The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1922-11-10
KELSH STARS SOMETHING
Begins An Unusual Proceedings
Against Ralph J. Parker

Begins An OnuSudl FroCSeoin9S
Against Ralph J. Parker
Austin, November civilian T.
Kelsh, who is a candidate for Judge
of the tenth judicial district, of
whish this county is a part, has
started proceedings to have the vote
of the people, that may be cast for
Ralph J. Parker next Tuesday, de-
clared void.
Mr.. Parker is a candidate for the
office that Mr.. Kelsh seeks. Mr.
Parker was a candidate before the
primaries were held. Mr.. Kelsh is a
stranger in this district.
The matter is one that the su-
preme court of this state will have
to settle. II is not likely that that
body will set aside the choice of the
people and force upon them, for
judge OF their district courts, a man
who comes into the district as a
stranger and one of lunknown abili
ties. The supreme court will have
a chance to tell Mr.. Relish that he
has no standing in court because of
his failure to take advantage of the
months of time that he permitted to
expire before moving to question tho
qualifications of his opponent.
The entire bar of the tenth . dis
trict requested Mr.. Parker to be-
come a candidate because of his le-
gal qualifications, his judicial mind.
his fairness in all things and his
standing as a citizen. The people OF
this district do not want the courts
to become a football of politics ana
they are behind Mr.. Parker at this
time.
Mr., Kelsh questions the right OF
Mr.. Parker to be a candidate for
district Judge because of a constitu-
tional provision that says a msmber
OF the legislature shall not run for
an Office for which he at the last
legislature voted for the increase OF
salary. -
Mr.. Parker is member of the
legislature and as such voted to give
to district judges the amount they
might expend for postage, express
and telephones in the transactions
of the business of the court. This
amounts to but little and the pur-
pose was to reimburse the judges
for their expenditures and not as an
increase of pay.
1t is a picayunish basis upon
which to ask that the vote of the
! people of a judicial district shall be
set aside, and to favor the candidacy
and to secure the election to the ju-
icial bench of a man whose Qualif1-
cations are questioned by all, for
they are wholly unknown.
| Mr.. Kelsh asked attorneys of the
city to act as his attorneys but they
refused as we understand did all the
other attorneys whom he asked to
serve.
/ Yesterday Kelsh and his wife
were in District court room and al
recess he went to the judge and
asked him to fix a date when he
could be heard on his petition tc
have the vote, to be cast for Mr.
| Parker set aside and declared void
! Judge Meighen set IN. Novem-
Der 18th as the date. The hearing
to be held at Preston.
/ Kelsh has filed copies Of his petit
I ton in each OF the counties of the
I Tenth district His notice calls upon
Ralph Parker, Mike Holm, secretary
of state, and the auditor of each
county to take notice that he "wil
move the court by an order to show
cause for an order striking the name
Of Ralph Parker from the list of eli.
RlDIe Canu.CaIeS 1Or tue pOSlIlOu %
district judge of the tenth judicia
district and declaring that any vote.
cast at the general election of Tues
day, November z for the said Ralph
Parker, void on the ground that sale
Paker is Ineligible to accept the of
fee of Judge of the district court a:
provided and set forth in Section 9
Chapter 4 of the constitution of the
state of Minnesota. ....-
This notice is signed by John LIND
and George Simpson, both wei
known attorneys and politicians o
Minneapolis and Mr.. Kelsh alsS
signs it.
/ Kelsh also sets up an affidavit
that Parker is now and for numbel
of years has been member or th'
legislature which during the years
1918 1920 passed certain act in
creasing the salaries of judges o
district courts OF, the Tenth district
and the Judge will take the office OF
January 1, 1923; that the one year!
time will not, elapse since the legis
lature adjourned and that Mr.. Park
er is therefore not eligible to cleo
ton on Tuesday, Novembe z, to thu
position of Judge; that any vote
cast for him on that date should b
declared void.