Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-08-12
POLITICAL ADVERTISEMENT
PoIIrzcA1 ADvnarrsx,r1x-
What Mr.. Emery Meant

Chairman Emery of the Republican State Commit
tee did not what he said when he made the state
nlent at Riverton Park, some days ago. that under
the guidance of William r. Pattangal Democratic
Governor had lowered the quality of the Supreme Court
of Maine.
He has explained the matter. What he meant was
that Governor Curtis failed to reappont Judge Spear
and appointed Judge Madigan instead and that while
the appointment of Judge Madgan was most excel
lent appointment, it would have been better public
policy to have retained Judge Spear in the public
service.
What pity that Mr.. Emery had not said what he
meant in the first place. That is of course, assuming
that at that time he knew what he meant.
II is rather late in the day to raise an issue as to
why Governor Curtis did not follow the usual rule and
reappoint Judge Spear. But no one who knew Gov.
Curtis in his lifetime believes that in what he
did he moved by any but motives that appealed
to him as good that he acted under the guidance"
of anybody. He stood on his own feet and acted
according to the dictates of his Judgment and his
conscience. Whatever criticism can fairly be
made of his action in this respect 1t never occurred
before to anyone to suggest that the appointment Of
John B. Madigan to the bench lowered the quality"
of the court. Such statement is gratutous insult
to the memory of cultured gentleman of great ability
of splendid character and of sterling attanments who
likewise possessed those high qualities of mind and
heart which blend into the making of great Judge
The mere fact that the continuity of service which
Judge Spear rendering and is now rendering to
the state broken by Governor Curtis act does not
justify the charge made by Mr.. Emery. nor does the
fact that Judge Spear Republican and Judge
Madigan a Democrat.
Our Superior Courts have been raised to point
where they almost, and, in many respects, fully
as important factors in judicial system
Supreme Court. Governor Mlliken in defiance of all
precedent, excepting the of which Mr.. Emery
plains failed to reappoint Judge Connolly and appointed
inexperienced man in his place. Judge Connolly
was Democrat Judge Sanborn. Republican. The
incidents parallel each other. And yet how unfair.
how unjust, how insulting to Judge SanbOrn it would
be to say that Governor Mliken lowered the quality"
of the bench by his act.
No one will say it. At least no lawyer who has
business before the courts will say it, If for other
reason Judge Sanborn is alive and practising lawyers
do not insult live Judges. In fact, until Mr.. Emery
introduced the practice lawyers have not been in the
habit of insulting dead judges.
Mr.. Emery filled place of great usefulness to his
party when he gave the Chairman of the Republican
National Committee the address of the Treasurer of
the Republican State Committee. Otherwise than that
he has not accomplished very much excepting to make
very ridiculous statements which later were fol-
lowed by some still more ridiculous explanations
But after all what does it all amount to? The slo-
gan of the campaign, invented by Mr.. Emery, takes
of all that
Hold Your Nose and Vote the Straight Republican
Ticket"
DEMOCRATIC STATE COMMITTEE
By Clayton Eames, Secretary.