The morning call., 1892-11-06
ELECT UPRIGHT Judges.
The Imperative Need of a
Pure Judiciary.
COURTS TO BE REDEEMED.
Emancipation From Eoss Rule - Political
Hirelings Not Wanted on the Bench.
Some Candidates Reviewed


when they come to cast their ballot for the
judges
1t is perhaps the most solemn responsi-
bility that devOlves upon them.
Their selection may be fraught with con-
sequences of the most far-reaching nature
San Francisco demands clean and incor-
ruptible Judges.
Men who will not turn aside after lucre,
take bribes or pervert Judgment.
Without upright men on the bench all
other efforts to purify the political atmos-
phere will be in vain.
There are fifteen judicial offices TO be filled.
Four Judges Of the Superior Court, five
Justices Of the Peace, three Police Court
Judges. and one in each of these courts TO
fill uneXpired terms.
The candidates are numerous. There are
seventeen nominated for the Superior Court,
as many more for Justice Of the Peace, and
thirteen are up for the three places on the
Police Court bench. In all there are forty
seven men contending for the honors, dig
mites and emoluments OF judicial Office
This is big field, and throws upon the
voter not only considerable labor, but the
tremendous responsibility of making wise
and intelligent selection.
At the outset the average voter must be
on his guard TO avoid voting for mere
creatures of political factions who hope for
promotion TO the bench only through sub
serviency to the powers that created them.
Mere political hirelings or the tools Of
bosses should be allowed to remain in
private life, where their propensity to mis-
chief is not go serious a menace to pub
lie morals as il is when they are allowed to
occupy seats on the bench.
Judge John a. Wright very aptly summed
up the situation so far as the judiciary Is
concerned when he said: "At the bottom
of our distrust in our courts and Judges lie
the facts that under our present system the
great corporations and private interests of
the State, the corrupt politicians, their re.
taineIs and patrons, are the persons by
whom our Judges are principally nomi-
mated and elected"
When 1t is borne in mind that not only
the conservation Of social order is at stake
In the matter of securing an unstained
judiciary, but that every mans life, liberty
aud property and his uninterrupted pursuit
Of happiness are also involved, every citi-
zen cannot fail to realize that when voting
for Judges he is exercising the most sac red
of public trusts.
Now what sort of men does he propose to
elevate to the bench In San Francisco for
the next four years?
Is Judge who hobnobs with heelers and
ward strikers, with ex-convicts and with
barroom wiTe-pulleFs the kind of a man who
can be expected 20 administer Justice with
clean hands?
Are lawyers who court the acquaintance
and companionship of such men as Michael
Dunn fit to be elevated to the bench?
Is man who leaves his seat on the bench
to interest himself in the liberation of men
arrested for crimes against the electoral
franchise fit subject to sit in judgment on
controversies between his fellow-citizens?
Is a man who is convicted on the witness
stand Of inability to tell the truth under
oath proper person to fill judicial Officer
Is Judge who allows attorneys aud liti-
gants to approach him in his chambers and
on the streets and discuss with him the
merits of case upon which he is sitting a
ct man to hold judicial Office?
Is Judge OF whom attorneys say, He
is pretty good man to his friends" fit
man to set on the benchP
Is not this compliment the severest con-
demnatiOn that can be passed on Judge?
Is not the temple OF justice protaned by
the very presence Of such men on the bench
All good citizens will agree that there can
be no such thing as pure administration
of justice unless those who are chosen to be
ministers OF justice are men of unsuIlled
character and Of irreprOachable conduct.
who are uuapDroachable by corrupt or
vicious men and who at least make an effort
TO rise above the infirmties that peryade the
rest of mankind
Let the voters keep In mind. when they 90
TO tie polls on Tuesday, that San Francisco
to-day is the only American city where tie
boss system Ia politics has involved the good
name Of the courts.
1t was attempted In New York CITY dur
ing tho Tweedregime, but every Judge who
was accused of corruption was impeached
and disgraced or retired from the bench
under acloud.
One OF the worst and most ofsnsiye
phases Of Buckleyism was its sinister ap-
pearance in the halls of justice.
IL political bossism had not thrust fts
foul hands toward the judiciary department
and invaded the courts. It's lease of life
might have been considerably prolonged.
The attempted, and, in too many In
stances, the successful pollution OF the
courts is what first aroused and shocked the
moral sentiment of the community.
The spectacle Of hoodlums and political
journments of court and patting them
familiarly on the back. while blowing often
slve cigarette-smoke into their faces, is not
at ali becoming and should no longer be
tolerated.
No self-Hspecting Judge would permit
such Familiarity
Such scenes are unhappily too frequent
about our c0urtroOms and in tile corridors
of the new City Hall.
They are signs of the degradation to which
many Of our Judges have been reduced by
the operation of boss rule.
The awakening has come, however. and
next Tuesday the law-ablding and moral
elements Of San Francisco will fight good
fight for pure judiciary
The battle will be to rescue the courts
from the clutches OF the bosses, and the
nominees on the regular partisan tickets
Will be serutinzed as they have never been
scrutinized before
The poorest man as well as the richest is
interested in the momentous issue.
Ia fact 1t is poor mans fight. The rich
man can take care of himself The poor
property-owner. the mechanic and Iaborer
with his humble homestead and his little
savings Of lifetime. is the helpless prey OF
sehemiDg politicians, with street-extension
Jobs and other thieving devices, so long as
corrupt Judges are tolerated.
The rich oppress the poor by means OF
endless litigation. Only honest fearless
and independent Judges can stand between
tne oppressor and the oppressed in the
battle Of litigation.
Let every voter scan his ticket with the
utmost care and make no mistakes in voting
for Judges.
IL might be well to remember that Il is
not the most popular candidate or the man