The Magnolia gazette. [volume] (Magnolia, Miss.) 1872-current, 1899-06-07

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object sought, being, in this case,
a change from the appointive TO
the elective syst an, the amend.
ment would be upheld, the Wis
consin supreme court commend
ing this form Of submission, say
ing. otherwise, the defeat Of a
part of a common purpose might
defeat, or make an ahsurdity Of
the whole.
Some prefer, il is true, that the
terms of judges should be six,
others eight, ten, or twelve years,
and still Others want part of the
judges elected, and part appoint
ed. All could not be exactly
suited by any series of amend
ments. No importantreform was
ever effected without mutual con-
cessions of its friends. Before
the same legislature, at the 1896
session, Col. Falkner and | made
vain efforts along the lines now
suggested by the opponents Of
this amendment. He introduced
one amendment, making circuit
judges and chancellors elective,
by districts; and l., another,
making supreme judges elective
by the state. Both failed, as like
measures have done often, pre-
viously. The standing argument,
effectually used then and before,
that the lawless and negro ele-
ments would combine and occa-
sionally elect a judge, was up
rooted by the present amendment,
which, while upholding the doc
trine of local self government,
avoids the wire pulling and ira
ding of state conventions, by Civ
ing to the white people of each
district the right TO name its cam
didate, whose election is assured
by being passed on by the voters
ofthe whole state, under every
guarantee afforded for state Of
ficers. If we could not carry the
state, all the judges would be lost
under either system. This is no
new departure. Presidentl
district electors are nominated
by districts and elected by the
whole state. They have al
ways been tue to their trust.
The voters of each district can
without knowing the candidates
of other districts, safely rely upon
their party brethren Of every
other district to name suitable
candidates to serve themselves.
II, in order TO separate judicial
nominations from local politics
and possible combinations, there
being now no laws justifying fed
eral interference in elections, il
should be determined to have ju-
diclal elections on one Of the
years of federal elections, then a
) Judge would be elected about
fourteen months before the com
mencement Of his term. AS all
except those who succeed them
selves, are taken from practicing
lawyers, it would afford these an
opportunity to close up theiI
. pending legal business, without
, the inconvenience which this
sometimes causes. The first reg
ular session Of congress COM
mences about thirteen months af.
ter the members are elected. u.
, S. senators are sometimes elect
! ed about two or three years be-
fore the commencement Of theil
term. If the judicial election
{ should be held in 1900, terms o
circuit judges and chancellori
would commence in January
1902; and il, in 1903, then with
state officers elected at the sam'
, time. In either event, suprem,
( judges could be elected to ill ou
J the terms that would expire be.
|, fore the next election. II thu
election was held in 1903, all thre'
J OF the supreme judges could b.
then elected, two taking office il
January, 1904, with terms o
1 eight years from that date; ant
: one to succeed Judge Terral will
: a term expiring January, 1907
D After the broken terms are filleC
3 out, terms of supreme judge
9 would commence with those o
q other judges elected at the sam,
time, extending twice as long.
Section 1T Of the constitution
giving governors power to fill ju
9 dicial vacancies until the mex
: session of the senate, is necessa
8 rily annulled by that provision o
a the pending amendment whicl
: authorized the Legislature to pro
r vide for filling vacancies. II not
t judicial vacancies could be file,