Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1919-1980, 1922-08-28
PussyfoOterS


The democratic Portland Journal the defense
Of the republican nominee for circuit judge in the first
Judicial district State Senator c. M Thomas who is under
because refused to record in the Ku Kux Khan
ISSUE and is being opposed by the bipartisan an-kan
league endorsed his democratic opponent Colonel
e. E. Kelly.
During the primary campaign the candidates were asked to
go on record on principal issue in southern Oregon the
issue and order mob violence of constituted
authority against invisible government raised by the aess
acts of night which eliminated in the grand jury probe
and twenty-five indictments. Mr.. Thomas refused to go on
record and sdetepped declaring that
tive Judge he must not express opinions upon subject
that might come before him upon the bench
Such nicely sentiment and such tender susceptibility
thought Of highly commendabe judge OF
course should because criminal is
likely be brought before him time in the future
judge should condemn awess acts lest the perpetrators
come up for trial at future day judge should not
uphold constituted authority for fear day other
who favored its overthrow might be called to account
in his court judge must therefore have opinions
especially if they spell the loss of votes
In sharp contrast with the convctioness candidacy Of Mr.
the stand taken by his opponent who squarey
outlined attitude against invisible government follows
Klur Klan the to internal
that has threatened the country since the civil war w
fetish Of appeals the welea
religious bgotry wipe nine centuries
growth civilization and substitute for constituted authority
Ttpust that have made nv position plain that am simply
plain citizen potentate
Goblin other Hokum"
After the primaries, Judge Cains the present circuit
judge Medford, received threat signed * K k warn
ing him against granting appeal for trial to con-
viced bootegger All the attorneys in Jackson county
cept two signed public protest against the khan effort to
the court The two who refused to sign Mr.
Thomas the editor the Ku Kux Kan newspaper Mr.
Thomas again refused to record to protest
attempt terroze the court Is it wonder those
opposed khan methods refuse to rally to Mr. Thomas?
port
hetcay purrs Mr. Thomas the pussyfoong politician
presumably because the Journal like Mr. Thomas has been
too pusllanimous to go record against the Ku Kux
Kan and therefore fellow feeling for hineven If he
is republican. Like Mr. Thomas the Journal plays the
arfu dodger packs both shoulders and seeks
port both camps and when breaks its conspiracy OF
silence wrngs its hands and walls deplorngy about reg
to with religion than has with administration of justice
if Mr. Thomas is afraid to denounce the khan either
from of from sympathy with the
cause noticeable fact that real oGod judges
on the The khan and its methods have been
roundy all the country especially in Oregon
by judges who much law than Mr.. Thomas
will yet who do not find that their opinions in dis
qualify them for giving fair trials to the accused
Mr. Thomas need not be afraid to express himse-one
side or the would dsquaf him anyway trial of
klansmen that might before him if he elected
they would disquay any local trial judge in that
has split the community into discordant camps.