The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1922-12-29
A REACTIONARY FOR
SUPREME COURT BENCH

sci for the defense was suit brought
by John Meintz, farmer of Luverne,
Mimi, against 80 businessmen tf that
city growing out of a tar and feath-
ering. Meintz, who was threateled
because he helped finance local Nen-
partisan league newspaper, was aaken
from his home by the defendants, who
then delivered him over to another
group of men who did the dirty work.
Mr.. Butler presented a defense that
the defendants in reality were friends
of Meintz, and kidnapped him to re-
vent hiss falling into the hands of a
group bent on bodily harm, a highly
dubious defense.
The jury, acting on instructions Of
the judge, found for the defendants.
The case was appealed to the circuit
court of appeals and the verdict in
the lower court was set aside and a
new trial ordered. The defend mts
since have settled for $4,000. Mr..
Butler frequently represented the ( t..
Paul Street Railway Co.
Defends SIush Fund.
At present he is representing the
Minneapolis company in an action
brought by the city of Minneapolis to
compel exposure of the expenditure Of
slush fund alleged to have been lsed
to obtain passage by the State Legis-
lature of the notrious Brooks Coleman
law which was sponsored by the street
car company.
At rare intervals, Mr.. Butler ap-
peared apparently in opposition to
corporation. He was special counsel
engaged by the government in the
famous but unsuccessful prosecution
in 1910 of the Chicago meat packers.
He represented the Canadian govern
ment in the valuation proceedings Of
the Grand Trunk railroad. He is
now engaged by the city Of Toronto,
Canada, in a dispute involving the
valuation of street car properties
which the city is about to purchase.
1t may, however, be pure coincidence
that the stock of the Twin City Rap
id Transit Co., the parent company
of the Minneapolis and st. Paul Rail
way companies, is largely owned by
! Toronto capital.
A former associate of Buffers de-
tends him thus: Butler is a man Of
great ability. The railroads and cor
porations recognized his ability and
naturally engaged him. His talents
were for sale to the highest bidder
and the highest bidder always got
them. It was purely business mat
ter. Of course, Butler has no patience
with the radicals who are trying to
change the laws and you can't blame
him."
Flag Waiver During War.
Mr.. Butler is comparatively young
man, being 56 years old, and Of vigor-
GUS health. Physically he is very
powerful. In court he is veritable
bully, aggressive to the point of being
| insulting, INSCRIPTIONS, although he
is not a lobbyist of the Daugherty
type, and he handles witnesses with
ruthlessness seldom seen in court
Nominally, he is Democrat, but that
kind of Democrat who is agreeable to
the reactionary Republican politi-
clans. He is without question reac-
tionary of the most pronounced type
but the type of reactionary who fights
his battles in the open and makes nc
bones about 1t. stss
I During the war he was profess
sionaI flag waver. and ready, fgur.
atively, to shoot the radicals at sunrise
/ without a trial. He was a member
/ of the group of the Minnesota State
Bar Assn. generally given credit TO,
| being instrumental in obtaining pass.
age of the vicious and Infamous anti.
sedition laws of state, laws which
were condemned by the New York
State Bar Assn, and which resulted
~, Tho ;r,onri coumnnt of TnwnleV I'll |.
bert and other Nonpartisan league
| leaders.
/ Ousted Liberal Professors.
The best insight into the real char
acter and views of Pierce Butler
however, is afforded by his actions as
a member of the board of regents o.
the University of Minnesota, which
position he held for Is years. The
policy of the board, it is generally adj
mitted, reflected the policy of Mr.
Butler, it's outstanding and domineer
ling character. AS member OF thu