Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-12-29
SOLUTION
judicial Controversy and the
Way Out.
rHE NON PARTIsIAN SPIRIT.

suggestion Of . Candidate Who WIN be
Acceptable to Ali-Tas Bar Can Only De-
eide In IN Unbiased. UDprejudioed way
n Loft to 1t.
1.-THE Union" saith the oracle
itself, '.has declined to run counter
to we'll established republican
practice as to the selection of our
circuit judges and may be excused
for failing to recognize the right of
. democratic paper to enter into any
contest with it on the subject. Let
it see to the nomination of demo-
cratic candidates in any manner it
likes and no repu blican will take ex-
ception. And the Union would have
found no fault with any legitimate
criticism-it was the attempt to
place it in q false position that it re-
sented."
This much in reference to The AR.
GUS for criticising the attempt of
the morning paper to forestall the
disposition to consider any republi-
can candidate for the judiciary other
than its exclusive candidate for anv
office of distinction that may come
up. And in thus committing itself,
the morning paper. has declioed .'to
run counter to a well established re-
publican practice" etc. As for the
democratic paper it has not sought
to enter into any contest with it on
the subject. 1t has simply asserted
that in view of the fact that q paper
supposed to speak for all republi-
cans has sought to commit its party
10 one individual to the ut
ter disregard of all others men,
toned and none of whom it would
have mentioned but for The ARGUS,
it felt the right to utter the protest
OF the people as q whole. This it
did. And further, THE ARGUS took
the position that in the absence Of
a judiciary system free from the in
f1uence of politics, the party having
the power for the time being should
select q candidate who would be as
far as possible acceptable to the pu b.
lie in general. 1t gave expression to
its conviction that the methods OF
politics should not be carried into
the judiciary and that the preferences
OF the community should be consid-
cred as paramount to personal as
pirations. Now the Union main.
tains that the republicans have been
IN the habit of leaving the choice of
| judicial candidates virtually to the
attorneys of the different counties,
etc. This being the case, by what
precedent has the Union become the
dictator to the bar and under wha,
rule of procedure has 1t felt licensed
to say to the bar that "our county
would probably be for a certain man
II the bar as q profession is to rec.
ommend. this does not strip the pro.
ceedings OF political consideration, fol
mas there been a time when q demo-
cratic attorney would feel that be
bad voice in the bars selection Of
these preferences?
| The Non-PArtisan Spirit.
If the submission of the q uestion o.
the bar is intended aud destined to b.
productive of the highest good, as i,
assuredly should be, then the spirit
Of the purpose can be better carried
out by the elimination of party
spirit There is no law against thi.
judicial district setting the example
and establishing the precedent in
this respect. Such course alone
would afford the solution of the ex-
listing political controversy, and as s
means to that end, The ARGUS sug.
gests without the knowledge of thai
gentleman, the name of Hon. E W.
Hurst as an attorney eminently
Qualified to fill the distinguished
office of Judge. and one that the bar
irrespective of politics and with ar
aim single to the best interests of all
and pride in its own action might
well recommend from this county.