The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1910-11-12
CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS
the ROAD 70 PREFERENCE
STANDARD Of Jadgssh|ps Lowered
Frederick R. CoudtTt
Asserts
(By Leased Wire,


New York. Nov l2--That 1t Is the
common understanding in the legal
profession that seats on the supreme
court bench are bought in the guise
of campaign contributions, and that
oven $lS0,000 has been paid for the
crmine, was the declaration made
yesterday by Frederick r. Coudert OF
Coudert Brothers, firm Of high
standing at the New York bar and OF
international fame. Mr.. Cou1ert
said: Il do not believe that justice Is
sold in New York, but | know that
judgeships are.
"The debasement OF the supreme
court bench through the system of Sc
lecting men not for their emlnence
In the legal profession. but because
they are organization men and car
be OF service to that organization
presumably is one Of the worst fea
lures of our civic life. It is thor
oughly well understood in our profes
sion that the only way to seat on
the bench Is through the good will ol
political boss.
Through Campaign Contributions
1T Is also thoroughly well under
stood that seats on the bench are
bought, not outright. perhaps, bul
through the guise OF campaign con
iributions made by the candidate him
self or by some friends of the caudi
date.
II have heard of cases-and II Ii
common talk among lawyers--ir
which 100000 100000. and. believe
as high as s1SO,O0O, have been paid
TO rseats.
with this condition existing 1t IL
easy to understand the disgracefu
state in which our courts are today
The organization Judge must take
care of organization men, and so il
comes about that the enormously
profitable refereeships and receiver
ships are given to men merely be
cause they stand well with the or
ganization.
Don't Know The Law
Furthermore. 1t explains why the
courts are so far behind with theil
work. We have more judges than We
need, but they don't know their busi
ness. Cases take weeks to try wner
they should take only few days
Why? Mainly because the Judges
generally are men of comparatively
little experience and don't know the
law. Arguments arc spun 0lit 10 In
terminable length on technical points
which could be decided offhand II
the judge had thorough acquaint
ance with tee law. A dozen eases
come readily to mind, each of which
took weeks TO hear In Eng and ms
Crippen trial took three days; here
il probablf wouldn't nave been nm
ished IN as many or more weeks.
This Is not the fault of the law
The common law OF the United
States practically is the same as
that of England. It is the fault of in
competent, boss appointed judges"
Proposes a Remedy
The remedy for the conditions
which he described could be found
Mr. Cou1ert believes. through amend
ments to the corrupt practices act
which would make It not only unlaw
full for a candidate for the bench TO
contribute TO 2 political organization
but also would make him ineligible
if be had SO contributed. Patronage
also should be taken away from the
supreme court justices and trans
ferred to the appellate division.
III this were DONE" Mr.. Coudert
said, I'VE would get men of a better
type on the bench, for there would be
no object for an organization to put
up mediocre men"