The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-04-06

Higher salaries and changes in
methods of nomination are believed by
the Minnesota State Bar association
to be necessary in order to elevate the
bench Of the state to the level de-
manded by state Of the Importance
of this. The association, at it's annual
convention in the Minneapolis council
chamber yesterday, therefore took ac-
ton in favor Of securing legislation
leading to:
First-The raising Of the salaries of the
supreme court judges from $4,000 to $1,000
per year.
Second-The raising Of the salaries paid
by the state to district court judges from
$500 to $4,000 per year, leaving the two
larger counties free to pay their judges
S1,50o a year additional. as at present.
Third-The amendment Of the primary
election law so as to remove the judiciary
from it's operation and the restoration Of
the convention system for the nomination
Of all judges.
1t was also voted to request both
the republican and democratic state
central committees to place the nomi-
nation Of the supreme court judges
first in the order Of business Of their
state conventions.
The first and second points in the
resolution, which was presented by J..
o. P. Wheelwright of the committee
on judicial elections, gave an oppor-
tunity for some few protests and some
little eloquence in behalf of the quail
ity of judicial timber which should be
made accessible and which could not
be secured until higher salaries were
paid, but there was no real opposi-
| ton to raising judicial salaries, either
| from the cities or the country mem
bers.
Debate Over Conventions.
The only real clash Of the meeting
| occurred when it was moved to adopt
the resolution committing the asso-
| citation to the re-establishment Of the
| convention system in nominating
judges. Albert H. Hall, James Rob-
ertson and others defended the prim-
airy election, which, they commended
was a step in advance. Mr.. Wheel
wright, Rome q. Brown, Judge J. H
| Steele and others as strenuously ad.
vocated the change to the convention
| plan, and held it up as the only prac.
ticable means to secure the desired
end. The ayes won only by a small
| margin.
| The meeting was called to order by
President Frederick V. Brown, who
| after a few opening remarks and the
appointment of Marshall S. Weber, E
| c. WILKINSON and r. A. Stone as {
nominating committee, introduced thu
speaker of the day, John L. Webster
| Of Omaha, ...
John Il. Websters Speech.
Il For over an hour the speaker hell
the fixed attention of the several hun
dred members present. His subjec
was "The Convention of 1887" TIL
address was scholarly and exhaustive
treating Of the creation of the con
stitution of the United States. Il
; opening, Mr.. Webster said:
The constitution of the United State
was written by lawyers, and ever sine
it has been an interesting and essentia
study by every jurist. 1t has been tn
' subject Of earnest debate in Legislative
bodies, and of heated discussion in po
litical assemblies. Its application v~t
changing conditions and the unfolding Q
? its implied powers have been the graves
duties Of judicial tribunals for more tina
a hundred years, and yet that instrumen
Of government Is as fascinating a study t
I the lawyer and statesman Of to-day as
was at the time when Jefferson and Hamil