Cresco plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1913-1945, 1913-05-02
WANTS ARIZONA
TO name JUDGE.
Senator kshurst FavOrS Primary
for Federal Place.
PRESIDENT NAY ACT SOON

Former Governor Sloan Was Appoint
ed by Mr.. Taft, but Failed. of Con.
firmation in the senate-Wilson
Fails to Name Candidate Recon-
mended and Contest Has Grown Un-
iii There Are Twelve Aspirants in
the Field.
Washington, April 15.-President
Wilson's ideas of direct government
by the people are to be put to Sc
we're test by Senator Henry Ashurst
of Arizona. Mr.. Ashurst, who is an
advocate of the initiative, referendum
and judicial recall, has put into opera
ton plan for determining the popu-
lar choice of Judge for the federal
district of Arizona. When that choice
is determined he will call upon Presi
dent Wilson to name the man.
President Taft appointed former
Governor Sloan to this important
judgeship, but the senate refused to
confirm the nomination and vacan-
cy exists. Senator'S Ashurst and Smith
joined in recommending candidate
to President Wilson, but he was not
appointed and the contest for the
place continued to grow warmer I'M
til now there are twelve candidates.
Senator Ashurst finally has notified
the president and the attorney gen
eral that he will withdraw the recon-
mendation he put on file and will ask
the people OF Arizona to petition the
governor to call IAN advisory cleo
ton at an early date, so as to give
the people of Arizona an opportunity
to express their choice for federal
judge.
Under q statute of Arizona Is per
cent of the voters of the state may
petition the governor to cali an cleo
ton to permit the people to vote on
their choice for federal Judge, the re-
suit of the election to be certified to
the president as advisory" Senator
Ashurst has sent more than a thou
sand circulars to leading citizens in
Arizona and the newspapers there are
printing blank petitions, which their
readers are requested to cut out and
sign and forward to the governor.
Ashurst Explains Position.
"'If the president sees fit to fill the
vacancy, regardless of the petitions
that are being circulated for the spe-
cial election, l will have no quarrel
with the president about it, said
Senator Ashurst Il recognize his
right, as we'll as his responsibility, in
the matter. Our statute providing for
advisory elections to give the people
an opportunity to express their prefer
ence for federal judge is the only one
of its kind in any state in the Union.
helped to pass the statute and I
believe it is my duty to see the spirit
of it carried out"
In the letter which Senator Ashurst
sent to his constituents urging them
to petition the governor to call an
election he said: Surely the people
have the same right to make an ex-
preston as to their choice for federal
Judge as for senator's and adds: "A
vast majority of the harsh, unreason-
able and unjust decisions against or
gained labor have been rendered by
the federal courts" and 1.-The power
of issuance of injunctions and other
extraordinary writs has been greatly
abused by some federal judges
Some of the Democrats in Arizona
have become alarmed over the pro-
posed special selection. They have
warned Senator Ashurst that it might
result in the election of former Gov
ernor Sloan, Republican, whose
nomination was not confirmed by the
senate.
II told them that II the people Of
Arizona wanted Governor Sloan for
federal Judge they were entitled to
have him." said Senator Ashurst.
The election, If called, will be open
20 Democrats and Republicans alike
to vote for choice.