The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1916-10-27
City and County Intelligence
NORTH IDAHO JURIST
VISITS IN CALDWELL
Judge r. N. Dunn Confident of His
Election as Justice.

Judge r. N. Dunn of Couer d Alene
was a visitor in Caldwell Saturday
evening. Judge Dunn is making
trip over southern Idaho in the in
terests of his candidacy for justice OF
the supreme court. He has visited the
different parts of north Idaho and
many points in the southern part OF
the state. Judge Dunn feels confident
that he will be elected.
Judge Dunn stated to representa-
tive of The Tribune that he would
come out of north Idaho with hand
some majority. He pointed out that
in the primary election he received
practically as many votes in north
Idaho as both his opponents to-
gether. In Bonner, kootenai and
Boundary counties Judge Dunn polled
1914 votes; Judge Sullivan received
20o2 votes in the same counties and
Judge Rice 20l9. Judge Dunn expects
to poll larger proportion OF the
vote at the general election.
Geography No Proper Test.
Judge Dunn, in discussing the con-
test in which he and Mr.. John c. Rice
of this city are the candidates, ex-
pressed himself as entirely pleased
with conditions. Judge Dunn said:
Il find that Mr.. Rice and his sup
porters are laying much stress upon
his place of residence as a reason for
electing him to the supreme bench,
if in fact they are not urging it as
the principal ground. This so-called
argument has been used many times
by candidates for office in this state,
but | do not recall having seen a
statement heretofore in support of
any candidate which is quite so re-
markable as the following which APP
pears in one of Mr.. Rice's newspaper
advertisements:
"'Unless John c. Rice of Caldwell
is elected justice of the supreme
court, southwest Idaho, with its pecu-
liar irrigation and legal problems, will
be without representation on the su
preme bench
IF it be true, as suggested in this
statement, that Justices Bulge and
Morgan and l, if shall be elected,
would not represent Mr.. Rices Sec
ton of the state, it necessarily follows
that Mr.. Rice, if elected, would rep
resent only his section of the state.
| certainly repudiate such view. IL
is equally contain, | am sure, that Mr..
Rice would repudiate the charge that
he, as justice of the supreme court,
would represent only southwest Idaho,
which shows how utterly ridiculous
and foolish it is to ask voters to
seriously consider such stuff as a
ground for supporting a candidate for
the high office of justice of the SUI
preme court.
For IL years after Idaho became
state every member of the supreme
court lived in south Idaho, yet no one
has ever suggested that the court
was, for that reason, in any degree
inefficient, or that it did not repre-
sent all parts of the state.
There is just one test that the
voters should apply to candidates fol-
the supreme court, and that is the
broad test of fitness of character and
ability. l do not claim that thi:
would necessarily elect me, but l in
sist that the voters ought to apply it
no matter whether it elects Mr.. Rice
or myself, and it ought to be applied
in every instance, even if it shoulC
result in placing all the members o
the court in one county. TO urg,
voters to act in so important matte
on mere trifles tends, in my judgment
to belittle the highest court in tn
state.
"At the beginning of my candidac!
l announced in substance that woul'
not conduct campaign of self-prais
either through the newspapers or tn
mails. and l shall adhere to this rule
A candidates testimony as to his per
sonal and official virtues is not onl
not convincing to the voter, but
more or less nauseating. therefor
submit my case to the public ON m
record of rs years in Idaho, the las
seven and a half OF which hav
been district Judge"