Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1896-02-23
POLITICS
A Local GriSt Of Diff
ferent Kind.
A REPLY TO NH. NEwToN's IN
TERyIEw ON THE DISTRICT
JUDGEsHIP.
GRANT TO DRAKE
STATE CHAIRMAN TELLS AMOUR
THE CONVENTION AT SHERMAN.
Populist State Executive Committee
worth May Get Convention.

The interview in the Gazette with
the Hon. Elihu Newton published Fri
/ day has caused considerable comment.
Meeting with reporter yesterday.
! Mr.. C. c. Cummings said.
THE article in your Fridays issue,
| In which you interview Hon. Ellhu
| Newton, to the effect that the selec-
ton of district Judge should be left to
the bar Is Objectionable for many rea-
sons. And In answering the sugges-
tons Of the honorable sage from
ttdpeyinc, who rcposcs so screnely un-
der his own vine and ngtree | mean
no reflection ON his good Intentions
when ] oppose them. l simply mean
To say the plan won't work well. / do
not think 1t good Democracy or good
politics. ! am not alone by any means
III this opinion The following are
some of the reasons why It will not do
to follow this course:
''First-It Is In effect, changing the
constitutional method OF procedure,
which is that the Judges shall be
chosen by the people. The method
proposed leaves the people out of the
question. and virtually RENTS this Inn
portdnt power to less than tenth
the bar
"second-It reflects upon the sagucity
or the people In not being able to de-
termine, after due deliberatlon and
information from all sources-thc bar
which OF the candidates Is
best qualified. The mass OF voters viii
naturally resent this as an infringe
h'nt upon thor rights and 1t would
seriously handicap any candidate sv-
lccted by the bar. We have bosslsm
now ranging from the white house to
Tumm0ny aud tho tiger. and even a
little Thmmany, nearer home. Let us
Keep the temple Of Justice OF Tarrant
county as free as possible from such
suspicious.
"rhird-A nomination by the De-
moCfaey no longer means nm election.
IN us present divided state. 1t iA the
part or wisdom to expose as little sur
race FOR friction as we can. The aims
Of the Hon, Mr. Newton are good. He
takes II that the bar OF Tarrunt county
are u superior get OF murtals, void Of
passions and preJudices that affect the
great unwushed body OF the masses
Not So Brother Newton. They nrc but
men and an attempt to satisfy them
and their friends by narrowing tho
chances Of choice will not arcompIish
what Brother Newton dreams Of. |
Many bar meetings Of the kind have !
been attempted and none hnye COM |
m1ndci that unanlmity he deems 4
would take place In this case. II liz 50 /
now that the older members OF the
bar, MS rule, from past experience
i"iraln from the scramble of bar meet
ings Brother Newton should know
That lawyers scramble as well as the
common herd. And unheard-of pro
ceedlngs (hy him. eyidentlyl have oc-
CURED IN the past, not to the best In
tereats or the bar or the people. whom
they have sought TO represent MANY
bitter onimositles yet rankle from these
past contests, ana the future promises
no exception,
"Fourth--lr It would he proper for
the bar TO choose the district Judge
why would not the same reasoning
uppy equally to the important office
OF county Judge? And might not tho
same principle In like manner be- ex
tended to shcrifts, clerks and other OF
ilcers OF court, I'm which the lawyers
have nm abiding interest? judge Inr-
fls' as hls own successor. would have
no trouble. either before the bar or
the people, 20 Brother Newton's sug
Hestion would practically apply TO the
Slnsie choioe OF Judge Greenes success
or People would wonder why this
was thus. And many invidlous sugges-
lions would ensuc not to the best in
'etes's OF the matter in controversy"