Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1912-06-08
Accused Seattle Jurlst, Who
Faces Impeachment, Has
Had Many Opinions Reversed
by Higher Courts,
LABOR UNIONS CHARGE
HIM WITH PREJUDICE
Foes Believe That Decision in
OIeson Case viii Give Thom
Opportunity to Prove His Un-
fitness for Bench.

OPRNitoit'ty " WV NV ~
fitness for Bench,
(By Morning journal Special Leased wlre.j
Seattle. WASH, June 7.-United
States District Judge Cornelius H
Hanford presided over civil trial In
his court today. He refused to dis
cuss the impeachment proceedings
except to say that he would answer
every charge made against him. He
will hold court In Tacoma on next
wednesday. and 1t is expected he then
will rule upon the petition Of United
States District Attorney w. @. Nc
L.aren for reopening of the suit In
stituted by the district attorneys Of
flee for annument of the citizenship
papers of Leonard Oleson. which suit
on May 10. was decided against OLE
son. A complete history of the OLE
son case is herewith given:
On January 10, 1910. in Tacoma,
Leonard Oleson, aged thirty-three
years. a scandinavian, appeared as an
applicant for final citizenship papers.
He showed clear understanding OF
the American government and the
duties of citizenship and a certificate
of naturalization issued to him. on
September 81. 1910, John Speed
Smith, naturalization examiner,
filed in the United States district at
torney's office in Seattle an affidavit
setting forth:
That Leonard Oleson appeared as
witiIess fur II petitioner fuf natutali7
zation, Carl Olesen, in the superior
court Of Pierce county. September ~,
1910, and under oath said Leonard
Oleson stated in open court in answer
to interrogations propounded by affi-
ant, that he, the said Leonard Oleson.
was not attached to the principles OF
the constitution OF the United States.
that he believed in radically changing
1t; that he had been maintaining
such view for a period of between
two and three years, and at the time,
he, the said Leonard Oleson. was ad-
mitted to become a citizen OF the
United states, he was not attached to
the principles of the constitution of
the United States. Therefore affiant
believes that the said Leonard Oleson
was not fit subject at the time of
Ills W bN'oiit ." w.
zen of the United States and was not
in accord with the law.
The district attorneys office there
upon filed in the court OF United
States Judge George Donworth. who
has since resigned, suit to annul
Oleson's citizenship papers. The pro-
ceedings on May 10. 1912, were In
open court in Tacoma. but no stenog-
raphic report was made.
Four witnesses testified that they
had attended labor meetings in Taco
ma in which Oleson took "A prominent
part. but they had never heard him
assail the constitution. on cross-ex-
animation he said he thought our
form of government ought to be abol-
ished and an Industrial democracy
substituted for il. He admitted be-
longing to the socialist labor party
and the Industrial Workers of the
World, but denied he was an anar-
ohist. He denied also that he was OPP
posed to organized government or
that he favored overthrowing this
government by force or violence.
Judge Hanford has been on bad
terms with the labor unions ever since
1893, when he caused several compa-
MES of troops to be brought from
Vancouver Barracks TO Seattle during
the American Railway union strike.
Hanford aroused storm during
the Gill recall campaign of 1910, byl
issuing an Injunction forbidding, as
upon taxpayers, the re-
call election on petition OF non-resi-
dent property owner. whose share OF
the expense. II is alleged. would have
been less than one cent. The circuit
court of appeals dissolved the injunc-
ton.
In the first OF Alaska coal land
trials. Judge Hanford decided against |
the government and was completely |
reversed by the supreme court.
In the summer Of 1910. on petition
of Augustus Peabody. Of Chicago. as
trustee for the bondholders OF the
Seattle. Renton and Southern rail-
way, Judge Hanford enjoined the
company from failing TO coll
lect a i0-cent fare. The citizens of
the Rainier valley district. of Seattle
had been fighting for scent fare
and Judge Hanford's decision led TO
a great mass meeting on the night OF
August 25, at which Judge Hanford
was denounced for his decision In the
Renton railway case and other de-
cisions and was accused by City Coun-
Gilman oliver T. Erickson of drunk
enness.
Nine Of the speakers were arrested
for contempt of court. but a federal
grand jury refused TO indict them.
While the meeting was In progress
crowd outside hanged a dummy fig
ure labelled ''Hanford." to telephone
pole
After the August mass meeting. inn
peachmcnt petitions were circulated