The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1912-09-24
Says He Will Probably Retire If Nor
ris Man Is Placed on the Ticket
By Petition.
1000 SIGNERS NECESSARY
Minneapolis Lawyers Say That Mum.
Der Will Be Found Easily Among
Members of the Bar.


ment of Judge Start from the race
for the chief justiceship of the SUI
preme court, which was announced
yesterday was followed by the follow
ing developments:
The ruling of the attorney gene
rails Office that Judge Starts with
drawal would automatically nomin-
ate F. Alexander Stewart, a young
Minneapolis attorney, who ran third
in the race for the nomination and
would make Mr. Stemart. with Judge
Charles n. Stanton of Bemidji, who
ran next to Judge Start, the regular
primary nominees:
The launching of a move to nomin-
ate Judge Calvin L. Brown of Nor
ris. senior associate justice, by petit
tition, for chief Justice;
The statement by Mr.. Stewart that
if Judge Brown is placed on the tick
ct by petition he will probably with
draw, leaving the race to Judge
Brown and Judge Stanton
The announcement Of Judge Starts
retirement came Monday in a letter to
Secretary Of State julius A. Schmahl.
The letter read:
Il am unoficially advised that l
was selected at the primary election
as nominee for chief justice. Ny
candidacy for such nomination was
announced on the assumption based
on the unanimity of my election in
the past as judge and chief justice
and on unsolicited assurances from
all parts Of the state that my nomi-
nation and election would follow
without serious opposition. 1t is now
evident that my acceptance of nomi-
nation would involve campaign for
election which I am unwilling to
make. l therefore hereby decline the
denomination and request you to ON
it my name from the next general
election ballot
Although Judge Start would not
discuss his retirement today it was
generally agreed that several factors
entered into his retirement. Since
Judge Start was elected chief Justice
in 1894, and prior to that time when
he was a district judge in the third
judicial district, he has been practi-
in r
election. Six years ago the Demo-
Gratis refused to nominate a candidate
for chief justice against him. He an
nounced his candidacy for renomi-
nation soon after the new primary
law was passed this year and in the
belief he would have no opposition
AS a member of the state board of
investments, Judge Start last year
opposed as unwise the sale Of state of
Virginia bonds held in the state
school fund The sale of the bonds
was favored in Northern Minnesota
where a demand had gone up for
school funds and Judge Charles M.
Stanton Of Bemidji, Democrat, en-
tered the race as a candidate against
Judge Start. In the meantime Mr..
Stewart, who was practically un-
known in state politics, had filed for
Judge Starts place. Judge Start felt
keenly the fact that he was to have
opposition He made no campaign at
the primaries and the race for the
two places on the ticket was closer
than had been expected. On official
returns received to date the vote was
as follows: Start 3S,927, Stanton 3d.
Pts, Stewart 27,S75.
After comforting with other men,
bers of the court, Judge Start today
announced his retirement. His
friends, however, who resented the
entrance of Judge Stanton and Mr..
Stewart in the race, plan to present
petition naming Judge Gavin l..
Brown of Morris.
Judge Brown is the senior asso-
ciate justice and is considered one of
the strongest men on the supreme
court bench. He said today that he
would probably accept nomination
by petition, but would take no steps
toward initiating or circulating pc
tition. To place his name on the