Pike County press. (Milford, Pa.) 1895-1925, 1903-08-14
our JUDICIAL CONTEST

OUR JUDICIAL j CONTEST
From reports received here bitter
contest, which has not yet apparent
ly reached its aeutest stage, is in
progress in the lower end Of
this district for the judicial
nomination. 1t is contended, and
usually agreed, that canvas for
the high Office Of. Judge should be
conducted on higher planes, in
franker manner and with less
asperity than may characterize the
strife for other positions, A non
partisan judiciary, however desir-
able, is perhaps a utopian dream
and we may expect long as political
parties exist to have more or less
contention between them over the
nominee. Often within a party the
struggle becomes keen and the con-
test acrimonious The human
mind is weak and prone to remem-
Der friends and punish enemies OF
opponents when the occasion affords
and a person after elevation to the
bench can hardly, however much
he may desire, wholly forget the
unpleasant incidents of his candi
dacy. For this reason unseemly
strife should be deprecated, and
every move which might be viewed
as trick to win a nomination should
be discountenanced by the candi
dates and their friends We do not
intend to indlte homily, because
allactively engaged in the present
contest must be fully alive to the
amenities which should govern, but
in view of the act of assembly
governing nominations to office, it
seems proper,to ask our democratic
friends in this county the object
they had in view. in placing the
name of one judicial candidate on
their ticket.
The act of 1897 provides as follows :
"That if any political party has by
its rules provided for a registration
of candidates for nominations, and
at the time limited Tor such regis
tration, or at any subsequent time,
by reason of withdrawal or other
cause there shall be no more candi-
dates for any Office registered or
remaining than are to be elected to
such office, the person or persons so
registered or remaining shall be
deemed the nominee or nominees,
with the same effect as if he or they
had been nominated by a conven.
tion or primary meeting, or caucus,
or board. And one or more or all
the officers of the committee of such
political party with which such
registration shall be made, or the
officer with whom it is made, shall
make a certificate of such nomina
tion in the same manner and with
the same effect as if there had been
a nomination by a convention OF
primary meeting or caucus OF
board.
It cannot be denied that there
were no more candidates for the
office of judge than is to be elected,
viz, one ~ hence under the act
above, inasmuch as the party rules
provide for registration, and but
one candidate registered, why did
not our democratic friends follow
the provisions Of the act and certify
the person registered as the nominee
without submitting his name to Che
people2 The act says. 'shall be
deemed the nominee" What diver
sion did our friends expect to create
by having the candidate voted for
Did they expect, or hope this might
strengthen some Of the weak point.
in the ticket or we're they ignorant
of the act of assembly?
Being benighted we can only sat
isfy our craving for knowledge by
asking Of those presumed TO know
the reasons, for what seems to ul
outsiders to have been wholly un
necessary under the law theplaoing o.
one name on the ticket as a candi
date for judge. Unless cur demo
cratic friends in Pike can give q
satisfactory answer they mus
either plead ignorance of law Oh
admit and ulterior motive aud a.
We before remarked such things ii
judicial contests beiittle the higl
office an reflect discredit Oh thl
party which gives them counten
anoe.