Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1914-09-09
JUDGE PROUTY STATES HIS 20.

Washington, D. c., September {,
l9l4.-"As you know, I was nominal
ed as one tof the candidates for SUI
preme judge at the non-partisan pri-
mary in June. l of course was
pleased with that nomination as I
believe thoroughly in a non-partisan
judiciary. But the election ought to
be non-factional as. well as 5non-parti-
san. In the primary no organization
or special interest promoted my can
didacy and, SO far as. l know, no or
~ganization or special interest oppos-
ed it. Torbe nominated under such
conditions vas gratifying to- me. But
i must confess that I am not pleas:
ed with the angle that the contest
fer election is taking as shown by
the newspaper clippings reaching me.
This contest is becoming not only
partisan but Fobjectionably factional.
Organizations are trying to secure
the election of judges that they think
have at least a bias in favor Of their
cause or interest. This, I think, is
more Objectionable than partisan
elections. The newspapers bring the
report that the ~Anti-saloon League
Of the state has endorsed and is
working for certain candidates evil
IDENTITY because it thinks their deci-
sions have or will show a leaning to-
ward their cause: The same papers
bring the news that the liquor inter-
.ests have endorsed and are working
for certain candidates, evidently actu-
ated by the desire and purpose, Of Sc
curing. some one on the bench that
would be friendly to their cause or
interests. This is drawing the judi
ciary into a quagmire that it has
never entered before in Iowa, and
I say frankly that I am not willing
to become a party to it. / do not
desire to be supreme judge if 1 would
be compelle' to feel that my cleo
ton was due to either organization
with the implied bias one way or the
other that this support would
portend.. While I have been
a temperance man \and an
abstainer all my life, I am unwilling
to be considered a candidate Of the
Anti-saloon League, or similar organ
cations, for supreme Judge with its
implied obligations of judicial bias.
If any of the members of these Or
CARNATIONS deem me worthy and
qualified I should be pleased to have
their support, but not as a, means Or
instrument for promoting their
causg. While I have always felt
that liquor interests should have the
same legal rights in courts as other
litigants, I should not want to be m
sidered as the candidate of those in
terests with it's implied obligation of
bias or favoritism. If I go on the
supreme bench I desire to go free
from any such implied bias or preju-'
dice, and If l can not 60 in that way
1 do not desire to go at all. Il do
not desire to go there as the repre-
sentative of any interest, sentiment
Or cause. Under our form of gov
eminent a judicial office is entirely
different from a representative Of
flee. A representative properly rep
resents the policies of the majority
that elects him. But a judge should
represent nobody, no policy, no class,
no cause, no interest. 1t is his duty
TALLY, without bias, whether it hurts
a friend or helps a foe. Few men
have been found big enough Or strong
enough to disregard the influence to
which they owe their election, and
I do not claim that l would be. For
this reason l do not want to feel
that my election is due to either of
these organizations. I therefore
wish to publicly that I do
not want the active assistance of
either of them. I do not want to be
considered as the candidate of eth
er.
Il have made bold to confess to
The people of Iowa that / have long
cherished an ambition to sit on the
supreme bench, but I have a greater
ambition and that is to be true to
ny own ideals. And if I a not go
IN the bench under circumstances
that I would feel that l could be alb
;olutely impartial to every man and
% every interest, ] should not
care to be elected"
as +. PROUTY"