The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1912-10-31
SUPREME
COURT RAGE
(PoliticaI advertising.)

To The Forum: Many false and
malicious statements are now being
made by the interests and their at
torneys against James L. Robinson
and the judicial reforms which he ad-
vocates. Mr.. Robinson does not claim
that a judge should decide a case
without due elaboration. He does
clalm' however, that the judges of our
supreme court, who are employed by
the state and paid $4,000 a year should
render their decisions without sale,
denial, or unnecessary delay, and that
they should truthfully state the facts
in the case and give a reason for their
conclusion as to the law. He does not
believe that 1t is proper for the judges
TO take a three months vacation and
allow III cases to accumulate while
they are drawing their salary and do
ing nothing. He believes that they
should keep up with their work just
the same as though they we're en-
ployed to do similar work for a busl-
ness corporation. ''-
Mr.. Robinson believes that it sis
highly improper for his opponent to
be out e~lectioneering while cases are
being argued before the supreme
court-some Of them involving over
$4,000, and this is just what happened
last week. And, during all this time,
the judge is drawing the salary and
compelling the taxpayers-Mr. Rob-
inson's friends as well as his own-to
thus contribute to his campaign fund
without their consent. If the supreme
court and the taxpayers can dispense
with this judge at present, why not
dispense with him entirely?
Another false statement, that has
been persistently made by the inter-
ests and their attorneys is to the eff
feet that all the attorneys in the state
have endorsed Judge Bruce. This is
not true, as less than one-eighth OF
the attorneys have signed up, and this
Notwithstanding that frantic efforts
have been made in many counties by
the judges friends. And here again
Mr.. Robinson thinks that it is highly
improper for n judge, or a candidate
for judge, to permit the circulation OF
a petition by his friends. Such a Pc
tition is in the nature of a threat, and
the fact that some who have signed
the judges petition will not vote for
him, n express a very unfavorable
opinion Of him in private, shows that
they consider 1t a threat. Mr.. Robin
son has persistently refused to allow
his nam to be used on any such petit
ton. Had he not done so, he would
today have the endorsement Of more
attorneys han Mr.. Bruce. He believes
that the judges of this state are the
nCA IA " GIL Vic pCOpiG dlN gAAOulA
owe their election to no particular
class or profession.
No unbiased person can find any
fault with any Of the reforms which
Mr.. Robinson advocates in his PAM
phlet on judicial reform. They meet
with the APPROVAL of most of the Lead
ing attorneys of the state, and with
the universal approval of the taxpay-
ers. A noted magazine writer says Of
these reforms: 81 have read his
words with much pleasure. He GER
tainly states things clearly and with
out palaver. Good writing is always
the result of clear thinking"
Another Misrepresentation which is
being circulated by the judge and his
friends, is to the effect that Mr.. rob-,
inson is only a tax title lawyer. 1t is
true that he is an expert in this line
of litigation, but he has always de-
Tended the owner of the property
against the eastern tax title sharks,
who try to get the property for a few
paltry dollars. Hundreds of pool
people in this state can testify that
Mr.. Robinson saved their homes. Can
the judge say this of some of his opin-
ions? DO his decisions favor the tax
title sharks, or the owner of the o
erty? p,5
But Mr.. Robinson has had many
other cases before the supreme court
of North Dakota, South Dakota, Wis
consin, Minnesota, and the United
states supreme court. He has mad
over 1000 cases in the district courts
Of this state. and la the enviable rec
ord of having won over 95 per cent OF
his cases.
j. NJ. Anderson.
VIM. Lemke. t1