Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1870-04-13
THE JUDICIAL ELECTION.

vacates all the judicial offices in the State,
and makes new election necessary. This
election, unless otherwise ordered, will
take place early in August. The removal
of the entire Judiciary of the State, under
all the circumstances, was partisan move
ment To secure such removals was one
of the main reasons alleged for holding the
Constitutional Conventional body au-
thorized by a strict party vote. The pre-
lminary movements which have brought
about this election we are therefore, war
ranted in charging, have been partisan.
The movements to fill these offices, so far
ms they have been developed, indicate that
the election is to be made party issue, and
to be fought on party grounds.
We believe all this to be contrary to the
practice that has heretofore obtained in
this State. We do not think that an cleo
ton for judicial officers, ordinarily, ought
to be made strict party contest. Judges
so elected naturally feel embarrassed, and
under obligations to the party electing
them. Whether they feel so or not, the
public naturally suspect them to feel so,
and interpret their bearing and judgment
accordingly. Such considerations have
heretofore been respected, and our judicial
elections been free from the partisan intlu-
ences so potent in other contests.
But we cannot close our eyes to the
movements of the Democracy, nor feel it
safe to ignore them. They approach the
coming election with as much feeling and
party spirit as is manifested in other cleo
TONS and we would be foolish to disregard
it. In view of all these facts, we feel call
ed upon to warn our friends that we dare
not enter this contest without thorough
organization, nor hope for success without
hard work.
The recent county elections have con-
WINGED US that it is not safe to fight with
our forces scattered or divided. We must
not again have so many candidates for the
same Office. 1t disorganizes and divides
more than it unites and harmonizes The
success of the party depends more upon the
zeal of personal friends than earnestness of
party men, In the future we ought to
have but one candidate for each place-but
see to it that all are honest and capable.
In the coming election, we shall have but
true men to choose from, and we ought to
have no trouble in making the choice.
But to avoid all difficulty, and to reconcile
all conflicting interests we suggest that it
would be wise to have convention. The
objections to a convention are not 80 nu-
merous or serious as those urged against
the plan followed in our late county election.
There is no reason why convention cam
not be made to reflect fairly the wishes of
the party. If candidates will make an eff
fort, they can represent their strength in
| convention as well as at the polls. Packed
conventions can be avoided better than dis
appointed candidates and their disaffected
friends. A fair convention is more easily
secured than fair treatment among rival
candidates in the same party for the same
office. Candidates and their friends, dis
appointed at the result of convention
fairly managed, can easily be reconciled,
so that united and determined efforts are
| put forth at the polls. But men forced to
withdraw on the eve of an election, either
because of the certainty of defeat or for the
benefit of some stronger candidate, always
feel dissatisfied and. through their friends,
weaken and demoralize party, just when
harmony and hard work are most effective.
Again, candidates who have once had
the opportunity of presenting their claims
TO the party in convention are more man
agesble if they persist in their candidacy.
The party can then refuse to recognize
them, and their strength is at once reduced
TO their few most jealous and unreasonable
| friends.
We have thus canvassed the objections
against convention because we know they
are entertained by many OF our best
friends. We feel satisfied, from develop
ments already made, that, for one office at
least, we will have some rival candidates
in our own party. 70 avoid all the difii-
culties to follow such contest, We urge our
friends to make arrangements at once for
holding convention, say, early in May
! for the purpose OF nominating candidates
| for Chancellor, Circuit Court Judge and
Attorney General for this Circuit. Let 1t
be fair and deliberate, and we are well sat
| isfed that the nominees can be elected.
BY such course, we will secure good and
able men for candidates, and harmony and
concert of action on the day OF election.