Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1905-04-03
THREE REASONS FOR POSITION

Chancellor J V B64irland in the
Commercial Appeal Of Sunday dis
eusses at length the decision Of Cir
cult Judge A. b. Grace OF this city in
the matter Of the s,dr OF Capt. X. K.
Rice AGAINST II. D Palmer for the
poss~-Sicu If the office of circuit
clerk OF l.ncoun county and the ques=
ion OF whether or not constitutional
amendment Nc. b granting to the
N1pvtraol the right to fill vacancies
j appointment was ever legally
:. ted ~ Il vote Of the people Of
u state. \ representative Of taa
Graphsc cal}ed on Judge Grace his
morning for reply to the aFtie}e by
Judge Bourland.
81 have seen tue article IN the
Commercial Appeal said Judge
Grace, and read it through with in
terest.
"Do vsu wish 10 make reply 'o
it?a
by ne means. said the jsf1ge. II
is an invariab!e l4lle of mine never
to enter into newspaper eontFoVer-
sies with anyone My opinion IA the
RicePalmer= case was rendered IL
the ordinary course OF duty aud there
the matter ends SO far as | am con
cernet had othing 10 do With the
publication Of the opinion; bat was
due solely O. the enterprise Of you
newspaper fellows
But this is a matter Ct Sc much
aatert :. raaf we th nix tha pnhlie
would be clad to heal from y8u iii re-
3 ply To 5udge Bou}aud
81 am sorry hat can neJ ob!ige
you. said the Judge, but ny IDEAS
on that subject are a little 100 Old
fashioned to permit it, Without wish
in1 to critics or in any manner re
feet upon Judge Bourland may say
tat do not think it consistent With
tie dignity and propriety OF the j'-
dlcial position VIII ich hold tar NE to
discuss my decisions in the public
afints. My reasons fer my decision
we're given in the opinion fled in
he case. ard were the result OF a
thorough and careful inveStigat ton.
Thev are. Ct course. proper SUBJECTS
for criticism and discussion by any
citizen of the state who feels inter
esfed But do net think ! can, with
nlagrietv make any reply. Ever since
accepted judicial office | have re-
framed absolutely from active par
6cipation in politics. and from MAX
ing any public answer 10 these VINO
nav have seen proper to trltlclSe
either my personal or Office! con
,ect. for three reasons:
~First because | think fha'
.bpn q Judge enters the arena OF
5at\ politics il has a tendency to
crea) .entangling alliances and place
b.pl under political obligations which
might embarrass his official freedom
OF action.
second. because such a COURSE
no> i operate to lower the confidence
and respec, of the people for the law
md the courts. thus tending to de-
troy ore of the principal foundations
mon which the peace and good order
# society rests in democratic form
Of government.
-, ,rh I'd. as said, my ideas are old
fashioned, if you please, and IL IS
rIi1e of ethics. time henore9 bo'h ]"
ENGLAND and America. that Judges
cbonld not publicly discuss IN the
nress either their own decisions q
those of other courts, leaving thell
,indication. when attacked, to tue III
to1lier1ce and sense of justice OF thf
,fo,lA and to the ordinary channels
- review by superior courts.
Yp1ease say fer me that these are
s,mnlv nv private opinions by Whicf
requlate my conduct and that in eX
nressing them it is only for the pur
aoso Of exclamation and not with th'
sliabtest intention of critic.sing 0