Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, N.D.) 1909-1915, 1911-03-10

OIL our nat 10 MT. OCOnnOr. we COM
mend his judgment, and we admire
his spunk. H.. ...
=, (Fargo Searchlight.)
The House has finally, under public
pressure, reconsidered its action and
voted to impeach Judge Cowan, or ra-
ther present articles. of impeachment
to the senate for its hearing and de-
termination. The high.handed manner
Of indefinitely postponing the PROPOSE
ton in the first instance and not TAX
ing down the evidence or presenting
IL to the House was resented very pro-
perly by the people of the whole state
and that resentment was publicly voic-
led and forwarded on to Bismarck.
The evidence was Of such a charac-
ter that there was properly but one
thing to do and that was to formulate
articles of Impeachment and present
them to the Senate for trial. This has
now been done and the matter will no
doubt be fully heard before the Sen
ate, and Cowan either given a clear
ance card or ousted from his Office.
AS usual politics played a very con-
siderable part In the proceedings in
the Cowan case, and it may be that
some Of the people who have been urg-
Ing Impeachment have done so from
either selfish or vindictive motives.
This does not however, change the
facts in the. case nor does it do away
with the necessity or propriety of inn
peachment proceedings. The people.
OF the entire state are Interested tie
state is interested as state, and Ger
tainly the judiciary and the legal pro-
fession has an indirect and important
interest in the proceedings.
1 While The Search-Lght regrets
that impeachment proceedings are nee
essary, It cannot see that they could
or should have been avoided. Charg-
es, supported under oath, were of such
"a nature that required Impeachment
and the motion to Indefinitely post
pone should never have been carried
in the first instance. The best inter-
ests of Judge Cowan himself would
demand a thorough Investigation. If
he is guilty as alleged he is an unfit
man to sit on the bench. II he Is not
he should be acquitted. : 2"
The impeachment proceedings a.
gainst Judge Cowan is a reminder
that the people should acquaint them
selves with the character and conduct
of all Of the judges of the state, both
District and Supreme judges. All of
them who can stand inspection" can
not be hurt, while if there are any
that cannot, they should be found out
They are the peoples servants, not
their masters, and should be held to
strict account. - .-.,
Drunkenness is not the only respect
in which a judge may be at fault. Hy-
pocrisy is ten times as dangerous and
detrimental, as it will do conscieuos
work, where drunkenness might not
do, anything worse than foolish work,
The people should not take judges at
their face value because this may be
an entirely false valuation. Dig be-
meath the surface and get at the real
man and find ont what he in fact is,
which may or may not be what he ap-
pears to be In public 2t :5.j ..5 ss..s
It is high time that the judiciary
should be held to strict account. In
many states much Of the judiciary has
been guilty OF high h-handed lawless-
ness, under the forms Of law: This
has resulted In more damage to the
interests Of the masses Of the people
than all other causes combined. The
people are beginning now TO wake up
to this fact and the prospects are very
tgood for q general cleaning out Of
undesirable judicial timber through
Tout the nation In the near future. This
| is a favorable omen and augurs well
for the people IT lis an evidence that
r SS ~ q l9S-
the people DO intend to and VIII rule. y.
IN 1912 all Of the District Judges.
Ii this state are to be elected and one
Judge Of the Supreme Bench. The
people should not be at all backward
IN carefully inauiring into the. fitness
and qualifications of ali candi idates.
whether they be sitting members or
new men, and after such Inquiry taxi
ling an open stand for OF against the.
men, as their best Judgment dictates.
Candid dates should not be hurried into
the field to take snap Judi ment.