The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1891-09-02
THE JUDGESHIP !
PHILADELPHIA PAPERS ON
THE COURT CANDIDATES.
ALEXANDER MCCLURE SPEAKS
A Lengthy Editorial in the "Times"
Commencing Judge Green for
Absolute Integrity and
Fidelity.
EXANDER MCCLURE SPEAKS
From the Phlladelphla Tlmes.

From the Philadelphia Times.
When Judges Pershing and Bechtel
we're candidates for reelection in Schuyl-
kill county, The Times earnestly supported
them because they had made exemplary ju-
dicisl records and we're entitled to the con-
idence Of the public without regard to pol
itics. The Pottsvile Chronicle then heart
lily co-operated with The Times in support
ing them, not because they we're Democrats,
but because they were thoroughly com.
petent and faithful Judges. 1t demanded
their reelection on the ground that a com.
petent Judge was entitled to the support of
all good citizens, regardless of party, but
now that the Republican member of the
Schuylkill Court, Judge Green, is caudi-
date for reelection, the Chronicle falls
back into the old party organ rut, and de-
msnds that Judge Green shall be defeated
because he is not Democrat, and il heads
its criticism of The Times with the express
sive title of "Non-Partisan Bosh." 1t con-
fesses that it has no reason whatever for
opposing the reelection of judge G reen
excepting that he is Republican in faith, as
the following extract from its leading edi-
torial on the subject clearly shows:
Judge Green was forced upou this county
originally as a Republican partisan, He
has never been anything else. He is a etal-
wart There is no muRwumpism about
him. He is Republican 365 dave in the
year. We do not mean to infer that he is
ecer biased in his decisions 6y the politics Of
Jttigants contendjng before him. We do not
think he eUer has been IN the slightest de-
gree. We do not believe that the matter of
politics ever intruded itself into the de-
csions of either Ju iges Pershing or Bech-
tel. We say it without fear that politics
would not have the slightest influence upon
Judge Wadlinger
The Chronicle confesses that The Times
is entirely correct in assuming that Judge
Green has administered his judicial office
with absolute integrity and fidelity. Il
distinctly declares that he has never been
biased in his decisions by the politics of
litigants conten1ing before him" Appar-
emily to emphasize its confidence in Judge
Green's integrity, it adds that he has never
been in the slightest degree" improperly
influenced in the discharge of his official
duties but because Mr.. Wadlinger, the
Democratic candidate, would be equally
free from partisan bias if elected to the
bench, it insists that politics and politics
alone should dominate the election, and
that thoroughly competent and upright
Judge, who has given twenty years of ex-
cellent service to the cause of Justice,
should be defeated solely because he
ordinarily happens to vote a different
ticket, This would simply be making the
judicial system in Pennsylvania the merest
plsything of petty politics and the prey of
mean ambition. 1t would proclaim that
political success must be paramount to the
administration of justice, and that no mat
ter how faithful or how we'll qualified a
Judge may be, or how he has devoted his
life to the impartial enforcement of law be.
tween man and man, he must be weighed
and tested olely by his political faith.
The Times begs to remind not only the
Chronicle, but all the people of Schuylkill
county, that they have great need of com
petent and stubbo-nly-honest judiciary.
They have had line upon line and precept
upon precept on this important point.
Their Judges have been tested as severely
as sny Judges in Pennsylvania, and it is
especially creditable to the Schuylkill
bench that they have never fatered in the
faithful discharge of their duty, even when
it required heroic measures, These Judges
are not merely ordina y public officials
They can recognize no political or personal
obligation unless at the cost of their official
hde ity. They are charged with the single
and exceptionally sacred duty Of holding
the scales Of justice impartially between all
litigants and between the law and those ar
raigned for crime. All other public officials
may have more or less personal or political
Obligations and discharge them without in
jury TO ii g public welfare. 1t is the COM
mon law of our political system that all
officials, with the single exception of
Judges, may dispense their favors decently
in the line of party politics. but Judge
who swerves SO much as a hairs bradth in |
obedience to political obligations dishonors |
his high office, disgraces himself and must
wound Justice in her own sanctuary.
The Times does not consider Judge |
Nr0oh VI MT NauIlnBer hs individuals. |
II has no reason to criticise the want of |
character or fitness of the Democratic can
didate for Judge in Schuylkpl county, for |
the reason that it has no knowledge that he |
is wanting in any of the attributes essential
to an excellent Judge, but we do know that |
Judge Green has been conspcuously hon.
est, in eligent and faithful in the discharge
of his judicial duties, and we simply raise
our voice in protest against the election of
Judges on partisan grounds as we have