New-York tribune., 1922-08-19
Bar Demands
Tn at CoIlalara
Keep His Place
Fight ON Corporation Coun-
sci O'Brien May Force
M u r p Ia y. to Yield,
Iammany Men Assert

Members of the three bar associa
tions' which indorsed Surrogate John
r. Cohalan for denomination yester-
day, demanded that "ths John P.
Cohalan Non-partisan Committee of
Lawyers of the County of New York"
meet without further delay to carry
! out the purpose of the organization
| the denomination and reelection of
f.Surrogate Cohaian. ...-
members of the committee said yes-
terday that there would be meet
ing early next week when George L.
Shearer, its chairman, returned to
/ town. "
| Several prominent Republicans who
ala not approve of the action Of the
| Republican executive committee, tried
TO get In touch with Samuel S. Koenip.
! chairman of the committee, to- urge
ann TO call a meeting of the comit-
| tee to reconsider its action and am,
| Surrogate Cohalan in place of Prank
u. Coleman, Municipal Court Justice.
who was designated by the committee.
Mr. hoenig, like Mr.. Murphy, was
away at his summer home.
COhalan Men Threaten Fight
some Tammany. men predicted that
Mr.. Murphy would be forced to foreoo
his personal wishes and retire HIS
designee, Corporation Counsel John P.
o,Brien, and name Surrogate Cohaan
IN his stead. Mr.. Murphy was forced
TO, do this last year, when he refused a
denomination to Judge Alfred J. TaIIev
OF the Court of General Sessions, and
| named Cornelius j. Collins, justice of
| the Chlidren,s Court, in his place.
1t was said by members of the Nom
Partisan Lawyers Committee that if
/ Mr.. Murphy and Mr.. Koenig would not
reconsider their action in turning down
Surrogate Cohalan it would mean a
| fight
Colonel Henry w. Sackett, Repub-
llcan member of the Nom Partisan Law
yers' Committee, said:
| Surrogate Cohalan has won the con-
fidence and esteem of the bar, and
should be renominated. He has a re-
markable record for the sustaining of
ms opinions in the appeals courts.
Surrogate Cohalan is and has been alb
solutely independent of political con
slderations, and would allow nothing
that trenched on politics to come be-
| tween him, and the administration of
law. He is good probate judge, and
l have long thought that it would be q
great pity if, when the time came
around, he should not be renomnated
by both parties. 1t takes a long time
for. man, no matter how brilliant he
may be, who has had no probate law
experience, to become so familiar with
II as to become good probate judge"
S. Stanwood Menken, Democratic
member of the committee, said:
Ut is the old story of judicial offices
being made the football of politics, and
| it cannot be too strongly condemned.
Judges who have served out their terms
faithfully and satisfactorily should be
renominated and reelected, and should
not be shelved because they have given
otfense to some political leader"
Urged to Stay in Fight
The comment of Mr.. Menken and
Colonel Sackett was typical of the opin-
ion of many leading members of the
bar. Letters and kilograms poured in
on Surrogate Cohalan yesterday urging
him to remain in the fight to the finish.
The New York Law Journal yes
terday in it's leader, which was headed:
Zone Good Term Deserves Another" "
said:
Judges who have served full cleo
tive term and have rendered faithful,
efficient and satisfactory services, and
have upheld the dignity of the bench
and the majesty of the law. should be
supported for denomination and re-
election, irrespective of considerations
of party and of politics.
Nominations for judicial Office
should be dictated by considerations OF
professional and juridical fitness
They should not be determined by the
ability Of candidate to prostrate him
self on his belly in the mire before
petty partisan puppets.
"Mr. Surrogate Cohalan throughout
his long term has fulfilled the onerous
duties of his difficult and important
position with faithfuiness, distinction,
integrity and ability. His candidacy
was indorced by the Association of the
Bar of the City of New York, by the
New York County Lawyers Associa-
tion and by the Women Lawyers As
sociation. The Association of the Bar
stated specifically that in the office
of Surrogate Judge Cohalan has shown
himself TO be an able, efficient and just
judge
"It is earnestly to be hoped that the
Non-Partisan Committee of Lawyers of
the County of New York, organized TO
secure the denomination and re-elec-
tion of Mr.. Surrogate CohaIan, will not
abandon its efforts, but will make this
test case. This committee numbers
among it's members the foremost lead
ers of the bar in both political parties.
The committee should function vigor-
ously, promptly and fearlessly. Its eff
| forts, If it so functions, will deserve
and should command the support OF
every decenet. self-respectipg member
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