Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1879-04-15
rIn InnaEs ELECTION IN 1880.

THE JUDGES ELECTION IN 1850.
The coincidence of the election OF
Judges under the present Constitution
and also under the proposed Constitu-
tional Amendment at the same election
in 1850, has given rise TO some discus
sion as to how the nominations will
probably be made by the respective par
ties.
We have heretofore referred to the
fact that the law requires the person
voting for judge to designate the Cir
cult by having written or printed on his
ballot, "for judge of old circuit and
flor Judge OF new circuit.
There will, therefore, be nine Judges
voted for to supply the old circuits, and
sixteen for the new. II two parties
make nominations, there will be fifty
candidates for judgeshiPs in the field,
and if three parties nominate, there will
he seventy-five candidates. 1t is not at
all probable, as suggested 10y the Writ
County Mentor, that auy party which
desires to make contest for these po-
sitions, will risk making nominations
exclusively for either the old or new
circuits, but will save their chances by
nominating for both, a. it will cost no
more and material will be abundant.
The feature Of this election which we
have heretofore deprecated, was not, as
some seem to have understood, because
of the large number of candidates it
brought into the field, for that is matter
of no moment, but it is the fact that
candidates are to be voted forunder the
proposed amendment at the same time
that the amendment is put upon It's
passage. We regard such an arrange
ment rs virtual sinking OF the merits
or dement's of the amendment in the
personal squabble for official position.
II has been so before and it will be again.
The usual result of such an arrange
ment was well illustrated sometime
AGO i'm Wood county. The people
of that county wanted a judge to pre-
side over their county court; they OBJ
tanned a bill from the Legislature for
that purpose; in the billa blank was
left for the hume OF the judge who
should be voted for at the same time
the vote was taken on the adoption of
the bill; the blank was filled by name
that was not acceptable to the people
OF the county, and as a natural sequence,
the bill and the candidate together
went prccipatcly to pot.
There can be more public prejudice
stirred up in five hours over IA measure
that is to benefit an unpopular asplrant
for position than can be offset 10y the
most judicious measure that human
wisdom can devise. And on the other
hand the most devilsh devices can be
carried through, like the crack OF a
whip. upon the back of Il candidate who
has the popular favor. II is the history
Of politics. # will be the controlling
influence that will either adopt or defeat
the constitutional amendment.
In each district there will be, at least,
two, and most probably four or more
candidates representing the old and new
circuits. Ii the candidates Tor the old
circuits are the choice of the people,
that circuit will most likely vote against
the amendment, and rice r'rSI. We
have suggested, and We think it wound
be wise, il it could be agreed upon,
which is doubtful, that each party
should, as far as possible, nominate the
same men for the old and new circuits.
This would rob the contest of its per-
sonal elements. And We think il would
have been wise for the Legislature To
have male some sucn provision and
thus obtained square vote on the Con-
stituJional Amendment.