The labor world., 1922-12-02
PIERCE BUTLER.

President Harding as associate justice
of the United States supreme court
has created a stir in progressive, LID
cral and radical circles. Protests to his
confirmation by the senate are being
shOHvreu on senators. 1t is expected
that Senator La Toilette will lead the
fl .ht against Mr.. Buffers confirma-
tion.
The protests against the appoint
mcnt have come largely from Mime
sofa. The Minneapolis city council has
passed a resolution asking the senate
not to confirm Mr.. Butler. The ju-
dietary committee has been handed 4
letter by Senator Ladd of North Da-
kota addressed to him from a profess
Sor in the minnesota university i'll
which it is stated that President Coff-
man Of the university has on several
occasions been on the point of resign
irg on account Of Mr.. Buffers illib
cral and domincering' attitude as a
member of the board Of regents. It
charges Butler with having an uni
,ical "aggressivcness Of manner ,
that has caused him to be known as
'Tierce' Butler at the university.
The letter also charges Butler with
l,,,l Il hn,,
made an enemy Of Cyrus Northrup,
the late president emeritus of the uni
versty. Another charge is that Mr..
Butler has fought in the courts for
clients in cases which "have been os-
pecially offensive to all men of liberal
vicws.' 1t details his work on behalf
of government war Contractors against
he labor unions, and his defense of
members of mobs that committed out
RACES during the war.
The essence Of the protests being
received at Washington against Mr..
Butler is that he is decidedly class
partisan; that he is a man of strong
likes and dislikes and of bitter pref
udices. He has waged an unrelenting
war on university professors of liberal
views. While his services have largely
been rendered to big corporate inter-
csts, which does not argue his unfit
ness, it is nevertheless, fact that
nothing in all his public career indi-
Gates willingness or ability to rise
above the level of tho selfish class
interests which he has so ably and
continuously served.
Pierce Butler was for a time close
personal friend of the late Governor
John A. johnson, who appointed him
on the board Of regents Of the state
university. That friendship was con-
siderably cooled before Governor
johnson died. The GOODNESS began in
this way. There had been thefts in the
office of the state oil inspector. An
appointee OF Governor johnson was
first found to be short in consider
able amount. He made good the short
age and on account Of the strong in
fluence of his friends in Ramsey coun-
ty he was not otherwise punished.
The public examiner continued the
Investigation Of the oil inspection de-
partment and found that thefts had
been going on for many years: The
Republican oil inspector who served
Immediately before Governor John
sons appointee was also found to be
short in large amount. The discovery
of the shortage was made too late TO
collect from his resources or property,
but it was found that the state was
in az measure still protected by his
surety bond, which was only in the
sum Of $4,000.
u Governor johnson ordered that the
Nattorney general proceed to collect un
der the bond. The surety company at.
tempted to wiggle out of it. 1t recog.
nized it had no chance at all in court
so it employed Pierce Butler, Cover
nor Johnson's s personal friend, as it;
attorney in this one case. He appeared
before the governor to argue for his
: new client. The attorney general was
present as were also the public exam
iner and other interested state Off
cials.
When the governor had heard all
the arguments he turned to Mr.. But
Ter and said: "Piercc, are you regu
larly retained by this surety com
pany9' Mr.. Butler said that he wa:
not and admitted it was his first case
B for that company. "Then you SHOULD
not have taken the case" quickly
added the governor with some heat
5aYou and are warm personal friend.
and Y am prompted to believe thai
that fact determined your presence
here. You haven't foot TO stand 81