The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1903-10-22
ga NON-PARTISAN JUDICIARY"
Frostburg Herald, October ,.

since the Democratic nominations
have been made of keeping the Judi
ciarY out of politics, always, however,
with the purpose of securing votes
for the Democratic candidate for
Judge 1t has ever been the aim of
good citizens every where, who have
at heart the good name and dignity
of the bench not to permit politics
alone to influence them in voting for
men to sit as Judges in our courts.
A line of demarkation between the
high Office of Judge and the contain
mating influences of petty politics of
either party has been drawn before
today, and there is now no prouder
boast of the loyal citizens than the
fact that the judicial ermine is farther
and farther removed from the blight
ing and belittleing influence of poll
tics and politicians.
1t is a good boast, and one which
honest men have tried to make en-
tirely true. All friends of an honest
| judiciary have advocated the election
of good men to the office of Judge,
irrespective of politics, when a good
man and bad man were RI ming
for the place There have been times
when party feeling has been set aside
by the voter and an honest opinion
fearlessly expressed in an effort to
vote for the best man whether he has
been a Republican or Democrat.
In this campaign we have here in
Allegany county two good men run
ming for the Associate Judgeship.
Mr.. Williams, the Democratic candi-
date, is perhaps all that the average
voter would require in a candidate
| for the bench. He is a good man,
but no better than his opponent, r. r,
Henderson, Esq, who measures up
in every essential to the Democratic
nominee. 1t is this equality in the
merits and qualifications of the can
| didates that has melted the Demo-
Gratis to appeal for 'non-partisann
ballot on the question of the Judge
ship. Were this appeal consistent
with the record of the Democratic
party along similar lines there would,
perhaps, be less objection to the logic
of their argument. 1t is obviously
plain that if the Democrats had q
candidate for Judge, who was in any
respect superior as a man or more
competent as jurist when compared
with the Republican nominee, they
would never give moments thought
to the plea fora ''nOn-partisan' judi
ciary," but would go into the cam
paign entirely upon the merits of
their candidate.
As it is, they have to meet on the
Republican ticket a man against
whom not a scintilla of objection can
be raised. He is of the highest stand
ing as man and as lawyer, and is
eminently qualified to fill the posi-
ton. Politically, he is clean and, like
Caesars wife, above suspicion. Even
the darts that are shot at him as a
candidate of private interests fall
harmlessly to the ground, because all
who know Mr.. Henderson know that
there are no interests, either personal,
or private or political, that would
weigh with him in the performance
of his duty. He is as fearless of his
| friendship as he is of his antagonists,
and neither could induce him under
any circumstances to depart from the
path of honesty and equity he has so
long traversed Mr.. Henderson is I'M
assailable, and if he were not, We
would have heard from the Demo
cratic press long ago.
That is why the Democratic lead
ers and the Democratic organs are
pleading for ''non-partisan judi
GARY" and that is where the incon-
sistency of the Democratic party
makes its appearance through the
campaign veneering.
! Within the past two years there
have been two vacancies upon the
bench of this circuit, vacancies caus-
ed by death. These vacancies were
filled by appointment by the Demo
cratic Governor, John Walter Smith.
Not a word about a mon partisan
judiciary emanated from the Demo
cratic press of this county, and no
one expected it. The Democratic
Governor appointed a Democrat
Williams himself-to succeed the
lamented Judge D. w. Sloan, Repub-
lican. Then came the vacancy caused
by the death of the late Judge
Edward Blake, Republican, and
again, with two Democratic Judges
already on the bench, not a sugges
ton was made that the bench be
made "non-partisan" by the appoint
ment of a Republican-one out Of
three. Governor Smith, Democrat
appointed Mr.. Witzenbacher, Demo
GRAFT, to dill the vacancy, thus making
full Democratic bench. Is thai
what our Democratic friends call 6
mon partisan judiciary?'
But that is not all, A messenger
. | Do,,,,ll;aon mo. a,