The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1902-03-06
Subscription 81 50 Per Year, in Advance,
Observation-Disclosures 6. 1902.
Weather forecast for Fred
erickSburg and Vicinity:
Fair and cooler Thursday.
A POLICE uISTICE.

council Col. r.. ID. Cole gave notice
that at the next regular meeting OF
that body he would ofsr a resolution
providing FOR the election of Police
-5ustice for the city OF Fredericksburg.
BY some it is claimed that this
move found it's birth in politics and
that the whole thing is proposed at
this time in the interest of some can
didate for Mayor, or possibly to dis
courage other aspirants for 1.-THE same
Office.
With that phase of the case this
article has nothing whatever to do.
Whether Mr.. A. or Mr.. b. is to be the
next Mayor of this city is. matter
of but little concern to The FREE
LANCE, unless it is shown that some
candidate or probable candidate is
unworthy of the honor to be thus be-
slowed.
The FREE LANCE has no candidate
for the office OF Mayor, nor, indeed,
for any other Office that is to be fill
ed this Spring, nor does it want one.
Its sole purpose in discussing this
question at this time is TO the end
that the resolution may not be car
ried or defeated without being duly
and carefully considered.
We believe that Fredericksburg
should have Police Justice and are
perfectly willing to give our reasons
for saying so. 1t must beremember-
ed that Fredericksburg is no longer
a country village whose population
has nothing else to do but sit around
the stove in some merchants store
and whittle sticks and talk politics
The village garments have been laid
aside, and this place now wears the
clothing of cityhoOd. This being
the fact, our population is naturally
increaiing and becoming more diver
sifed, and as a consequence the office
OF Mayor is becoming too important
a position to be classed with that OF
Justice of the Peace. Then, again,
the city idea of Mayor is that he
must be the symposium OF dignity,
and not compelled to deal out to the
daily DRINKS" the usual fines.
But aside from all this there is an
other feature OF the case that should
receive our most earnest cOnsidera-
ton. to wit: the wisdom or unwisdom
of selecting a Judge by popular vote
Concerning the incumbents OF the
Mayors chair in the past, we have
no criticisms to offer, but We are op-
posed to the election OF any Judge by
the direct vote of the people until the
electorate can be and is purged oftht
purchasable vote to he found in al
parts OF this country to-day. In
those States where Judges are chos
en- by a popular vote, men OF noblest
thoughts and impulses have beer
known to cringe under the lash o
Cheap John" politicians when de
mand has been made for the releast
or acquittal of a criminal who had
perchance, some little political intiu
ence.
The Office of Police Justice is OF al
great Importance to this city as II
that of Judge to county or cir
cult, and it's Importance as an office
has been recognized by our Genera
Assembly to the extent ofprescriblnE
the duties of such an officer upon TIN
statute books OF the Commonwealth
For years the Legislature has, b.
Constitutional authority, been elect
ingall of our Supreme, Circuit anC
County Judges, and the present Con
stitutional Convention has decreeC
that the law of the past in this re
spect is worthy OF continuation
Would it not then be just as wise 10
our City Legislature to elect our 20
lice Justice?
We care nothing for the whims o
whimperings OF political demagogues
our argument is not in the interes
OF men but principle, and we verita
bly believe that our City Fathers wi
do a wise thing should they decide t.
separate the offices OF Mayor and Pc
lice Justice-the people filling the frs
chair with a man Of ability, dignit,
and suavity and the City Council St
lecting for Judge OF our City Cour
a man of like ability and manners a
well as courage and equity.
AMAJoRITY SHOULD RULE.