Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1916-10-29
Who WILL HEAD
SUPREME COURT
FOR SIX YEARS
Control Of High Tribunal To BE
Decided at General Election
in November
WHAT CANDIDATES THINK
THEIR QUALIFICATIONS
Expressions as to Own Ability of
Contesting Nominees From
Publicity Pamphlet

Contesting Nominees From
Publicity Pamphlet
The electors of North Dakota are
called upon to select November Z
from field of six candidates, three
justices for the supreme court-a
majority of that tribunal-to serve the
state for six years following January
l, 1917. Inasmuch as the control Of
the highest tribunal of North Dakota
from 1917 to 1923 is a matter OF at
least equal importance to the admin
istration OF the states laws for the
years 1917 and 1918, it is interesting
to learn from the candidates them
selves the qualifications which they
regard themselves as possessing for
the high office to which they aspire.
L. E. Birdzell
l.. E. Birdzell says of himself:
Born and raised on a farm in Him
lis; educated in the common schools
and University of Illinois, graduating
with a degree Of LII. B. in 1903. Came
to North Dakota in 1904 as instructor
in the law school of the state uni
versity, Was later promoted to full
professorship and at the present time
am serving in that capacity. Before
taking up the work in the college OF
law, practiced law and since that time
have participated in the presentation
OF number of important cases be-
fore the supreme court.
I'm 1912 was appointed chairman
OF the first state tax commission by
Governor Burke; served in that cap
acity until September, 1914, when
designed to resume work in the col
lege OF law. While chairman of the
commission recommended to the leg
islature number of important tax
reform measures. AS chairman of
the commission l successfully con-
Quoted much important legal and ad-
ministrative work In taxation. d.
rected the work OF subjecting to tax
alton property that had escaped and
the legality OF this work, tested in the
courts, has been upheld. This work
included better equalization OF the
tax burdens 49,.
Edward T. Burke
Associate Justice Edward T. Burke
says: my father filed upon q gov
eminent homestead adjoining Fargo
in 1879, and my early life was spent
upon a North Dakota farm. The e1-
perience so gained has aided me to
understand many lawsuits wherein
farmers were interested. 1t also gave
me perfect health to stand the hard
work OF the present time. Was edu-
Gated at the University of North Da-
kota and the University of Minnesota,
from which an ILL., B. degree was re-
ceived. Served IS district Judge for
Barnes, Stutsman, LaMOure, Wells,
Foster, Eddy, Griggs and Logan coun-
ties, and am now serving my first
term upon your supreme court. Am
IS years old and married. Have three
sons"
c. j. Fisk
Born March II 1862; reared on q
farm in Whiteside county, III. Came
to the territory of Dakota in the
spring of 1886, locating at Larimore,
and in February, 1889, took up his
residence in the city of Grand Forks,
where he became associated with the
late Judge John NJ. Cochrane, in the
practice of law, and later with Hon.
Tracy R. and George A. Bangs of that
city. = .'
Judicial experience: Presided as
district judge in first judicial district,
comprising the counties of Grand
Forks and Nelson, from January /,
1897, to January /, 1907, and is now
serving his tenth year on the supreme
bench. In point of judicial expert
ence on the trial and appellate
benches, he ranks first among all
the judges Of the state Now chief
justice of the supreme court of North
Dakota"
r. II. Grace
R. Fl. Grace says: Il have a lib
eral education, acquired largely by
laboring for the money, by working
on the farm; after acquiring good
preliminary education, l took the law
course, and was admitted to the Min
nesota bar in 1895; practiced stead
lily ten years in Morris, Mimi; re-
moved to Mohall in 1904, and have
practiced in Mohall, N. D., since, be-
ing therefore in continuous practice
for twenty-five years: l am now
forty-elght years OF age. l have been
mayor of the city of Mohall, which is
the county seat of Renville county.
l have a devoted wife and three sons,
Alonzo, now finishing third year uni
versity; Virgil, now graduating from
Mohall high school, and Cyril, in sew
enth grade.
Il have been successful in my pro-
fession and have had large practice
in the district and supreme courts of
the state of North Dakota, and the
district court of the Unied States, and
the district and supreme courts OF
Minnesota"
James L. Robinson
James F. Robinson says: las su-
preme court judge offer to serve you
and to show you how to reduce taxes
and to make the crooked ways
straight. II elected with truly pro-
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