Arizona republican., 1922-06-15
A Contempt Case

How thin skinned are some of Judges! Ana
in consequence Editor Walter ]. Scott of the Silver
Belt OF Miami is awaiting sentence for contempt Oh
court the court in turn is awaiting the appear
ance Of Cleve w. Van Dyke, the principal owner OF
the Silver Belt. The Southwestern Publishing COM
pany, the publisher of the Silver Belt, has also been
adjudged to be guilty of contempt.
These proceedings the aftermath of series
of disturbing events in Miami beginning with the
preparations for the primary city election
that there Republicans in Miami but plenty
of Democrats of shade another One faction
Of the Democrats complained of irregularities the
part Of the other faction and secured injunction
against the printing of the. Of certain candi-
dates on the official ballot.
The injunction was granted by Judge ]. E.
Crosby of Navajo county, who was called in because
Of the disqualification of Superior Judge Shute 1t
is unnecessary to go into the subsequent phases Of
the election which the effect of the injunction
escaped further than to say that the enjoined
were placed upon ballot and the ticket supported
by the Silver Belt was triumphantly elected
1t was in the interim that the seeds of the con-
tempt proceedings sown to bear fruit hundred
fold or more. Before proceeding briefly to descrip
ton of the matter held to be contemptuous it is
necessary for us to go into the Miami campaign
terminology "Cootie" term applied to the adher-
ents of one of the factions "Home Folks" those of
our side; Absentee Capitalists" those of the oppos
ing faction; "shyster" pretended attorney who has
been retained by the other side.
The Silver Belt commented with the utmost free
upon injunction proceedings which it held to
be ''void" and otherwise In the opinion of the Belt
was without force or effect. All this might have
been "got away with" but for Mr.. Scotts fatal
admiration for Kpling. whose "Recessona" he paro-
died. brought up to date, and readjusted to meet
conditions as he believed them to exist in Miami
and Globe.
The following are some OF the lines OF the parody
learn from the Arizona Records transcript of
the proceedings
"Court of the Coolies. crude and bold
Sunk to frame political line"
"sde-swiped. suffrage fades away
"Such boastings as the Shysters
And Kangaroo Judges without the law"
"Great King of Bunk be with US yet,
We can't forget; we won't you bet
"Have mercy on the Coolies Lord"
Judge Crosby took judicial notice this adapta-
ton of the "Recessional," and citation issued
The case was heard Monday. 1t offered on
the part Of the defendant that there was neither
malice nor innuendo. We also fail to observe
innuendo. There is nothing here of the Slight nod
the almost imperceptble deprecatory shrug, the hid
den alusion. Whatever else ther may be, the
parody is as free Of innuendo the newborn child
or September Morn. If there innuendo there
there is fine subtlety in the kick of mule.
Further it was offered by the defense that by
"Cooties' Court and Kangaroo Judges was meant
any other judge than Judge Crosby and that SHY
sters" refers almost any other lawyer than Attor
ney Frank McCann, who filed the application for
the injunction
We think in the end the court will deal lenently
with Walter Scott, who is most likable gentle
man. But what Kipng would do to him If he should
get hold Of him, 1t fills with horror to con-
template.