, 1879-05-11
THE JUDICIAL ELECTION,

thus the policy may be changed as often
the people, under the laws and Const
tuition, may hold en- election. With tt
judicial branch it is quite otherwis
for, although Judges may be. change
as often as Governors, Jet judlci'
findings which have the force of law are ne
SO easily changed, because the Judicial D.
partment is supposed to rise above popula
clamor and local prejudioe, influence, an
with reluctance. Illinois has beon singr
1arly fortunate, not only in the character G
its decisions, but in the fact that politics
cases have seldom arisen, and from the dc
cisions, as reported, stranger Is unable t
determine the politics Of the Judges. Thi
is as it should be- The question now arises
How shall the names Of six persons ba pre-
| scented to the public !? The Republican par
! ty has not uniformly made strict party nom
nations After the Chicago fire and th
adoption Of the new Constitution, both Dem
ocrats and Republicans wera elected to th.
Bench. In. 1878 there were no party noni
! nations on either side, and the present Oircui
Judges were elected, three of them beine
Republicans and two Of them being Demo
| Gratis. II, however, each party should nom
mate five candidates there would be ter
names presented to the people. Party ma.
/ chiuery could not be brought to bear sue,
cessfully; for, first, q very large proportion
Of the people do not believe in carrying
politics into Judicial election; and, second,
it being q special election, there cannot be
very great interest in the matter as COM
pared with an ordinary county election,
when political candidates and their numer-
GUS friends who expect to share in the pa
tronaga are actively engaged in the pursuit
Of success. 1t is well known that just in
proportion as the quantity is increased the
quality is decreased. Hence Convention
having but one candidate to nominate
will select a much better man than when
five are to be nominated, for in that ease
every delegate feels in measure that he
shares portion of the responsibility. But,
when five are to be nominated, the caucusing
AMI trafcking which often occur in Con-
vention often result in the selection of very
indifferent. persons. We're q Convention
called. five candidates, each controlling the
delegation from q large ward, could, by
pooling their issues. control the Conven-
ton. ,
But, as party ties are not very strong, the
people would in all probability repudiate
some Of them at the polls, and'so it might
turn out that the best candidate, because he
was comparatively unknown, would be
beaten, while q poor one, but possessing
powers, would bo elected
It is true there ought to be some
concert of action in the selection of
candidates, for q scrub race is always
to be deplored, as it affords an ample oppor-
tunity for fraud and the improper use of
money. Any respectable number of reputable
citizens has the right to present the name Of
4 candidate, and such an Endorsement made
IN good faith will go great way to help
many people to make q choice. It cannot be
'aid that party politics will be carried to the
Bench if each of tho two great parties should !
elect three candidates; and, were this done,
leither side could claim victory, but each
ide would be put upon its honor-upon its !
nett}e, as it wore-to put forward its best !
aen, for if it should fell in this respect it |
7ould be damaging to its reputation.
Now, as there seems to be no prominent
:epublican running against Judge D1oREY
or the Supreme Court, and the Republican
committee having declined to call Conyen-
on, he may with propriety be accorded to
1e Democrats as one of the SIX.
Let the Democrats select their two oandi-
atas, and the Republicans three candidates,
'r the Circuit Court, and the names Of six
ood men will thus be- presented by Con-
entions presumably composed Of REPRESENT
i've men. and the psople would prefer to
nlte on the sir thus chosen than to have q
rub race, or to be compelled to choose out
the twelve the sir they might desire.
# Republicans and Democrats alike will
SO above mere partisansh1p and agree to a
lection IN the manner proposed, the chances
q TINT better Judges will be selected. and
at no bitterness will occur. How much
ore gratifying to Judge and more satis-
ctory to the people when it is said that he =.
elected by all the people, than to say be :
elected only BY Democrats, or elected on1y /
Republicans. The Jud ge would feel 7
sponsible to oil the people. i BE would i
e5erye his manhood and independence. :
d in this way he would administer iudo. +
ant impartially. t