The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1919-08-09
Further Comment on the Judgeship.

Further Comment on the Judgeship.
Editor Collar Chronicle:
About a week ago | wrote you let
ter inviting criticism, either favorable
or unfavorable, to the thoughts which
expressed, which you kindly pub
lished.
My letter was no attack upon Judge
Blackman. The sum and substance of
it was to ask him to resign, accept the
pension which his friends made posi-
BILE for him so that he could retire
from public life and criticism and re-
lieve the congested court dockets by
permitting the people to name their
own che ice for judge, and not hold on
until such time as it would be neccs-
sary for the governor to appoint his
successor and thus place the appoint
ment in the power of politicians. whose
selfish interests seldom yield to the
popular demand. In the past month
or six weeks there are three things
that have come before the public eye
which touch Immediately on the resig
nation of the judge, and l will take
them up in the order in which they &C.
Cured, and give the public the benefit
of my thoughts, again inviting criti-
cism, either favorable or unfavorable.
First, letter was printed in the
Town Talk from Governor Pleasant to
Judge Blackman in which the gov
ernor advised that the money had been
borrowed by the State to pay the pen
sion, and then complimented the judge
on his long and useful services to the
public, and on the fact that the legis-
lature had seen fit to make his retire
ment possible by enacting the pension
law. This letter, to my mind, might
be expressed in common vernacular as
follows: Judge, here is your money.
Come and get it. !"
Second, a short notice came out in
the paper to the effect that the judge
had called at the Town Talk and stated
that he would not resign until he got
ready. In this connection l want to
ask if this statement expresses true
regard for the friends who have stood |
by him through thick and thin; who
have voted for him time and again;
who have taken his part when he was
criticised and abused by his enemies;
who have stood by him year in and |
year out; have taken up his cause on
every occasion and made his fight their |
fight? | want to ask further if this is |
the sentiment we should find expressed |
by one who was at one time a leader in |
the cause of democracy; is it senti-
ment that. sounds well to the ears that |
have heard the shrieking shells of des-
potism; who have suffered hardships |
in the battle fields of |
France that the world might be saved |
for democracy. Is it popular senti
ment in the world to-day when nations
are banding together that the common
people might have a say-so in their
own government?
Third, Judge Blackman has made the
statement that he does not resign be-
cause many people tell him that they |
cannot afford to let him resign. In
this connection will say that the word |
afford" has many meanings; but the
general accepted meaning of that word
is the sense in which it affects the
pocket book. To the merchants it
means customers, to the preachers pay
ing members of the congregation: to
the lawyers it means satisfied clients;
to the farmer it means labor and
and to the iaborer it means
wages. Which of these will lose by
the judges resignation? Personally l
believe that the judge wants to resign
He is sick and tired and would be only
too glad to quit; but there is some one
whose interests are involved, and
whose influence with the Judge is
stronger than his natural desires
There is power behind the throne"
who feels that he cannot afford" to
let the judge resign, because his inter-
ests may be prejudiced.
do not pretend to be politician,
but do hate to pay taxes about as badi
as anyone, and | can't help from say
ing what | think when see the ex-
penses getting higher and higher be-
cause of congested court dockets and
cases coming back from the supreme
court for another trial.
A TAXPAYER AND VOTER.
Masters Walter and Hugh
Thomas Lurry and little sister,
"