The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1906-10-18

mittee passed the following resolut-
ions:
To the Republican Voters of Steele
County:
At a meeting of your Republican
County Central Committee, held at
S~herbrooke, on Monday, Oct. l, 1906,
it was unanimously agreed, that it is
the duty of this committee to urge all
Republicans of Steele County to sup
port Judge Charles J. Fisk, the demo-
cratic nominee for supreme court
judge, at the coming November cleo
ton.
AS this is a very unusual proceed
ing for a committee processing to re-
present the Republican voters, it is
not only proper, but important that
your committee give their reasons for
such action.
Judges of the state supreme court
have in their keeping the life, liberty
and property of the citizens of our
state more than any other public Off
Gals. To them it is given to enforce
the doing of justice. Nearly every
law enacted by our state legislature
is, sooner or later, passed upon by
this judicial body, in many cases as a
court of last resort.
Until the recent jamestown conven-
ton, the Importance Of this great Of
ice-absolutely non-political in char
acter-has been recognized by our
party leaders. The best traditions
and high ideals of our party have been
followed by selecting nominees for SUI
preme court justices because of char
acter, ability, high reputation and
temperament as j%urists. Never before
has mere partisan political service
been recognized as q qualification for
this high position.
AS a result our state supreme court
has been, from the very beginning of
statehood. above reproach, and has
ranked as among the best of state
courts of western and northwestern
states.
On more than n occasion our state
supreme court has blocked the schemes
of designing men who have succeeded
in getting legislation enacted hostile
to the best interests of the state.
The nomination of John Knauf. at
the jamestown convention of party.
marks a radical departure from the
policy heretofore followed. His nom
ination was forced upon the party
solely because of his ability to deliver
votes necessary to the element Of the
party that controlled that convention.
and with utter disregard to his admit
ted lack of the essential qualifications
of a supreme court justice.
The whole tenor of the argument ad-
vanced in his favor at that convention
was that he had done good political
work for the political machine of which
he is a part, and was, therefore. en-
titled to recognition.
Such action by the leaders of our
party who controlled the nominations
at that convention. we believe to be
inconsistent with objects and aims of
the Republican party, and wholly at
variance with the ideal standard of
public service aimed at by President
Roosevelt-the great leader of our
party. AS Republicans We believe
that loyalty to country and loyalty to
party should always harmonic. We
would urge every republican voter to
rebuke the party leaders in this at
tempt to convert our State Supreme
Court into an adjunct of a political
machine, that schemes similar in char
acter to that of the late capitol com
mission act may be forced upon the
people of the state.
Judge Fisk who is the nominee of
the democratic party for supreme court
justice, is recognized everywhere in
the northwest as al able %jurist, one
who who would honor the state in that
high judicial position. He is at pres
ent district court judge of the First
Judicial district, and has twice been
elected to that position in a district
overwhelmingly republican. In the
present contest, Judge Fisk has the
support of the leading republican law
yers of the state. He is also support
ed by two of the present members OF
the supreme court. and by every ex.
member, all of them being republicans.
The issue involved is not partisan.
1t is a contest for the maintenance OF
the high standard and purity of oui
state supreme court.
1t is, indeed, unfortunate and hu.