The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1912-01-21

ton of the public for time is #
I recall OF elective officers and especially =
judges No one contends that the ordinary onS
should not be subject to this check, but when W.
mention the judiciary certain persons. who think tn
the perpetuity of civil govynment depends upon
following the old thread-wom policies of Engan,
throw up their hands in holy horror. They say thai
there is certain amount OF independence that mus
attach itself to the judiciary before they can rgbuj
interpret the laws, and that if the judiciary is sui,
ect TO the recall they will be subject to the will .
the mob. In the answer to the first of these obecA
tons, wish to ask the question: Is not the will
of the people law? Are the judges supposed to s
on the benches and interpret the law to mean thai
which the makers never intended it should mean,
If the will of the people is law, certainly the judges
should cOnstrue the law the people intended Ii
they do this, then what do they fear from the mobS
Then, if we free people and capable of govl
erning ourselves when will the mob in the ascend
ancy? What has the Judge to fear from the mob?
When Judge decides a question, and decides It
fairly and honestly every good citizen will be ready
stand his back and to that the does noS
recall him The only judges who have any fear from
the people those judges who want to favor the
special interests and decide in favor corpora.
tons, and of they fear the recall We have
doubt that His Honor Judge Hooks would some.
what fear the recall especially if he lived in Okla.
homa What do the people think about this matter?
Wherever it has been submitted to them in Arizona
and in California they have carried it by large major
tiles.
Now, let us see how this would work The sheriff
Cwhom everybody admits should be recalled if he
fails 10 do his duty) is under bond and is answerabe
both to the county and any individual who is in
iured by his msdeeds The is true of the regis
of deeds. the county clerk the clerk of the dis
rict court, and every other officer except the Judge
The same is true of every officer, and under
their bonds they can be made respond in damages
for any wrong they do What about the Judge? He
sits enhroned upon the bench, and it makes no diff
ferenc" what wrong he does matter how much
he oyerrides the law how much he wrongs YOU
action can he maintained against him. either bv
the state, county individual. He decides the
case. He cam if he wants take sides in case
and decide against You and say you that if you
not like what he has decided you can appeal This
is true but with anything like a large record, this
costs from 500 up, besides the attorney fee The
supreme court the case Meantime the
other party has disposed of his property left the
country, and you cannot collect your judgment What
recourse nave YOU the answer is, None The
vino is capable of iniurng the individual
and doing individual wrong is the Judge and why
should the Judge be removed from the will of the
people? 1t is true that judges have certain pow
and must be ready to act in matters regardless
OF the consequences, but the time has long passed
especially in this country when the Judge who does
his duty has anything to fear from the people.
California and Arizona have set the pace and set
it Well that officers who do not do their duty shall
be brought to before the people who raised
them to their official dignity And every officer
including the judges, should be brought feel that
they must respond to the wishes of their master, the
people.