Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1914-09-05
Judas Prouty's otassmena.

AS you know, was nominated ~ one
OF the candidates for supreme judge at
the non-partisan primary in June. I.
OF course, was pleased with that nomi-
nation as believe thoroughly In . nom
partisan judiciary. But the election
| ought to be non-factional ~ well as
| non partisan. In the primary no or
lgalhzetion or special interest promoted
my candidacy and. so far - I know.
no organization or special interest OPP
posed it To be nominated under such
conditions was gratifying to me. But
must confess that am not pleased
! with the angle that the contest for
election II taking as shown by the
| newspaper clippings reaching me. This
contest is becoming not only partisan
but Objectionable fractional. Organi-
nations are trying to secure the cleo
ton OF judges that they think have at
least a bias in favor OF their cause or
interest.
This, think. Is more Objectionable
than partisan elections The news
papers bring the report that the anti
saloon league Of the state has endorsed
and is working for certain candidates
evidently because 1t thinks their de-
ctsions have or viii show a leaning
toward their cause. The same papers
bring the news that the liquor interests
have endorsed and are working for GER
tain candidates, evidently actuated by
the desire and purpose OF securing
some one OF the bench that would be
friendly to their cause, or Interests.
This Is drawing the judiciary into
quagmire that 1t has never entered
before in Iowa, and say frankly that
I am not willing to become a party TO
it. do not desire to be supreme judge
IL would be compelled 10 feel that my
election was due to either organization
with ne implied bias one way or the
other that this support would portend.
While have been a temperance man
and an abstainer all my life, am I'M
willing to be considered candidate OF
the anti-saloon league. or similar or
CARNATIONS. for supreme Judge with Its
implied obligations of judicial bias. II
any of the members OF these organiza-
tons deem me worthy and qualified
should be pleased to have their sup
port. but not as a means or instru-
ment for promoting their cause. While
have always felt that the liquor in
terests should have the same legal
rights in courts as other litigants. l
should not want to be considered as the
candidate of those Interests with It's
implied obligation Of bias or favoritism.
II go on the supreme bench / desire
TO go free from any such implied bias
or prejudice. and II / can not go in
that way / do not desire TO go at all.
do not desire TO go there as the rep
resentative OF any interest. sentiment
or cause. Under our form of gov
eminent a judicial office is entirely
different from representative office.
representative properly represents
the policies of the majority that elects
him. But Judge should represent no.
body. no policy. no class. no cause, no
interest. 1t is his duty to declare the
law AS 1t Is, impartially. without bias.
whether 1t hurts a friend or helps
foe. Few men have been found big
enough or strong enough to disregard
the influence to which they owe their
election. and / do not claim would pc.
For this reason i do not want to feel
that my election Is due to either OF
these organizations. therefore wisn
to publicly announce that do not want
the active assistance of either Of them.
l do not want to be considered as the
candidate OF either.
/ have made bold to confess to the
people of iowa that I have long
cherished an ambition TO sit ON the
supreme bench. but I have greater
ambition and that Ii to be true to my
own ideals And il can not go on the
bench under circumst ances that
would feel that could be absolutely
impartial to every man and to every
interest. should not care to be elected.
S. F. Prouty.
Washington. D. C., Sept. g. 1914.