The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1930-01-17
On This
Occasion
lust few thoughts by the Editor on thing
Material and Immaterial.

last week stated that A. o. Knutson,
our city clerk had continuously held
the office since 1895" This error can
not be laid to the linotype operator
because the editor operated the ma
chine himself, wrote the item and read
the proof thereon. According to this
Art was about three years old when
he assumed the Office and while we
must admit his efficiency this is too
much 1t should have read 1918"
Resolved that the Present jury SyS-
tenn in the United States Should be
Abolished" is the subject chosen for
debate by the range High School de-
batting teams. The first of the debates
was held here Friday evening and Ely
had the affirmative side of the argu-
ment. Eyeleth showed that the system
was a good thing while Ely made it
appear that the jury system was alb
Solutely no good. Both sides had many
points in favor of their contention and
both sides had valid reasons for their
points
The Ely debaters showed that with
the exemptions from jury duty grant
ed to business and professional men,
state, county and municipal officials
and employees, the army and navy,
churches and schools, physicians, sur
geonS and attorneys, there was no one
left from which to draw jury but the
common laborer. While it was admit
ted that good jury could be secured
from this classification, it was also
deemed wholly unfair to the laborer
to tear him away from his job to sac
rifice a good days pay to do work of
which he is not familiar and for which
bare pittance is paid.
This question has been agitating the
minds of both the judiciary and citi"
zenship for some time and being a
matter of the Constitution, no attempt
in firm manner has been made to
change the system although many are
of the opinion that changes should be
made This is especially true Of the
grand jury system by which anyone, no
matter who they are, can be indicted
and made to defend himself from
criminal charge with perjured teSti-
mony of complaining witnesses and up
to the time he goes to trial has no
chance to defend himself. Innocent
men have been branded with the stig-
ma of an indictment by the grand jury
upon the bare accusations and story
of an enemy.
It has also been the practice in some
courts to go into minute examination
of the Juror on points which absolutely
have no bearing on the case. In the
first place the juror is sworn to abide
by the evidence. Then he is questioned
as to his likes and dislikeS; whether he
knows any of the attorneys or the
litigants; and whether he could be fair
and impartial. If he has read any
thing of the case in the newspapers he
is also excused and when the whole
thing is boiled down to q bare posi-
bility in many cases, only those who
are absolutely blank on the matter
who knows no one and who don't
take an interest in this or any other
matter, are chosen to try cases which
involves a fortune or life and death
in some instances.
An alternative has many times been
suggested. This is that twelve Of the
brightest minds in the country be chos-
en- and that these act as jurors all the
time at a salary that would enable
them to, at least exist, when away from
home. At the next discussion, Ely de-
baters will have the negative side of
the argument.
We hate to say it but we are all
criminals Any ordinary good citizen
of this city can break twenty or more
laws on his way to work mornings and
there are some 10000 others that he
can violate any old time, however,
without necessarily becoming bad
citizen This can all happen unless he
is equipped with a library of law books
and accompanied by legal advisor
acquainted with the 100000 laws
and ordinances in theoretical effect
on the statute books of the United
States and to which 100000 laws and
ordinances are being added every year.
Forty-eight state legislatures, 10000
incorporated cities, towns and villages
and about 5000 counties are in the
lawmaking business and more than
100000 lawmakers duly elected are in
ceSSantly busy making new laws. All
of these do not affect the ordinary in
dividual but there are 10000 that do.
10,500 of these are federal laws. The
Bible covered the whole field in ten
laws.
But, there is no sense in wailing over
the multiples of laws. Laws are only
made for the other fellow.
We had no sooner become acquaint-
ed with President Horace johnson in
his position with the Duluth & Iron
Range when he leaves that place for
another with the road. Since taking
his position as president, MIR. johnson
has come in close personal touch with
the patrons of the line as well as with
the employees. His true worth as
friend was brought out and his real
nature had full swing. Since his re-
tirement from the position he has been
the recipient of abiding testimonials
from the employees and associates to
man and from the larger number of
patrons of the road all the way from
Duluth to Ely. We join with these in
wishing him the best of success in his
new duties and sincerely hope his new
relations will continue to allow him to
still further personally meet and in
crease the circle of his friends
Mr.. johnson was auditor of the sys-
tenn for many years and we can in
all truth state that this job was no
sinecure with slim chances of that per-
sonal touch that came with the presi-
dency AS auditor he came in contact
with the machine or accounting side
and all the attendant woes of dis
atisf1ed patrons who had bones to pick
with the railroad on freight, passenger