The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1904-10-14
IS QUALIFIED
The Records Show that Enrolment
Has Not Been Necessary 10 Prae-
tiee i'm the Supreme Court
OF Washington

| statement In Everett recently that Mr..
Atkinson's S name did not appear on the
rolls of the supreme court as practic-
ing attorney he must have known that
his own name did not appear on the
rolls although he had served term as
assistant attorney general under the
late Patrick Henry Winston, though he
may not have known that his chiefs
name was also absent from the roll.
The following complete statement of
Mr.. Atkinson's qualifications ought to
set at rest this democratic canard. 1t
appeared in last Saturdays Post-Intel-
ligencer:
1.-THE friends of John D. Atkinson, at
Olympia, declare that Mr.. Tom Vance
has created tempest in teapot for
himself and his party by stating recent
ly at democratic meeting at Everett
that Mr.. Atkinson is not qualified to
hold the Office of attorney general.
"The ground for making the assertion
was the fact that Mr.. Atkinson's name
does not appear on the roll of attorneys
of the state, kept on file in the Office of
| the clerk of the supreme court of this
state Mr.. Atkinson has a certificate
from the superior court OF King county,
as well as certificate from the su-
preme court of the state of Illinois,
which entities him, at any time, to
place his name on the roll of the su-
preme court of this state upon applica-
ton. This is perfectly easy matter
for Mr.. Atkinson 10 do today, or in the
future, whenever he may SO desire to
do.
"Mr. Vance was assistant attorney
general of the state of Washington dur
ing the term as attorney general of the
late Patrick Henry Winston. In 1900
he was himself nominated by the demo
Gratis of Washington as attorney gener-
al, but was defeated. 1t is presumed,
therefore, that he knows what are the
qualifications of candidate for, or an
incumbent of the office,yet Mr.. Vance's
own name does not appear upon the roll
OF attorneys in the supreme court of
this state. According to his own argu-
ment, he was, therefore, not eligible TO
the office of assistant attorney general,
and was not qualified to run for the Of
| flee of attorney general. He does not
mention his own disqualifcations, but
| is the first man in the state to charge
another with the shortcomings he him
self possesses. Furthermore, the name
of Patrick Henry Winston does not ap-
pear upon the roll of attorneys in the
supreme court. 1t therefore appears
that the attorney general S office of this
state was conducted during the four
years of fusion by two men, neither of
whom was qualified to serve. All of
their official acts, according to the
Vance idea, must be without force, and
| the state is, therefore, now in bad fix.
| 1t is to be wondered whether Mr.. Vance
is joking or whether he is garbling
| facts for political purposes alone.
'Mr. Vance and the democrats need
not worry. Mr.. Atkinson is known all
over the state TO be man OF ability,
who goes thoroughly into whatever
work he undertakes. He has made a
good record as state auditor. In some
respects the administration of that office
has required him 10 show his capacity
as lawyer Further he is popular and
will poll the full republican vote, which
will be at least &c, 900 majority over his
opponent.
"Mr. Atkinson was admitted TO prac-
tice law before the superior and su-
preme courts of the state of Illinois, and
practiced successfully in Chicago. He
came to Seattle in 1888, and was admit
/ ted to practice law before the superior
courts Of King county. He was part
ner for several years in leading firm
OF Seattle, and was completely success
full in his practice. He was one Of the
authors of the Washington Law Code
of 1896, which met with good success
and commentator from the members
OF the oar all over the state. In the
case of Mr.. Atkinson. enrolment on
the books of the state supreme court IS
merely matter of form. 1t is abso-
lutely unnecessary to qualify him for
the Office OF attorney general. That
the supreme court permits lawyers to
practice before it without enrolment is
shown to be the fact by Mr.. Vance's
own case. Mr.. Vance has shattered
his own glass house.