The Alaska socialist., 1913-11-15
(Continued from last issue)

the precedents of the stone age. We are always marching backward3 to find out what some lord or baron said II the days of feudalism. The surgeon wants the latest the newest, successful oper- ation the physician, the most improved effective medical remedy. The manu- facturer is looking and paying we'll for the latest machine, saving cost of pro- duction, or both. In sh ort, every depart ment of life and activity, professional, productive and otherwise, except the bench and bar, are improving and econ omizing their service by the adoption of substantial practical reforms. Govern ment alone drags behind, wasting time, money and rendering inefficient service and in the government procession, it is hardly complimentary to say, but no doubt t the fact, that the judiciary is bringingtup the rear of that belated pro- cession.
 In the present Ohio constitutional convention, oil the question of reforming our judicial system and procedure, twenty-eight votes were cast against it, nj neteen of which were from lawyers.
 Fifth. Our profession, from which the bench is chosen, is becoming sadly commercialized. The standard to-day of the big lawyer is the big fee. And as the big fee is generally paid by big business and as loyalty to clients is one of the III st admirable characteristics of the lawyer, 1t is easy to understand why the Roots, the Choates, the Milburns and the Thurstons are with the special inter ests. And most of them are honestly with big business. They can say with Paul of old, himself great lawyer be- fore his conversion, that his 2elfscience was void of offence against God and years has served the big corporations of his state by employing his mind and his skill i'll favor of forced technical con- <Nf1 ,1oA ing corporate interests, so as to defeat the spirit and purpose of laws i'll favor of human health; safety, life and gen. eral, welfare, such a man, by the most elementary laws of psychology, acquires the corporation squint S a lawyer, which he cannot wholly abandon when lie becomes judge on the bench.
 Bit it is urged that the judge should be independent. Independent of what? Independent of whom? We say "yes' independent of the boss, who too often nonlinates nd elects him. We say Ives" --independent of the machine and the special interests who too often nom- mate and elect him. But 1t is not ill that sense that it is urged that the judge should be independent. It is rather that he shall b. absolutely regardless md unanswerable to public opinion ill what soever form it may clearly and cogently express itself. Where is there any auth ority for this sort of judicial indepen- dence?
 Some distinguished men have tried to improve oil Lincoln at Gettysburg. They declare themselvse in favor of govern ment of the people, for the people by a representative part of the people.
 We'll, thank God they are at least forced to admit the representative character of the ruling class, and I assume they include judges ill their def milton.
 Now, an officer, judicial or otherwise, cannot be at the same time represent tative of the people and independent of the people, any more than all officer of | 2 rrivo+e cornOrot;o,, co, ba .~..A |