The Weekly Kansas chief. [volume] (Troy, Kan.) 1872-1918, 1876-08-24
The JudgeshiP.

The readers of the Chief are already aware,
from the proceedings published last week, that
David Martin withdrew from the contest for the
Judgeship, and that Convention composed OF
leading men of all parties nominated Alfred G..
Otis, of Atchison, for the position. Mr.. Martins
letter of declination will be found in this Issue
of the Ckief.
We shall heartily support Mr.. Otis for the off
ice. We like to stick to the Republican ticket,
from top to bottom; but when such nominations
as that at Hiawatha are made, and made in the
manner that one was, no Republican is bound to
stand by it. Politically, Mr.. Otis is Democrat,
but quiet one, who never takes part in politics
except to vote. But he is an able lawyer and an
estimsble citizen. He fatty refused to accept
the nomination as a Democrat, or to accept it at
all, until he was assured that it would come en-
tirely free from any political bearing, and as an
Offering from men of all political beliefs. The
Democratic Convention, rejecting the clamors of
a few discontented impracticables and ex-
pectant aspirants, acted with rare good sense in
declining to make party nomination, but dis
solved and united with the independent masses,
for the nomination Of q hon-partisan candidate.
The proposition to nominate Mr.. Otis came orig
;nslly from Republicans, not Democrats 1t was
proffered without his seeking, and accepted re-
luctantly, only after being assured that the pub
lie good demanded it. So that all such argu-
ments as that it is Democratic dodge will avail
nothing. The highest interests of the public re-
ouire that the Judges of our Courts be compe-
tent and upright men. The objections to Judge
Hubbard have been voluminOusly set forth in
these columns Those objections are insurmOunt-
able-aDd we have by no means exhausted the
list of items Tailed up against him. They show
him to be incompetent, vacllating, and biased
by the weight of public opinion.
One of the greatest sources of public corruption,
is the connection of the Judiciary with party
machinery, wherby any incompetent or corrupt
man. who can do the most dirty political work
or resort to the lowest tricks, can. become the
nominee, and be pushed into Office by means Of
party drill. The best men of the country have
long been endeavoring to contrive some plan by
which the Judiciary could be rendered independ-
eDt of party influence. The recent case of the
Democratic candidates for Justices of the Su-
prempe Court of Indiana, is q striking illustra-
ton of political Judiciary. The whole batch
of candidates, nominated by party manipulation,
have been found to be public plunderers. Driv-
en- by public opinion, the party have been CON-
PEELED to make an effort to force those men off of
the ticket; but party has been too strong for
even that, and portion of the candidates have
managed to retain their places on the ticket,
and appeals will be made to stick to the ticket,
and elect those corrupt men. This is precisely
the same appeal that is being made in bhealf OF
Judge Hubbard.
In the Topeka Judicial District, Judge Morton
is an uncompromising Republican; but he has
shown himself to be so able and upright Judge,
and so free from political bias on the bench, that
four years ago the Democrats made no nomina-
ticn against him, but he was unanimously elec-
ted. The drift Of sentiment indicates that the
Democracy of the District will take the same
course this year. Ifitis the proper thing for the
Democracy to do in that District, why may not
the Republicans exhibit the same spirit in this
District