Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1902-05-10

mere u p'THapS HOllllHg Ill present.
day politics which so plcases the clti.
Zens at large as the evident earnest de.
sire of both parties to name none but
the very best men for the judicial
bench. This year the Republicans
have named an excellent judicial tick.
ct. and II il II safe prediction that the
Democrats will nominate as good. IL
not better.
II was perhaps never more necessary
than at the present for political mana
gers and political conventions to be
careful In naming their candidates for
the bench. Nowadays when lrightfully
or wrongfully, we cannot here decideD
the air is filed with rumors and the
public IL shocked with exposures of al
legged jury-bribing schemes, the public
has grown extremely watchful Of the
character of men whose names are pro-
posed for their suiIragcs rs candidates
for the bench.
II IL well. under such circumstances,
that the people should be afforded the
widest latitude In making their selec-
.ions. for IL IL one Of the finest prOvi.
sions of our constitution that the peO-
pie have the sole right to choose their
own judiciary.
Both parties, as will be demonstrated
by the tickets which will be presented
to the public. have within their men,
bership lawyers Of great ability. splcn-
did reputation and unquestloned integ.
rity-men who would discharge their
duties on the bench without fear OF
favor. and with regard only to law and
justice.
To revert to the matter of the alleged
prevalence Of jury.brlbing, while The
Eagle Is far from subscribing to the
truth of these rumors. or pinning It's
faith TO the truth of the exposures or
the evidence Of the same, it does say
that what has recently taken place In
this regard has made the public eX'
tremely jealous and watchful OF the
manner In which its judiciary should
he selected.
IL makes the situation dOubly delicate
for the bar OF Cook County as Il whole
and IL Is TO its credit that II has appar'
emily seen lit under existing circum'
stances not to be too ins!stent upon at,
tempting any dictation.
Nobody will ever object to the Bar
Association as a whole expressing Its
preferences upon both tickets after
they have been named, but dlctation
beforehand from practicing lawyers In
the selection Of candidates for the ju-
dietary, The Eagle is glad to say, seems
10 be thing Of the past.
&S
Another feature of the judicial stu
alton In the pending campaign Is the
fact that the substantial Increase III
the salaries has made il an induce
ment 10 the very best class of lawyers
10 become candidates. This Is as 1t
should be, for everybody knows that a
salary of $1,000 per annum, even II ac'
companled by the dignity Of elevation
10 the judicial bench, was seldom an
object To an attorney Of standing and
experience 10 resign for 1t iirst'clas'
lucrative practice. This in the past
did have "A certain effect upon the
character OF the Dench oi 'ooh 'ouii
ty. because while we always have Ia,
an honest and upright judiciary, tn
conditions were such as resulted II
very young lawyers forming the ma
lnrity of the candidates and Of yer!
Young men being frequently elected Il
the bench who resigned their positions
az soon as ripcned judgment, broaden
ed experience, and more thorough
knowledge OF the law made it an oh
lect 10 wealthy concerns to seek thei
services at large salaries. Now, how
ever. this difficulty has been partially
AZ least Obviated, and men who have
reached the prime of their ability an'
knowledge Of legal lore find II worti
while to seek elevation 10 The bench
The Eagle does not say that the sal
AIRY now fixed by law for our Judiciar!
j. a. large a. IL should be, but 1t Is n
least sufficient 10 enable able ana lal
cnted lawyers to live in that style Il
which their earning capacity entitic
them and has made them accustomed
~
Besides all this the growth Of On