The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1918-08-30
LABOR SHOULD
SUPPORT TOLMAN
Judge Warren w. Talman Has Rec,
ord for Fairness and
....- Capability
by William J. Coates, Vice Presi-
dent Washington State FEEDER
alton of Labor.)

One of the vital things the trade
union movement should be interested
in just now is the election of Su-
preme Court Judges. There is no
need here to relate why we should
elect men to the Supreme bench
who have the interest of the whole
people at heart. Time and again
we have had handed down to US ad-
verse decisions by the supreme court
/ judges of the state of Washington
when the decision sought was for the
betterment of the citizenship of the
state.
We should elect men in this pro-
gressive state who are not bound
by time-worn precedent, but men
who have foresight enough to estab-
fish precedent. once in while.
The State Federation of Labor has
endorsed men for the Supreme Court,
and | believe we have made a wise
selection. Each of these men should
receive our highest consideration
and support, and solid vote should
be cast for them.
For the two-year term there has
been endorsed Warren w. Tolman of
Spokane, and it is because | know
Judge Tolman that | am writing to
the trade unionists of the state So
Letting support for him and the
others named with him.
Judge Tolman has lived in Spo
kane for many years and is one of
the oldest members of the bar and is
well qualified for the office he
seeks. He is looked up to by men,
bers of the bar as one of the clear
est thinkers and best read lawyers
in the state. q
! | became acquainted with the
judge through sitting with him for a
year upon the district appeal board
in the administration of the selective
service act, and it was upon that
board that | was struck with his
eminent fairness toward all the
boys called to the colors and neither
wealth nor power had any effect
uron him in acting upon the lases
before US. When the Judge was
appointed by Governor Lister to the
Supreme bench, and when he was
bidding goodbye to the members of
our board, I expressed wish that
! his decisions upon the bench would
be as fair as had his decisions upon
the board, and the Judge replied that
| "'if fairness was desired, and that
no man by reason of wealth or in
fluence shall receive any considera-
ton which is not given to the poor
and uninfluential, then l think there
is some hope that may prove to be
n friend of organized labor"
No clearer statement than that
could be made, and no fairer position
desired by our membership. Since
he has been upon the bench he has
proved his statement, and in con-
versation with him recently he again
reiterated the above.
Some of these days when the eco
nomic condition of our country
changes there will be men who be-
long to organized labor occupying
positions upon the supreme bench in
every state in the union. But at
the present time very. few of us
ever get the opportunity to study
Blackstone because we are chained to
the economic grindstone in an en-
deavor to earn our daily bread. Until
the change cOmes-and so long as
we are compelled to abide by de-
cisions of men other than ourselves
we should endeavor to place upon
the bench men who are at least
in sympathy with progressive thought
and progressive principles.
At the coming primary election
we are forced to choose between the
two men who are in the race for
members of the supreme bench for
the two year term. Neither of these
men is a member of organized la
Dor, therefore it is our duty to
choose one who has expressed him
self as aligned with the people of
the state, and such one is Judge
Tolman, who is now serving upon
the state supreme bench.
l believe we have good and
staunch friend. in Judge Tolman and
because of that belief / am asking
the men and women of the state to
give him a vote at the coming prim-