The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1910-09-13
JUDGE A. ]. MURFF
GAVE NOTICE OF RESIGNATION
EFFECTIVE NOVEMBER 6.
HIS FRIENDS SURPRISED
Reasons Assigned-Practice as an Attor-
ney More Remunerative than Jurge-
ship-Criticism of Saloons and Some
Prohibitionists and Lumber Combine.

Prohibitionists and Lumber Combine.
Judge A. ]. Murff has given notice of
his resignation, to resume the praet1veI
of law, after November 6, the date fixed
for his resignation as judge being eff
fective.
The judgeship being filed by Judge
Murff was created by legislative en-
actment in 1906 and became operative
in 1907. 1t was intended to re-
lieve the accumulation of civil suits and
criminal cases pending in the court for
trial by single judge.
While this court was created for this
specific purpose will be continued in
definitely to meet the increase in the
number of cases, both civil and criminal,
arising from the growth of population.
The term for which Judge Murf was
elected will expire in two years. His
friends had expected him to remain at
his post notwithstanding his defeat for
Congressman.
AS Shreveport, Caddo parish and the
Fourth Congressional District are not
France, the majority against Judge
Murff should not be construed as vote
of want of confidence. Indeed, many Of
his friends voted against him for Con
gress believing his services to the peo-
pie as judge would be more effective
than as congressman.
| Here follows Judge Murff's reason
for his resignation. 1t is submitted with
out comment:
"The race for Congress is over and
my defeat overwhelming. If I had been
the only victim of the Republican lurn-
Der combine / should have felt very
much inundated, but when see that
these same interests handed MeGregor,
Clayton and Bailey the same over
whelnling package, I feel satisfied the
public can read between the lines.
Each of us stood for Democracy,
which we felt had been repudiated; each
stood for the rights of the great masses
Of the people who are bending beneath
the burden of tariff taxation. But alas
Democracy is waning, and the rights o1
the common people are no longer con-
sidered, and the people walk up, kiss the
hand that smites them, and turn the
other cheek for another slap, which, nc
doubt, they will receive in due time.
/ In my fight | had not only the Re
publican lumber combine to fight, but
the whiskey interest, who were aided and
assisted by some good ID prohibitions
lists who had special interests to serve.
sI have stood for Democracy and the
enforcement of the law, but when people
do not want Democracy or the enforce
ment Of the law. it seems useless to talk
to them of either They have spoken
and the voice of the people must be
heard.
Several years ago I accepted tht
judgeship of Caddo parish, both beeaust
! i considered it an honor, and because
s. thought by a faithful and honest dis
charge Of my duty might be able t.
advance my political ambition, and a
the same time better my financial con
dition. But I have done neither. Til
financial loss has been great, and politi
cal advancement seems difficult propo
#sition for a man of any pronouncet
views on any subject, and especially
he opposes the special interest class
Preferring to exercise the freedom 0
thought and speech rather than enJo
political advancement at this sacrifice
have decided that it will be better TO
me and my family to retire from poll
:. tics, and return to the practice of m
profession. I have two more years o
: the bench and could go on and sery
:. them out, but I feel that | am Iosin
( financially every day ] remain on th
= bench, and that the sooner I get bac
into practice the better it win be for M
S for It is more remunerative than th
judgeship. have been advised to r.
!. main on the bench for the next tw
: years and punish my political eneinie
: : but my high appreciation of the duti'
g g and responsibilities of my Office will NJ
S permit me to prostitute it by using il
z z as means Of gratifying any person
: : or political grievance ] may have As
said in my platform for Congress, 'whei
8 ever representative of the people G.
2 not carry out. the wishes Of his peopl
Il he should hand them back his eonlmi
i sion as unsullied as when he received
4 This I shall do with the iudgeship, al
not use it for any ignoble purpose eyt
against my political enemies.
le For these reasons have decided
Il tender my resignation as district jud
Eo the governor. to take effect Mover