The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-02-26
Law-Giver, Judge ana IxIar.

MQpiIe Register.
 The Register's Montgomery corre- day:
 Justice Jonathan Haraison of the Supreme Court announced today that nc VIII not be candidate to succeed himself. While Justice HaraIson de- cIines to discuss his reasons for re- tiring from the bench 1t Is we'll known that he feels resentment against Gov ernor Conner and his administration for avowedly supporting John A, Lusk and other candidates for the Supreme a Court bench. Friends of Justice Har- aoSsrnas aason asnSSncs ounce the public interest race for Supreme Court Judges and declares that the Governor has driven Justice HaraIson. the oldest member of Sns Hsr. Court, from the bench; Justice he does not feel able to undergo the hardships of a stern campaign such as # Is evident he win be forced Into by the State administration" s%
 There are persons not few in num- per, who believe In Governor Conner the same as they believe in their re. iigion. He cannot. be wrong. because would be impossible to convince these people of any error or bad intent on the Governors part. They are hyp-
 We call attention. however, to some undisputed facts.
 The Governor Is the chief executive ofieer of the State. He is the executor ioi the laws. Ills only legislative func- time 10 time, etc, of the state of fne measures as he may deem expedienf and he may also withhold his approval have passed both Houses and been sub. mitted. The disapprovaI may be abss,- lute or conditional; that is. a the Gov ernor may veto . measure without qualification. or he may point out what amendment of 1t will make 1t accapt : able; and the Legislature can either make such amendment or 1t can pass the measure over the Governors veto.
 The Governor is the executor of fine laws, as we have said.
 By the expansion of his bower, Co the extent of letting 1t Do known that If bill is not drawn just as he designs it, and by the. men he selects. for the purpose, he will veto it, has become the maker of the laws. A---~---
 And now, by espouslng the cause of one of his chief workers in 4he Teris. lature and bringing to bear in his ia . vor all the power and patronage of the executive oface. to. the end that this justice of the Supreme Court, the Gov ernor asptres to De the judge of the laws! We think t wlli not sbe denied that the Governor wishes to get a Su- prenle Court that will render decisions favorable to his laws. s
 We see Justice Haralson~ retiring. bA- cause unable to contend successfully against so powerful an Influence. We have seen the Legislature bow down and become subservient slaves to the Governors will. The Governor. as executive, has adopted a policy of re- warding those who stand with him and of punishing those who do not. He is Governor of faction. not of the whole people; and he is Governor with a hand of iron--usurping ali the func- tions of our three-pnase form of gov aPnnanf ana cnuafr1arftuep a/ H0w that shall make him, he thinks invin- cible in any future political contest.
 We do not have to question the Gov ernor's sincerity. The best intentioned d are sometimes the most destructive. What we do question Is the manll bod of the people who do not protest against so violent a departure from right principles of goYernment-a ile- parture that. on a larger field. would pOrtend the loss of the liberties of the nation.