The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1899-10-20
THE ARGUMENT AGAINST
JUDGE STILLWELL
From the lola Register.

From the lola Register.
So far as the Register has observed
the opponents of Judge Stillwell have
but one argument to offer against his
reelection; and that Is the argument
Of length Of tenure. They do not as
sert that he Is prejudiced or partial,
that he is influenced by partisan bias
or personal feeling, that he lacks abb
lily or industry or honesty, or that he
is inferior in a single attribute to the
candidate who opposes him. They
say only HE has had it long
enough"
There are only two possible theories
that would make this argument
sound: Either the office of District
Judge must be regarded as a "private
snap" designed solely to benefit the
man who holds it; or the exercise of
the duties of the office for long per-
iod must render the incumbent less
able to perform those duties.
Is there anyone who would serious
ly defend either of these propositions?
Is the Office of District Judge created
for the man who fills it, or for the peo-
pie? If it is mere gratuity, il its
chief end is to give its incumbent
prominence and experience which will
be of advantage to him individually
in the future practice of his profess
ion, then it should by all means be
"passed around" the term should be
short, and a second term forbidden.
But nobody will assert, or admit, that
this is the right theory. The office OF
District Judge is part of the majas
tic machinery of the law by means OF
which the rights of the people may bt
safeguarded. OF all the offices known
to our system Of government, it is the
one, almost above all others, to which
no man has "claim" but which
should be conferred by the peopl,
upon the man best qualified by natur,
and training to perform It's high dut
les.
And if il is hard to conceive of any
one seriously asserting that the offic
of District Judge should be regarde,
as private snap" it is yet harde
to imagine a serious assertion tina
long tenure of the office disqualifies
man for the performance of It's duties
To assert so palpable an absurdit
would be to controyert the settled con
viction of mankind, as reache,
through experience and writ ten dow
in the constitutions and the statute
of free governments everywhere. No
to go outside our own country, we fin,
the justices of the Supreme Court O
the United States and all the Fedora
Judges appointed for life. In four O
the States Of the Union the judges O
the court of last resort hold Office TO
life. III one State the judges hold OF
fee until removed by the legislature
In one State the tenure is twenty-on
years. In one State fifteen years. Il
three States twelve years. In tw
States ten years. In three States min
years. In nine States eight years. Ii
three States seven years. In slxtee
States six years. Only two State
have shorter terms than six year:
Ohio having five years and Vernon
two, the average term in those State
where it is limited to a period Of year
being eight and one-fortieth years. 4
commenting upon these facts Hon.
III. Allen, from whose very able aC
dress at the last meeting of the Stat
Bar Association the figures here give
are taken, says: son the whole put
lic sentiment seems 10 incline agains
very frequent changes. and the al
Management with reference to the eleg