New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-05-23
JUDICIAL NOMLNATIONs.

Activity of the bar to secure desirable candi-
dates for the many important judicial positions
/ to he filled next fall is on all accounts to be ell
cOuraged. 1t is not often that so many seats on
the bench are TO be filled at one time. Nor for
years has there been before the people a more
important issue concerning the courts than that
presented by the evident plan of Mr.. HearSt's
followers to make appeal to class prejudice
on behalf of set of candidates who. if elected,
will cOnstrue the law in harmony with the
peculiar social and industrial theories of their
organization. The radicals and Socialists the
country over have fully recognized that estab-
lished Jurisprudence is one Of the greatest OBJ
stacles to the success of their programme.
Therefore they want judges who Will let them
override constitutional safeguards of individual
liberty confscate the property of hated cor
poratiOns and fix conditions of public and pri-
vate labor according to the demands of private
associations Of part of the people Against "A
movement of this kind it behOoves all friends
OF sound legal traditions and established insti-
tutons to be on their guard. Lawyers and
business men, well as political leaders, must
arouse themselves to see that they have the
right kind Of men brought forward for judges.
The politicians Of both parties must realize not
only the duty which they owe to the public but
also the necessity from a party point of view
OF making their organizations responsive instru-
ments of the popular demand for high class
judges.
The suggestions of the members of the bar
should, therefore, be awaited by the parties
with Interest and a hOspitable disposition,
though that hospitality need not be carried to
the verge Of absurdity in imitation of the Cit
liens Union. That distinguished body of indie
pendents is so pure that it cannot confer with
either political party on anything any more,
but like pale melancholy, sits retired, and from
It's wild, sequeStered seat issues DEGREES just as
II II represented a couple of hundred thousand
voters instead Of a half filled clubroOm. The
Citizens Union will not even consult the parties
about fit candidates, but will go it blind in favor
OF any selections which handful of lawyers of
proper pretensiOns may make. Mr.. Cutting says
he does not know the names of the lawyers who
are 70 name the candidates who will be Endorsed
by his organization. An unknown and self-ap-
pointed committee is to pick out a few lawyers
for such reasons of public policy, personal
friendship or self-interest as may chance to
sway its members, and tell us that these men
must be made judges, while the Citizens Union
is pledged to ratify the action. and the parties,
under pain OF its moral communication must
nominate and elect them. That is the pass Of
representative government at which Mr.. Cut
ting has arrived!
Perhaps the party organizations which repre-
sent the people who are expected to furnish the
majority Of the votes To elect good judges may
be inclined to claim some freedom Of choice.
They may think themselves as likely to pick out
able and representative men as is a cOterie of
unknown members of the bar They may at
least claim the right 10 consider the suggestions
OF the lawyers and ask how representative Of
the bar the self-appOinted nOminators are in
: Stead OF blindly intrusting themselves like Mr.
cutting to an unknown committee under pledge
! 10 approve Whatever il may do good, bad or
lhdlfferent. The bar may give us valuable lead
ership IL is not difficult, however, TO imagine
! handful OF aggressively self-suficient practi-
toners getting together and Offering us ms the
rhcice OF the bar" few of their personal
lIlehUs aAa social cronies in no way as well
fitted for the bench as LAWYERS whose ectivitv
in public life would bring them to the attention
OF party convention. Against the promotion