The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-10-17
Let All Unite for Judge Gray.

Let All Unite for Judge Gray.
Since the Court Of Appeals was recon-
stituted in 1869 there have been but
four Judges who could have been re-
nominated by both parties. One, a
Republican, FRANCIS NJ. FINCH, pre-
ferred not to be renomnated because,
in the event OF his reelection, there re-
manned only about one year Of service
before his attainment of the age limit
compelling retirement The other three.
CHARLES A. RAPALLo, CHARLES An
pREws and ROBERT EARL, we're renomi-
mated by both parties, and were practi-
cally unanimously reelected. CHARLES
A. RAPALLo. a Democrat. after having
served a full term in the court, was re-
nominated by both parties in 1884, and
was reelected by the unanimous vote Of
Democrats and Republicans.
CHARLES ANDREWS, a Republican,
after his first term of service Of fourteen
years. was renominated by both parties,
and duly reelected. Eight years later,
in 1892, after the death OF Chief Judge
RUGER, Judge ANDREWS was nominated
by both parties for Chief Judge, and he
received the practically unanimous vote
Of the electors.
ROBERT EARL, a Democrat, was re-
nominated and reelected by both parties
in 1889.
With this record OF the past II was
naturally supposed that JOHN CLINTON
GRAY OF this city, who was first appointed
Judge of the court in January. 1888.
and was subsequently, in the following
November, elected Judge for the term
Of fourteen years, would have received
the denomination OF both parties. 1t was
not believed that the fact that Judge
GRAY is Democrat would have pre-
vented his faithful and distinguished
service on the bench from receiving due
recognition from the Republican party.
There was one man in the State who
could have decided this question in
favor OF the time-honored principle of
the non-partisan recognition OF judicial
ability and worthy service by granting
a denomination, and that man was the
Governor Of the State. BENJAMIN Is.
ODELL. His power and influence were
exerted adversely to the nomination Of
Judge GRAY by the Republicans, and
| for this failure Governor ODELL is re-
sponsible.
Aside from the conspicuous fitness Of
Judge GRAY for the Office which he now
holds, the fact that he is one Of the minor
ity Of three Democratic Judges upon
the bench of the Court Of Appeals, and
that he is one Of the only two Judges
from this great city, which furnishes two
thirds of the appellate litigation OF the
whole State, are arguments for his
denomination, which must appeal to
every unprejudiced voter. But the point
which We rely upon is the great princi-
| pie that men who have given the best
years OF lifetime to service on the
bench, and who have served the State
and the people worthily and with dis
tinction, should not be turned down by
either political party. That this view
ia not ours alone, but that Of the great
body of lawyers Of this State and OF
voters in general, is shown by the follow
ing resolution which was adopted last
Tuesday evening by the Association OF
the Bar of the City Of New York:
Resolved That this association dsapprovos OF
the discrimination against Judge GRAY In the fail
| ure to unanimously renominate him for res cction
and In view OF the possible deprivation OF the Court
| Of Appeals OF Judge GRArs services as member
of that court and OF the city OF Greater New York
OF one OF It's two representatives in that court, this