New-York tribune., 1906-07-11

WORK or THE JUDICIAL NOMTNATORS.
The judicial Nomlnators have done excellent
service to the community in putting forward
the names Of ten men as candidates for the SUI
preme Court against no one of whom can any
exception be taken. While the list is as
whole not extraordinary i'm it's character and.
I'm fact few Of the names on it rather excite
surprise in view of the consideration given to
some other lawyers. with no political connec-
tions TO disqualify them in anybody's eyes. who
have been passed by: yet two or three OF the
men named may be put in the front rank with
reference TO their fitness for the bench, and,
taken altogether, from top to bottom Of the
list the candidates are above the average nomi-
nees for the Supreme Court, and therefore SUI
perior to what we should be likely to get from
the workings Of unrestrained party machinery.
It is hard TO understand just why the lawyers.
when they had chance, did not urge the pro-
motion of Surrogate Thomas to the Supreme
bench. The objection that he cannot be spared
from his present place has some weight but 1t
might equally have prevented the nomination
of Mr.. COnnoly, whose long and valuable SER
vice in the Corporation COunsels office makes
his continuance as the permanent law officer
Of the city seem almost necessary.
For some reasons, as The Tribune has al
ready stated, it might have been better for the
lawyers to have proposed a considerable list
Of fit judicial candidates, as to avoid any
possible complaint that the legal profession
was attempting absolutely to dictate the selec-
ton Of judges and allow no range of choice,
either to parties or people. IF the two parties
accept this ticket exactly as it is put forward
the candidates may conceivably have to face
the criticism that they represent a cOmbina-
ton of conservative interests. and that the old
parties have come together to deprive the peO-
ple of any real election in the choice Of judges.
We think that danger might have been avoided,
so far as the lawyers were concerned, by a
longer list Nevertheless. the list is. taken alto
gether, good one
1t is not yet apparent what the political
parties will do with 1t. There will doubtless be
some demands voiced that the parties shall take
this ticket Just as it is, under penalty Of de
nuncation as traitors to the public interest.
But the Judicial NOminatOrs who are preparing
TO place their own ticket the official ballot
by petition will we think, hardly thus assume
that they are the sole persons with moral
right to nominate candidates for judicial office.
They certainly will not take that position while
their purpose is TO secure good judges rather
than to promote the personal fortunes of any
man.
They have already insured good judges by
their nominations, for they have faced both
parties with the absolute necessity of accepting
their candidates or naming better ones. 1t is
by no means impossible that better tickets might
be nominated, for some lawyers were considered
who are. we believe, the superiors in judicial
qualifications of some of those chosen. But If
any such superior ticket is to be named by either
party it can only be by the casting aside of all
thoughts Of political intrigue and the rewarding
of party service and going at the problem with
the sole purpose OF getting the best possible
judicial candidates No party desiring a ticket
of its own can follow any other course with
hope of success. Therefore. whether the ticket
of the Judicial Nomlnators is indOrsed by either
party or not. the object Of the movement is al
ready attained. The pace is set for the cam
paign, and any party will fall behind at its
npril