
with respect to the retirement. of
fudge Collins from the supreme
bench. With three years on the
bench before him he exhibits great
confidence in his chances for the
nomination in electing to resign his
position on the bench in order to be-
come an active candidate for the Of
flee Of governor
The most Important appointment
among the several changes incident
TO Judge Collins resignation is that
of Mr.. Jacobson to succeed Mr.. Mar
Tin on the board Of control. Every
body knows who Jacobson is, and
what he stands for. While there are
some people who do not admire. his
methods and regard him as sectional
<tlii lIe@h ~ o",aL II % ~ - II g 5A1oi z
Impressed with, the fact that Mr..
jacobson has rendered a great serv-
dee to the people of this state as a
member of the legislature by his fear
less opposition to all forms of "graft."
He has ,probably done. more. to spoil
gngraft" schemes in the legislature
sthan any man who ever sat in that
body. If he makes any serious errors
pm the board of control they will prob
ably result from HIS disposition to
conduct the public business economi-
cally. He may overwork the economy
principle to the detriment Of the pub
lic service, but there Is no use Of bor-
Rowing trouble about that yet.