The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1936-07-16
Minnesota NeWs and
Comment
BY r. w. HITCHCOCK
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The people of Minnesota seem to be
looking with increasing favor at the
reiuvenated q. o. P. The Elephant
surely strutted his stuff last month and
when the votes came pouring in, Martin
A. Nelson, the small town lawyer" led
all the rest.
One of the most significant and out
standing results of the primary cleo
ton was found each day down
near the end of the daily news
paper reports of the vote. 1t is the
emphatic decision of the people of the
state in regard to their supreme court.
The people served notice on party poll
ticians to keep their hands off.
Not only were the two sitting judges,
whose long service on the bench has
marked them as distinguished and
learned judges both within Minnesota
and far beyond its borders,-not only
were these two sitting judges, Andrew
Holt and Royal S. Stone, given an over
whelming vote of approval, but the at
tempt of political party to inject par
tisanShip into the court and to place
upon it men who would do the party's
bidding was Sternly rebuked by the
voters of the state.
Incidentally, the vote or the people
upon the supreme court candidates is
one Of the soundest spankings ever adj
miniStered by the electorate to any
political party in Minnesota.
sssss
Incidentally, also, this attempt of
political party to dominate the states
highest court, ought to move Minnesota
to strengthen its method and procedure
in the choice of members of the court.
California offers a method that is
worthy of study. In California all at
torneys are members of the California
bar. When a vacancy occurs on the
bench, the bar submits to the governor
the names of five persons considered by
the bar to be qualified for the position.
The governor must appoint one of the
five. When this appointee has served
his period of office, no one files against
him. If he wishes reelection he must
file a declaration to that effect. This
question is then submitted to the
voters: Shall Justice, Blank be re-
tanned in Officer" The electorate then
decides whether, in its opinion, the
judge has been a wise and learned
judge.
One of the defeated farmer-labor
candidates for place on the supreme
court ballot is Joseph A. Poirier Mr..
Poirier made a political speech in
Chisholm during the week before the
primary election in which he said this:
THE history of the United States
Supreme Court is replete with bribery
and graft"
Search of the records of any major
political party in Minnesota or in the
nation, or an examination Of the
speeches of the recognized candidates of
any major political party, will probably
not reveal any statement SO reckless or
so unbecoming to the candidate as this
one made by Mr.. Poirier at Chisholm.
Thirty years ago the Minnesota State
Capitol, generally regarded as the most
beautiful state capitol in America, was
completed and occupied. Such build
ing requires extensive repair mainten-
ance and various legislatures have APP
propriated considerable sums for that
purpose. With the coming of the WPA,
however, Capitol Custodian L. A. john
son seized the opportunity to COM
pletely overhaul the building, the state
furnishing a modest amount for ma
terials and WPA supplying several
hundred thousand dollars for labor.
The work has been under way for two
years. The total cost when the work is
finished will exceed 100000.
Among the notable accomplishments
for this great expenditure is the stop