The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1901-10-27
ADDRESS TO THE VOTERS
OF SALT LAKE CITY.

In presenting Walker T. Gunter and
Thomas D. Lewis as independent can
didates for city judges. to be voted
for by the electors of the city at the
coming municipal election, we are
constrained to state the reasons which
have moved members of the bar and
others uniting with them to this ac-
ton.
The offices for which these judicial
nominations are made were created
by a law of the last legislature, en-
acted for the express purpose Of ele-
waiting the administration of justice
within the municipality to a higher
plane. In aid of such purpose NUM-
cipal court was created and salaries
provided for the judges thereof suffi-
GENTLY large to be commensurate with
their dignity and Importance. The
tenure of Office is, for the first term,
three years. and for succeeding terms,
four years, and the jurisdiction of the
court in which these judges will pre-
side is large and comprehensive. It is
believed they will be called upon to
determine a major proportion of the
legal controversies arising within the
city.
This tribunal will be a court of rec
ord with original jurisdiction in ac-
tons upon contract and in tort. where
the amount claimed is less than $500,
anu Jul ASNACNlOl III certain OtnEI cases,
according to the statute, concurrent
with the district courts.
The judges who shall be elected at
the present election will administer
the affairs of 10000 people for three
years, from the first day of January
next. The necessity for bringing TO
these high and important stations law
yers of experience. learning. honesty
and ability, must be apparent to all
We are assured that all good citizens
viii agree that none other should as
pire to, or be permitted to attain these
exalted positions. But there is also an
other qualification, which, in our Opin-
ion. is as important as the others. A
judge should come to the judgment
seat only through processes of selec-
ton, which. at least, tend to demon
strate his fitness. His nomination as
a candidate may not be secured by
personal solicitation and trading in
political primaries and conventions
without sacrifice of the very quail
ties which most adorn the judicial
character. In the nature of things, it
is impossible for one who is capable
of forcing himself into a judicial office
by personal solicitation and trading
combinations to have the qualifications
and character for such station. His
conduct demonstrates that he neither
knows of, nor cares for. the higher OBJ
legations and responsibilities of the Of
flee he seeks.
In the selection of the candidates for
these high offices both political con-
ventions have conspicuOusly failed in
complying with the obvious and neces-
sary requirements of the situation The
nominations made by each " ere motor
iously the result of personal so1icita-
ton and trading by the successful
candidates, none of whom has had any
experience or developed any capacity
at the bar. 1t is better TO educate
men for judges before their selection
than it is to elect them first-and edu-
cate them afterwards
The incumbents of these judicial Of
fees must be members of the bar of
the supreme court of the state. and
should be also lawyers, and deraign
their titles to the Office through I'M
polluted channels. A judge is not ex-
pected to carry with him to the bench
the political bias or prejudice of his
party creed The political judge is a
contemplate creature, who justly de-
serves, and soon receives. the contempt
and execration of the people There
is no reason then why a party slogan
should be made rallying cry in sup
port of improper judicial nominations
brought about by unworthy means.
Unless the office of judge is a political
one and the candidate therefor is ex-
pected to be a party follower in the
administrs ton of his office, there is
absolutely no reason for supporting
him, other than his fitness for the Of
hce and the clean methods which pro-
cured him his nomination. We direct
your attention to the fact that it would
make no difference with the party
managers who their candidates were
or how the nominations were brought
about In any event, they are always
for the candidate and the ticket
we appeal to the conscience of the
people and to the hard common sense
of its working and business men and
women to unite with us in preventing
the election of the nominees of either
o great political parties and there
/ re the fair fame Of the city from
a stigma and reproach which time
alone can efface.
We resent. therefore. for your suf-
frages. the independent nominees. as
gentlemen who are fit for and worthy
of the high offices for which we have
named them, with the assurance that
the nominations came to them I'M
solicited, and were accepted only as
matter of public duty. so that, if elect
ed, they Will enter upon the perform
ance of their duties unrestrained by
any entangling alliances with neither
friend to reward nor enemy to punish
G. s. ZANE,
p. L. WILLIAMS
G. S. VARIAN
Committee.
We