The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-10-04
TIE DISTRICT JupeEsHIPs

represent the non partisan idea, are
chosen upon bipartisan platform
and are actually nom partisan in that
they are chosen from both political
parties. Not less important or less di-
rect is the connection of this issue
with the choice of judges for the dis
trict bench in Ramsey county.
Never was there so good an oppor-
tunity, nor is one likely to occur soon
again, to vindicate the principle of
separating the bench from politics as
there is right here. No plank in any
platform could be more outspoken or
more convincing than the local situa-
ton and the contrast between the can
didates for the bench offered by the
two political parties. OF the six dis
trict judges in Ramsey county one is
Democrat. The non-partisan idea can
never be carried out except through
some practical apportionment of the
judges between the two parties. AS
long as either is allowed practically
complete control of the bench, it will
name its own men for the succession
and partisanship Will prevail. The peo-
pie at their pleasure can decree the
necessary separation by refusing to
pack the bench in the interest of either
party, and by choosing such judges
from among the candidates as will
equalize and preserve the balance of
party power. The Republican party
has stubbornly refused to aid this
movement and set it's face hard toward
a partisan judiciary. The opportunity
of the people has come.
Of the two vacancies to be filled on
the district bench one is that now oc-
cupied by Judge Bum, the sole repre-
sentative Of the Democratic party. The
other is the position held by a strict
Republican who is a candidate for an
other judicial position. For these
places the Democratic party has nomi-
mated Judge Bum, than whom there is
no ADLER man on the bench in this state,
to succeed himself; and T. D. O'Brien,
eminently qualified by training, by eX-
perience, by character and by a cool,
judicial mind, for the other vacancy.
In case of their election the Repub-
lican party would still retain ma
jority of the whole district bench. In
case of their defeat it would become a
practically solid Republican body.
The course of events and the nomi-
nations made by the Republicans have
emphasized the issue. The party has
taken special pains, 1t would seem, to
advise the public that it intends to
mated for one of these places a man
whose principal qualification is con-
fessedly his party activity. He has
been active in organization, prominent
in conventions and owes his nominal
ton to political influences principally
if not entirely. The other candidate is
equally active in practical politics and
has shown his contempt for the idea of
non-partisan judiciary by repudiat-
ing and driving from the party COM
mittee a man who was understood to
have decided to support a Democratic
judicial candidate because of his high
qualifications. Thus the Republicans
in this county have placed themselves
on record more decisively than any
words of their opponents could do
against a non-partisan bench, and in
favor of making judgeships even more
conclusively than they are now the
spoils of party war.
Against this principle we urge the
voters of Ramsey county to declare.
No party benefit could counterbalance
the enormous loss of degrading the
bench from it's lofty eminence to be-
come the football and instrument of
party IudIdSSIS. mere - liz ISetoOA
and no sense in it. There are plenty of
offices to reward the active party men,
plenty of places to give zest to the
struggle. Let us leave the bench out
of it. Let US heed the demand OF
every reputable lawyer and every bar
association, that judgeships be re-
moved from politics and the principle
of a non-p partisan judiciary estab-
lished.
This is a duty which every voter
owes to the community and to himself
far superior to any obligation of party
that can rest upon him. 1t can be dis
! charged only in this case by electing
as district judges George L. Bum and
| Thomas D. O'Brien; not because they
are Democratic candidates, not only
| because they are in all respects
highly qualified for the place, but
above all because their success
will rebuke the effort to partisan
ize the bench. will warn both par
! ties hereafter that this must not be
done, and will go farther toward es-
| tablishing in actual practical fact the
principle of non-partisan judiciary
than anv nrITo,I,er of sneecheS resol1l-