Martinsburg statesman. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1869-1906, 1904-04-01
Judicial Nomination.
Berkeley'S Fairness VS.. jeferSOn'S Un-
fairness.


Committee of Berkeley on its action
taken Saturday in reference to the
method adopted by it to secure an
expression of the democracy OF this
County as to their preference for the
high and important Office of Judge of
this Circuit. 1t is a source of pleasure
to us that our Committee did
not permit the unfair and iuequitable
action taken by the Committee OF JET
ferson County to prejudice their
minds, or t. influence their judg
meut in reaching determination as
10 the plan that should be adopted,
through which the democracy of this
County may on The 10th of April, ex-
p,ess their preference for the candi-
aste who should be nominated by
the Judicial Committee.
TIE Executive Committee of Ber4
kelley, af er calling Mass Conven-
ian at ten O'Clock on that date, to
e, d delegates to the Charleston Con
veHtion. provided; that an election
should be held at the Court House in
Maitinsburg on the same day, at
which the democrats of the County
shall give expression to their choice
between the several candidates for
the office of Judge; that the polls for
this election shall be opened from
twelve c, clock, noon, until shutdown;
that the choice of each voter shall
be made by the deposit Of a ballot for
the candidate he may prefer; that the
candidate, whether he reside in the
County of Berkeley, Morgan or Jeffer-
son,-who received the highest num-
Der of votes at said election, shall be
authorized to name the delegation to
represent Berkeley County in The Ju-
dical Convention. This places every
candidate aspiring to the nomination
upon a common plane of equality. In
the adoption of this system the choice
of the democrats of this County for
the nom nation of Judge will be made
upon the same principles that govern
the choice OF our legislative, execu
tive and Judicial Offices.
How different was the call of the
Jefferson Committee How inequit-
able and unjust has been its action,
as affecting the rights of democ rat
| from the Counties of Morgan and Ber-
kelley, who sought the approval of the
democracy OF Jeffer sou in his caudi-
dacy for this office.
The tenth section of the Jefferson
Call provides that The candidate
from JEFFERSON COUNTY receiv-
ing the HIGHEST NUMBER Of
VOTES in the County shall be en-
titled TO ALL the delegates from the
County, and shall appoint the same
to the Senatorial and Judicial Con.
vention respectively
There arc three candidates seekips
this office from Jefferson, Under this
plan which ever candidate from that
County shall receive the highest vote
in the County will be entitled il
the Judicial Convention to the Fl
votes of Jefferson. 1t will be noticed
that a candidate from Berkeley Oh
Morgan, is EXPRESSLY excluded
under this provision, His right to
appeal to the democracy is controlled
by the following proviso to said sec
ton, provided thGt if any candidate
from Berkeley or Morgan County
shall receive the MAJORITY of the
votes of any PRECINCT in Jefferson
| County he shall name the delegates
which that PRECINCT is entitled to
in the respective conventions.
What is the effect of this provision!
The candidate from any County but
Jefferson, to carry any precinct, must
receive more votes than are cast fol
the three candidates residing If
the County. 1t placdes the com bine
strength and influence of the home
candidates against the candidate o
any other County. Between the can
didates in Jefferson, the one receiving
the HIGHEST NUMBER of votes,
names the delegates, but the non-res
ident candidate of the County must
receive a MAJORITY OF all the votes
cast attl at precinct.
A practical illustration OF this jeff
erson Rule will convince the most
nreiudiCed oF itS init1StiCa et us