The Vinita daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1913, 1912-01-03
OKLAHOMA WILL
OPPOSE HOOK
Oklahoma Believes Kansas Judge
Favors Interests, Says Senator
Gore-Hinges on Bristow.

Washington, d. c., Jan. 3.-Prob-
ably no greater opposition to candi-
date for the United States supreme
court ever has been shown than in the
case of Judge Hook, of Leavenworth,
Kans., who, 1T has been announced, is
being considered favorably by Presi- !
dent Taft for seat on the highest tri-
bunal in the nation
Since it became known that Judge
Hook was a candidate many of those
senator's wao are known to be aligned
with the people and against the ad-
vancement of every issue or person
who might be suspected Of leaning to-
ward privilege, have become exceed
ingly active and now are waging a
relentless crusade against the Kansas
jurist.
in the vanguard of those attacking
the record of Judge Hook and declar-
ing him to be not the best man that
can be obtained for the place, is Sen
ator Gore of Oklahoma and the blind
legislator will continue his activities
until it finally is decided officially that
Judge Hook shall or shall not be given
the position.
Gore Opposes Hook
In an interview given out Sunday
night Senator Gore said;
whenever doubt exists as to
whether a judge is just to the people
or leans toward privilege that doubt,
out of abundant caution, should be re-
solved in favor of the people, when
the advancement of judge is in ques-
ton. Is there such doubt in the case
of Judge Hook? The people of Okla
homa, the corporation commission of
that state, and the attorney general
of Oklahoma, practically are united
in the belief tnat there is just grounds
for such 4 doubt 1t is their belief
that he is prc-privilege, and therefore
against the people and against their
just endeavor reasonably to regulate
public service corporations. I share
this belief.
'"The people should not be asked to
run a risk in an appointment of this
character involving life tenure of of
fee.
There are lawyers and there are
superior judges who are above sus.
picion, and one of these should be ap'
pointed and confirmed as against a
Judge who is over-friendly to privilege
or even as against one who labors un
der such well grounded or well
spread apprehension of being thus
oyer-friendly.
"This would cast an additional sus
picion upon the judiciary which should
be avoided.
Il will not undertake now to analyzt
Judge Hooks decisions on which the
foregoing opinion is based.
Honesty of Judge.
The people who exploded the dog
ma that the king could do not wrong
cannot be expected to acquiesce il
the doctrine that a court can do NJ
wrong. Mr. Jefferson summarized thu
whole truth in the sentence tha
Judges are as honest as other mel
and no more He also said that If th'
liberties of the American ever wer'
lost it would be through the fedora
judiciary, with its life tenure. Thi
is a nadditional reason for resistini
the appointment of an inferior judg
to the supreme bench of the Unite
States, whose official record has eS
cited sernous apprehension and dis
trust.
LET us, as far as possible, keep til
judiciary above suspicion and the el
mine unspotted. This is the best wa
in which to silence and disarm the a
legged mob"
In his fight Senator Gore will hav
-
majority of the progressives OF tn
senate. it is now believed, although
generally is conceded that Senate
Bristow of Kansas is the pivot upo
which no inconsiderable part of prC
gressiye sentiment will swing.
Should Senator Bristow, who is
progressive out and out, decide tha
Judge Hook is not the man for tn
place. and oppose his elevation eve
though the Judge be from his HON
state. then it is assured that progre
sives as a whole will oppose Hoo
But. with Bristow sanctioning tn
Kansas Judge many progressives WI
stand with him. The standpattel
are sure to do so.
There is certain, however, to be or
of the hardest battles in the hlstoI