The Irish standard., 1903-08-29
THE JUDICIARY IN POLITICS.

THE JUDICIARY IN POLITICS.
The Minneapolis Tribune calls atten-
ton to the Wire pulling that is now
taking place in this county for posi-
tons OH the bench next year.
1T is Il queer thing that politicians
should be talking about nominations
for district judge next year more than
twelve months before the primaries"
says The Tribune. I'VE hear no talk
of candidates for any other offices, city
or county. If there is any office for
which it should not be needful to set
up the pins year ahead. it is that of
judge. Most citizens, we think. are Il
little shocked at the idea of setting up
the pins at all for judicial elections.
judicial places had been pretty we'll
taken out of politics before the prim-
airy law came to drag them back with
it's senseless limitation OH joint judi
cial nominations. An attempt was
made in the last session to amend the
law so as to authorize non-partisan
nomina tons; but it came to nothing.
We are inclined to think it will have
Il better chance next time, if there
should be an unseemly contest over
judicial nominations next year; or,
still worse. this year.
Judges will have to he voted for OH
partisan tickets, under our absurd
law: and probably some ill-advised
persons will run against them; but
there is no reason why the great body
of sane and intelligent voters should
not plump their votes for good judges
separately in their primaries and to-
Sether in the election. without regard
to their party designations. The jul
dietary has been kept out of politics
here too long to be dragged down
now."
The Tribune las struck the nail Oh
the head and in so doing has admin
istered Il just rebuke to a certain
gang of political lawyers whose lack
of appreciation of the fitness of things
is euualed only by their self-conceit
Hennepin county has for several years
been the prey of politics. but. as the
Tribune says. the bench has been
saved so far. 1t is IL fair criticism to
say that the republican party is so
strong locally that it's very strength
has been an injury to the party and
the community. The party numbers
among its active workers so many
whose services in their own opinion
merit reward. that the Judiciary
must he brought into requisition to
furnish positions even though the
public service and the most sacred
rights of citizens suffer. An effort was
made in the last legislature to so
amend the primary election law that
judicial candidates might appear OH
all tickets. thus enabling voters to
designate their choice of judicial
candidates irrespective of party.
This measure had the support of the
Leading republican members and all
the democratic members of the legiS-
lature but was defeated chiefly he
cause of the opposition of certain
members of the Hennepin delegation.
1t is Il sad commentary upon the law
profession to note that the leaders in
opposition were lawyers. We have no
serious opposition to the republican
party sending to the legislature it's
| young lawyers who as a rule have
plenty of time to give to their legis-
lative duties and to whom the office
and the five dollars per diem bring no
great sacrifice But If the republican
party should attempt to foist upon
| the public these same young lawyers
or others like them. by giving them
nominations for the bench, it would be
time for all who have the good of the
community at heart to object. The
ambitions of certain young men just
out of the law school would be ludic-
Quences which are altogether possible.
If any of these candidates. no matter
how unfit, should secure a republican
nomination for the bench. their elec-
tioqk would not only be possible but
prdbnble. The ordinary voter has no
information as to the fitness or unfit
ness of the great majority of the mem
hers of the bar of this county to fill
places upon the bench. Under our
system of voting the candidates of the
majority party would probably he
successful. especially so in a presi
dental year. There are two intiu
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