The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1911-05-19
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WIS AND M27E.S

parchment came 70 an end May 4, and
the accused jurist was acquitted on
every charge Since March rs the trial
has been going on, and now that 1t lis
over what has been gained from IT?
The state is out 10000, and Judging
from the ovations rendered the judge
on his return home he stands higher
In the estimation OF the voters OF the
second judicial district than even be-
fore, Notwithstanding the few.
Adams Budget: John F. Cowan,
judge Of the second judicial district
was duly impeached by the house of
representatives AT the bar Of the
senate Judge cowan was charged with
habitual drunkenness and delaying
cases. The first charge only Is inn
peachable, the delaying Of cases is
judicial matter and provision for cor
amounts TO. is vested in the supervis-
DRY control of the supreme court over
inferior courts.
On March 2S the senate COM
vened as the highest court la the
state to try the judge upon the charges
preferred and after listening to the evil
dence for the prosecution and the res
pendent for more than a month, on
May 4, rendered it's verdict acquitting
Judge Cowan of the charges The YER
dict Of the court was not guilty
everyone whose mind is not warped
with innate prejudice will approve
the verdict of the court of impeach-
ment, not because they approve OF
Judge Cowan's conduct but because all
things considered the offenses with
which Judge Cowan was charged were
not such as to warrant the sentence
Of condemnation which would deprive
him forever Of holding any office OF
public trust and confidence. The day
Of impeachments has long since past.
1t was created for the removal of des-
pots from public office who were other
wise above the law. 1t has no place.
except In extreme cases, such as cor
ruption in office, in this republic Of
ours, What cause is there for i'm
parchment where the citizens may re-
move judge once in four years bv
declining to re-elect him to office.
We know nothing of the personal
feeling that exists between Judge
Cowan and other citizens of Ramsey
county, but we do know that only
grave charges are and Of right should
be impeachable. From the Judgment
In impeachment there is no appeal
The unseemly attempt made by GER
tain individuals in the state to brow
beat the legislators after they had
n
Judge Cowan will not add anything to
their credit for honesty and integrity.
This state has been saddled with an
enormous expense which the honest tax
payer must stand, and for what, to
crafty the petty luminosity of would
be "correctionists," who believe. or af-
feet to believe, that they have a mis-
sion to perform by regulating the
moral conduct Of their fellow men. IT
Is true that in a broad sense we all
are charged with such a mission, but
Is also true that the supreme law
giver, who created us has pointed out
the manner of exercising the mission
and that too in no unmistakable man
ner, by precept and example. Thous-
ands Of dollars of the peoples money
mas been wasted in a fruitless attempt
to condemn Judge Cowan, and thereby
crafty the selfish and petit motives
Of his enemies. 1t is to the credit of
the senate that they refused to be in |
duenced by such conduct. The senate
the only verdict that it could |
nave honestly and conscientiously rem
1ered according to the evidence.
When the prosecution in the course
IF the trial discovered that its case
vas hopeless one. new methods were /
'alled into action. An attempt was |
made to turn the attention of the pub- |
ic aside from the merits of the case.
~ accusing certain senator's bv in /
'erence, that a conspiracy existed. TO
lcquit Judge Cowan, no matter what |
he evidence might be- They called |
t in the language of the gaming table /
framing up" ''line-up," and different
names, they tried to create the i'm
preston that the members of the court /
we're influenced by their political as
'ociations and whatnot. This. of |
course, Is untrue as proven by the
totes of the senators ranging from
orty-six for acquittal to twenty-three
or conviction on different charges.
rhe purpose of the prosecutors win de-
'eive no one. Having placed an un-
warranted burden upon the taxpay-
r. they sought to bIindfold the public
With the old and always convenient
'hiboleth of fraud whatever that NAV
mean. The cost of the Cowan trial
will be brought home to the tax payer
n way that may cause him to ask
he question, what value have the pub
ic received? The answer will be cor
'ect-nothing.
On the other hand The Budget does
lot approve the conduct of Judge
1owan. we have not spoken during the
rial, for or against him, as we fully
ealize that 1t is a contempt on the
'art of newspaper to comment upon
my trial during it's progress. Taking
Judge Cowan at his word, we are I
rank to say that he should return to
he bench and abandon the habit he.
himself, admitted that he INDUCED
The drinkink evil is a misfortune
o anyone who INDUCES In it and il
apnot be otherwise than demoralizing
n judge Of a court of general iuris-
LECTION. Judge Cowan himself. IN his
'pening address, distinguished the
Judge from the man. Let him in the
uture unite them In the same person
-lity and moral responsibility and edi-
y the community by his conduct
That he has the ability to do this we
re convinced, his friends assure tha
'ublic, that he possesses the noble.