The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1908-08-01

large as it is, composed OF large
| colored population, from whence
much of our criminal disorders
emanate, has been conducted very
economically the past two years
not losing the sight of the fact
that the court sits ten months OF
the year:
| FRANKLIN, La, July 22nd, 1908.
| To whom it may concern:
| This is to certify that the lam
Register of the Police Jury o. the
Parish of St. Mary shows that for the
years 1906 and 1907 there was paid
for fees for witnesses and jurors, IN
criminal cases the following amounts:
| For 1906. .. s 3.Sl9.6O.
| For 1907 s 3,21S.13.
CHAs. A. BIBBINS.
| Secretary.
Furthermore, we call our COW
freres attention to the very sig
nificant fact that the criminal ex-
penses, insofar as witnesses and
Jurors, as shown in the certificate,
have been some $500 less last year
than the year before. And, this year
with a stricter enforcement OF
Sunday and gambling laws, the
outlook is exceedingly gratifying
| for another 5000 reduction for 1908.
So much for the figures. At the
close Of its remarkable statistical
editorial the News Era makes an
admission-in law it would be a
fatal admission-of the efficiency
of Judge Aliens incumbency of
the District Judgeship. We copy
the admission vERBATUM-the
bold face type is ours:
''But, as we stated in our former
editorial on this subject, It Mr..
Charles A. O'Niell, who is our choice
of the two candidates, can conduct
the business of the court upon as
good a basis as it is now conducted
though no better-we would support
him.
In conclusion, we entirely agree
with the News Era that long
tenure Of Office is sometimes con-
trary to the forms of our govern
ment. That rotation in Office is
cardinal principle of Democracy.
But, while this is true, it is also
undeniable that good public
servant is largely the exception
and not the rule, and the part of
wisdom is to retain those who
measure up to that standard.
That is why, in this case. the
BANNER, strongly urges the re-
election of Judge A. G. Allen
AS to the Town Progress, OF
Berwick, it has turned it's argu-
mentative batteries against Judge
Allen in quite a different direc-
ton. 1t has gone to the Supreme
Court records to ascertain how
many reversals has attended Judge
Allen during his career as Judge
of our District Court. 1t actually
found forty-five clean cut affirma-
tons by the highest tribunal;
eight cases in which appeals were
dismissed, nine cases tried by
jury, for which the Judge is divest-
ed by all credit-the juries get all
the praise-when it is a known
fact that these verdicts are render
ed upon the law and evidence as
transacted by: the Judge of the
Court. Judge Allen is charged
up with thirty-two annulments or
revisions.. = t.n.t--
Here our contemporary con-
cludes by stating that they were
reversals. Amendments, or re-
visions are mot reversals accord
ing to our understanding, and
there is !. a little room for
more enlightenment right here.
No mention is made of cases
which were not appealed either
for want Of jurisdiction as
to the amount involved or because
of the absolute soundness of the
judgments. The record of the
Supreme Court, as published by
the Progress, show 1t3 cases.
out of which total OF so must be
credited to Judge Allen, and he
certainly gets comfort from the
remaining 80 which were amend
ed. revised or annulled by the
highest court. We have, as yet,
not been furnished with the AC-
TUAL REvERSES which were sent
back to his court for new trial.
That seems to be the point SO
diligently avoided. In all friend
illness, we felicitate our confrere
upon its arduous labors in behalf
of its chosen candidate, but we
frankly confess our inability to
see where a case of forensic
incompentcy has been made
against the gentlemen who has
occupied the bench of our judicial
district for many years with sig
nal ability, lofty integrity and
even-handed justice to all liti-