The Dayton forum. [volume] (Dayton, Ohio) 1913-1949, 1937-08-06
Judge Schlafman /!
TO the Editor Of the FORUM

The approaching primaries next Tuesday, August 10,
are significant to group Decisions must be made
which will affect members cl the community no
issue pertinent to us than The selection OF lhei
Justice Of the Municipal Court The support oi our
group il being solicited for the present occupant Judge
N. E. schlafman.
With all fairness 70 Judge Shlafman It is my CON
sdered opinion that he ought continued in that
responsible Office As an individual judge Schafman
Is personally attractive As Chief Justice ct the Mu-
ncipal Court his conception and execution Of the duties
enioned upon him indicate the necessity q opposition
to his re- election BY our group
recent incident may be adduced to make clear the
undesrabiy Of giving allegiance to this type Of
public Official He has had before him the Of one
member of our group for practically q month Ihis
gentleman seventy years old Was the victim q an
unwarranted by irresponsible police officer
Despite the evidence presented III court by actual eye
witnesses and irrespective of citations Of points of law
BY defense attorneys Shields and Waters Judge Schlaf
has postponed his decision until AFTER THE PRl-
MARIES Ills right to this is established. Yet this
procedure raises two mate@tl questions:
First AS to legal capacity The law bearing this
matter Il nol So naeinute \ 10 require extended
PERIOD Tor reference Judge OF The police court
should know the laws embracing police functions and
ctzens rights. Al tie risk Of committing contempt OF
court compelled To say that ludge OF such court
worthy Of that high office ii he admits that he Is not
With the legal aspects the issues involved
Second: lhe question Of moral capacity No implica-
tion saggeslNeness is intended here OF personal
conduct His life Individual is exemplary. Rel
erence here il to that intangible elemen which call
moral courage
The decision Of the Judge whether for against
Mr.. Williams should have been renaeIed That the
primaries imminent should have qualified the
conduct 81 this case Yet the nlpres ines
capable that the decision is withheld unn after Tues
day, August o. precisely because The campaign
Meanwhile Negroes who do not know the facts or do not
about the facts evangezing the West Side com
munity for this purpose.
It is time for our group to give an emphatic mo-
We are gullibe. No amount OF sophistry can
make Judge Sehlafman acceptable to US Intelligent
Negroes Will rise above partisanship when group-Wel-
fare mperlIed We need friend in the police court
who will give justice tempered with reasonabeness
We need Judge who will have clear picture of the
disabilities under which group labors. For, it is
direct result Of that that petty crimes and
crimes Of violence Certain types OF anti
social behavior inevitable long as any minority
is situated Judge must understand that
He must see all Of the determinatve factors. Justice
therefore should be soughtby fidelity to the law and
ogaton Of social experiences
This single instance does not complete the record
against Judge Schlafman. II is presented clue to
what has happened and is likely to happen. / regret
the need for public declaration against promising
a young He has been gracious to me personally.
think he is fine type but do not think that he is
making fine type Of Judge Negroes whether Demo
crats or Republicans ought to stand together in solid
front and support only candidates prove them
has forfeited all claim support It is my earnest hope
that our group will show intelligence and courage Tues
day and vote for their best interests.
(signed) III. LAURENCE MCNEIL