The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-09-05
FOR HIGH GRADE JUDICIARY.
STATE BAR ASSOCIATION rs
AGAINST THE BOSSES.

Committee Sends Out an Appeal to Take
independent Action. n Necessary. "a
secure suitable Nominees for the n
Justiceships 20 he Voted Upon.
Albany, Sept. 4.-One Of the most inn
portant meetings OF representati YES OF the
State Bar Association was held at the rooms
Of the association in this city this after
noon. 1t was a meeting OF the special
committee OF the ASSOCIATE lon called TO
iasue an address to the lawyers Of the
State concerning the election OF the thirty
one new Supreme Court Judges this fall.
II has been stated that Boss Odell OF
the Republican party and Boss Murphy
OF Tammany Hall have entered into a deal
by which they are to divide the ten new
Justices for the First. Judicial department
and that Boss McCarren and Boss Woodruff
OF the Second Judicial department have
entered into a similar agreement and
there are reports from other Judicial dis
tricts in the State where new Justices are
TO be elected TO the effect that whenever
possible the political bosses OF the Re-
publican party and the Democratic
machine have entered int an arrange
ment to name candidates OF their own
irrespective OF the wishes OF the lawyers
and the citizens Of the State.
Louis Marshall was chairman OF the
special committee OF the meeting OF the
State Bar Association to-day and Frederick
Z. Wadhams was secretary, and the follow
ing address to the members Of the bar Of
the State was adopted unanimously:
The committee OF the State Bar Asso-
citation selected for the purpose OF taking
such action as shall best tend to the nomi-
nation and election TO the bench of the
Supreme Court throughout the State OF
men OF the highest character, ability and
efficiency having met, pursuant 10 a call
duly issued, has concluded to submit for
your considerations its views with respect
to the selection Of nominees for the judicial
Offices which are to be filed at the coming
election:
The voters Of this State are confronted
with the tremendous duty OF choosing
on one day thirty-one Justices Of the Stu
prerne Court, together with a number OF
other important judicial officers. Numeri-
cally this will constitute practically one
third OF the judicial force Of the State.
Although these Justices are to be chosen
by the voters of the nine Judicial districts,
into which for convenience the State has
been territorially divided, when elected
they will together constitute a part OF the
great Supreme Court, our historical court,
Of original jurisdiction.
Their powers extend throughout the
State. They can be, called upon to sit
in any Of its counties From their number
are selected the justices of the Appellate
Division and under our present Constitution
three Of the judges OF the Court of Ap-
peals may be recruited from their ranks.
1t Is therefore a matter OF momentous
interest to every citizen of the State that
in each Of these judicial districts there
shall be chosen TO the Supreme Court
men Of the highest character, ability and
efficiency.
In the selection Of the candidates for
judicial position the members Of the bar
should properly exercise a commanding
influence. BY training and experience
they are familiar with the qualifications Of
those who should be placed on the bench
and the community has a right TO demand
of them that they shall fearlessly and I'M
selfiShly make use Of their knowledge for
the better attai nment Of the public good.
1T may be said with entire safety that
never in the history Of this Commonwealth
has there been an election fraught with
such potent consequences as that which ia
about to occur. The selection Of a single
Justice OF the Supreme Court should be an
act OF great s~olemnity. What is to be said
Of an election at which 30 extraordinary
a number of Justices is to be chosen. each
OF whom ls to become IN instrument for the
public veal or woe for the term Of fourteen
years?
1T is, therefore, believed to be fitting
that this call be extended to every member
Of the bar without regard to political
affiliation or personal predictions TO exert
to the utmost his powers and his influence
to induce the several political parties to
place in nomination such men only az will
best conform to that ideal standard by
which the a~spirant for judicial honors should
be measured:
"Let ii be nderstooi that while il Ia
VnnaN d0airl hln fhaf fhka woan,IN akA,,ll -
accomplished through. tha medium o. the
political parties, which constitute 80 i'm
port ant a part OF our government al system.
in the event that eny party should so forget
Judicial nominations the bar Of the State
will not be slow to foll)w the precedentS
which form a proud page in its history OF
leading the army or oters in a I aggressive
battle against those who threaten the secur-
ity Of our { overnr ent by laying unhallowed
hands on it, iudiciaryg
The committee at to-day's meeting ap-
pointed these members OF the New York
State Bar Association to see to it that the
urposes Of the address to the member
shall he carried out in all Of the judicial
districts where the thirty-one new Supreme
Justices ara to be nominated:
First District Louis Marshall. Robert
GrieT Monroe, William B. Curtis, David
h. Ogden, Thomas Thatcher, Bronson Win
throp, Andrian II. Joline, Henry Galbraith
Ward, part of Manhattan.
Second District-James McKeen. J. Ed
ward Swanstrom, John F. Clarke. William
II. Dykeman, Of Brooklyn; Harrison s.
Moore Of Flushing, Townsend Scudder, Glen
Third District. Newton Fiero, Albany.
Fourth District Richard L.. Hand, Eliza
Fifth 'District-W. F. Goodelle, Syracuse;
". e. Prescott, Herkimer.
Sixth District James Dougherty, Cort-
land; Frederick Collin, Elmira.
Seventh District-John ID. Teller, Auburn;
Elbridge l.. Adams. Rochester.
Eighth District-Henry W. Sprague, Buff
falo; Frank II. Mott, Jamestown; Allen j.
Hastings, Olean; Frank II. Church, Wells
vile; Moses Shire, Buffalo.
Ninth District-H. 7. Dykman, White
Frank b. Down, PoughkeeDsie;
Vanamee, Newburgh.