The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1910-09-29
AN APPEAL TO THE LAWYERS OF THE
STATE OF NORTH DAKOTA

Letters purportng to have been signed by Guy
c. n. Corliss have been sent from the office Of
the railroad and trust attorneys at Fargo to cor
tain selected members CT the bar Of this state re-
questing them to organize in their respective
counties to elect certain judicial candidates named
by these attorneys, declaring in effect that the
other nominees Of the people are comparatively
unfit for Office. On September 18th a few repre-
sentatives Ct these held star chamber meet
ing to perfect organization to elect the cand-
dates named. The promoters Of this scheme are
certain railroad and trust lawyers In Fargo and
Grand Forks who design to control the election Of
the judges Of this state. One OF these lawyero
not long ago in open court covertly threatened one
Of the Judges Of this state over the back Of an.
other person by saying that chs firm" would not
support man for office who would advise or decide
in such manner. member Of the same firm
claims that "he' defeated the denomination Of
one Of the present Judges Of the Supreme Court.
Candidates desire election and Judges are human.
II any lawyer get Of lawyers can control the
election Of tho Judges, the judges 30 elected win
most naturally strain every point to decide IN
favor Of the man men to whom thay owe their
judicial position. This has openly been charged
and has been to be the effect in the stAtes
of Colorado and California and the grumbling Of
discomfort at these SYMPTOMS are heard not only In
other states, but in this state as well. II these
men can control the election Of judges. what
show have you, your clients before the court,
when opposed to these men the interests they
represent? What guaranty have the people that
their rights and interests will be protected under
such conditions?
1t is notorious fact that the average attorney
hestates to oppose judicial candidate, especially
when he is backed by the corporations and their
self respect he is compelled to oppose any
candidate who by any chance may become the
plant tool in the hands Of any any in
terest. Your very professional existence is de-
pendent upon the election of men to the bench
who do not obey the behest of any man and who
is not the especially selected candidate of any
coere of lawyers, the interests they repre-
sent. If these succeed in controlling the
judicial elections the judges who are seeking
election must know" to them and you and your
clients must suffer, unless your clients the
point as they eventually VIII, and seek to retain
these to your loss. Such condition means
loss of judicial integrity and the professional
subserviency of the members of the bar Of this
state.
It was said in the letter Of Guy c. H. Corliss
1.-THE situation is very critical" 1t is critical be-
cause it endangers the rights of your clients and
the people. If accomplished 1t will hnnul tho
effects of your professional labors. It will injure
your business and eventually reduce your income.
This is not mere hypothesis 1t is fact which
has been clearly demonstrated in the states of
Colorado and California and under the same con-
ditions We must look for the same results.
The law assumes to take the judicial elections out
Of politics. The. result is that the System" is
now taking control from the people. This ap. cal
to you does not animadvert on any candidates.
It censures only the System" which unless pre-
vented by you will control the judiciary It is
time that the members Of the bar and the people
Of this state, for their own safety and welfare,
should stop the scheme Of these men. The only
way to stop IT, Is to defeat the candidates put up
by these men no matter who, or what they arc
Destroy the system" or you will suffer the con-
seuuences. As you value your professional exis
tence, do not aid in your own undoing by assisting
this combination to control the election of our
tudzee Oppoee them and be free for If YOU
favor their scheme you will eventually suffer IN
LEGAL reputation and in income by losing your
cases and hence your business. 20
Let it be understood that the issuing Of this
appeal 10 not known to any judicial candidate, but
.ts to call the attention OF the bar and the people
N the evil effects Of the 'sy0tem.'