The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1912-08-31
MR.. PUGH,s POSITION INDoRsED.

district has been heretofore directed
to the fact that Edward Nichols
4 Pugh, the Ascension aspirant for as
sociate justice. was "the only judi
cial candidate in the field with
! platf only one who bases
/ his application for the peoples favor
on a specific desire and pledge te
elevate the character of the states
highest court by insuring the proper
consideration of appeals and the
| participation of more than one judge
of the tribunal OF final resort in the
examination Of the law and evidence
| upon which decisions are based and
promulg gated
In connection with the announce
ment OF his candidacy Mr.. Pugh
stated that under the existing prac.
tice in the supreme court the Hti-
CANT obtains the opinion of only
one Judge on the law and the facts,
whereas he is absolutely entitled to
the Judgment of all five He add
ed: III further legislation is neces-
sary to correct this evil it should be
enacted at once. l trust my candi-
dacy will direct attention to this
state Of affairs and bring about the
desired results >,
That the issue was live one was
demonstrated by the fact that soon
after its injection into the cam
paign by Mr.. Pugh an act was intro
duced in the general assembly to
cure the defect and require the study
and decision of all cases before the
supreme tribunal by at least three OF
| the five judges.
Further Endorsement of the position
assumed by the Ascension candidate
was furnished by the editorial COM
ments of a number of the leading
Louisiana newspapers, and among
those not heretofore reproduced or
quoted from in these columns is the
following from the Minden Signal
Democrat:
'4The evil Mr.. Pugh refers to is
recognized and criticized by the
lawyers and litigants all over the
state. In this criticism no per-
sonal reflection is intended upon
any member of the. court, but it
lis the serious defect in the system
Of handling cases and rendering de-
eisions that the criticism is aimed at.
In making his announc cement as a
candidate for the supreme court va
cancy il this district, Judge L. <.
Watkins also referred to this de-
feet and promised to do all in his
power to correct 1T, provided he was
honored with the office. He said:s
If elected, promise solemnly I'M
der my oath Of office to decide all
cases impartiallY and to perform all
the duties of. the office faithfully
| and conseientio and will DO all
Lin mr. power To expedite the work
! of fhes court; but will render no de-
eisionI not coneurred in by a majority
Of the members Of the court. In all
those cases where the court is re-
CURED by the constitution to review
both the law and the evidence a
concurrence of the members of the
court on all disputed points Of facts
is as essential as q concurrence on
points Of law, and each associate
Justice should ascertain the facts in
the case before rendering his con-
currenee IN any decree. promise
in each case presented to find out
for myself all the essential facts for
its decision. 81
The Claiborne Guardian-Journal
said the. views OF Judge Watkins
would meet with THE favor of the
bar at least which is tantamount
to general public approval, for liti-
giants are even more concerned in the
proposed reform than are the law
yers.
The suggestion Of this wholesome
change in judicial procedure is only
Viz III Iifllty 5EOhoIaC4 caLASllo IL 'Ais
Pugh's favor which ought to influence
voters in expressing their choice for
the supreme judgeship at, the prl-
mary election next Tuesday. He Is
in every essential particular admir-
ably well qualified for the high Of
flee. In legal ability and successful
practice he stands in the first rank
of Louisianass. attorneys. As a pa
triotic and public-spirited citizen his
standing is equally high. He has
never before sought public office and
in the only offices he has held
mayor Of Donaldsonville and presl-
dent of the parish school board
he has contributed more than he
has received. It should not be
taken as a reflection upon his COM
petftors to- contend that from this
point Of view his merits and claims
are superior to theirs. Comparisons
sra n.y. \, r,1,ykaynr Mr. PHphfS