New-York tribune., 1906-09-05
COURT CIVIL SERVICE"
FOR BENCH PROMOTIONS.
Bar association Member for Fusion
Judiciary-MeetiRg asked.

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Edward A. Alexander. a member of the Bar
Association of this city is heading movement
for fusion judiciary ticket TO be backed by the
Bar Association. the nominees for all the places
to be promoted from the Inferior courts as far
as practicable.
Mr. Alexander is getting twenty signatures
10 petition to the Bar Association for special
meeting to be held on September IL. He got
twenty signatures for a similar petition, but did
not specify the exact date on which he wished
the meeting to be held. Secretary Brownell
would not issue a call without the specific date.
and Mr.. Alexander was obliged to do the work
over again
II is believed in the Bar Association that the
movement headed by Mr. Alexander will conflict
with the plans of judiciary nominators of which
Joseph II. CnOate IS the head. The nominatOrs
have selected their nominees or at least they
have printed the names Of sufficient number Of
men to fiji all the ten places on the Supreme
Court bench to be filed this fall It is a pretty
safe guess that various men who were not named
by the Choate nomiuatOrs are anxious for some
other sort Of arrangement
II is understood that If Mr.. Alexanders plan
carries. a regular committee will be appointed
by the Bar Association 10 make nominations. and
that the nominees viii. as already stated. be mon
who now filling the places on the benches Of
the inferior courts, II is said that the Alexander
men are in favor Of giving a fusion Supreme
Court nomination 10 City Court Judge Samuel
Seabury. Hearst man; a denomination TO otto
ROsalsky, a Republican. the General
Sessions bench. and promotions to men like JUS
tices Delahanty and O'Dwyer. Seaman and Whit
man. If the Alexander plan carries there may
be only one judiciary ticket in the field although
Tammany. 50 far rs known is disposed TO norni-
nate a straight ticket of it's own When Mr.
Alexander was seen yesterday he said;
l am not seeking a nomination for myself in
this plan that l am pushing for do not desire
TO go on the bench. My only aim is 10 get good
bench. and believe the only practicable way to
get it is 10 promote good men from the inferior
courts.
There unworthy men on the Supreme
Court bench in this city to-day. They attained
their bad eminence through political pull and
machine methods II is impossible 10 get rid
Of them. They were elected for long terms and
their conduct is not sufficiently reprehensibe to
warrant impeachment proceedings. Al the same
time they hamper the free and exact admins
tratiOn of justice. delay the calendars through
laziness or erTatic procedure. and their presence
on the bench warrants n movement for better
condition Of things.
The judiciary ought to he out Of politics.
When people begin to lose confidence in their
judges we are bordering on anarchy. II is not
always safe TO nominate bright and honest
lawyer for a Supreme Court judgeship. If he
is past middle age the chances that his
mind IS hardened along certain lines. and that
his judgment would not he absolutely unpreju-
diced. II is unnecessary TO dwell on the depior-
able practice Of nominating judges who are
willing to stand for a huge campaign assess
ment. The evils OF system Of that sort are
patent 10 any one.
! am firmly of the opinion that the best way
is To promote men from the lower courts whose
fitness has been demOnstra ted. When mag
istrate Of a lower court has been on the bench
for three or four years there is opportunity 10
get a fairly accurate line on his qualifications
and integrity. He is not an experiment. If he
has a rotten streak in him IL will have shown
itself IN a three four year experience on the
bench of a lower court. Therefore, the record
made i'm the inferior court would be an almost
infallible guide in selecting candidates for the
Supreme Court bench.
once the principle is adopted, better class
I Of men will he attracted to the benches Of the
inferior courts II the Mayor OF this city under
stands that in the course of a few years the
CITY rnagist .ate he appoints may land ON the
Supreme Court bench he is going 10 be very
careful TO select the right kind of man. There
/ will Ie fewer accidents on the bench. IL Is
( a merit system that approNimates the Civil Ser
vice idea I have the greatest confidence in II,
and that is why l shall ask the Bar Associa-
tion 10 consider il at the special meeting /
brOughI the plan TO the attention Of one or the
/ judiciary nominatOTs He told me that II he
had known of IL first ne would not have taken
( a leading part I'm the movement headed by Mr.
Choate He admitted the correctness OF the
priuciple / am advocating. If we do not get the
special meeting fer the 10Th the subject Will
come before the regular meeting OF the asso-
citation on October .