New-York tribune., 1908-09-07
.JUDGEs UP FOR ELECTION.

Last June The Tribune seconded THE Brook
lyn Eagles suggestion that Judge Albert
Haight of the Court of Appeals. whose term
expires this year, should receive renomina-
ton to his office from both parties. Judge
Haight is a Republican, and therefore the re-
quest for his non-partisan denomination came
with especial appropriateness from a Demo
cratic newspaper But whatever his politics
NAV be- the custom Of retaining on the bench
members of the Court OF Appeals without re-
gard to politics is now so firmly established
that the best sentiment of the state is sure 70
demand his denomination 1t may almost De
said to be the regular practice Of the parties
now to treat the positions upon the bench OF
the highest court in this state as above politics.
a practice which The Tribune has done its Ut
most to establish. Last year they united upon
Judges Edward T. Bartlett and Willard Bart
lett, a Democrat and Republican, both sit
ting upon the L,nch In 1904 they both sup
ported Chief Judge Cullen and Judge Werner
Democrat and q Republican. In 1880 the
Republican party supported Judge Earl,
Democrat and in 1893 Judge O'Brien, also
Democrat and in 1892 the Democrats Joined
with the Republicans in continuing Chief Judge
Andrews in the service of the state. This ex-
cellent CUSTOM which, if politics is to be con-
sidered will be seen to have worked as often
to the advantage of the Democratic party as of
y
giving Judge Haight an uncontested reelection
The principle of the non-partisan continuance
of good Judges in the service Of the people
should be followed in the filling Of certain local
vacancies which will occur this fall. In New
York County Tammany, by reason of its enor-
nous majority, has rarely seen fit to recognize
it. although the Republican party has been &C
customed almost every year to give its fndorSe-
ment to one or more of the Tammany judges
hoy.oI
is to be hoped however, that the propriety Of
nomination by both parties of Surrogate Charles
II. Beckett will be generally perceived. Mr.
Beckett IS. we believe, a Republican, but he has
never been active in politics, and his partisan
ship is of so moderate character that as as
sistant surrogate, he held Office under two Tam
many surrogates. He had served so long and so
well in that Office that his appointment by Gov
ernor Hughes TO fill vacancy was an appoint
hent on merit. He has made an excellent
record in Office, and no better qualified man than
be could be found for the position.
In the Second Judicial District the propriety
of non-partisan judicial nominations is more
commonly recognized than in the First. So there
is good reason to hope that both parties will
unite to retain in Office Justices Blackmar and
Stapleton who were appointed by Governor
Hughes to the Supreme Court there to fill va
cancies Justice Blackmar Is Republican and
| Justice SJaplet0n IS Democrat, dlVlsloH
which should make agreement upon the
nomination of both easier. The Republicans and
the Democrats of the Second District have got
| together in the past upon the election of ju-
dicfal candidates for example upon the re-elec-
ton of Justice GaynOr last fall and the re-elec-
ton of Justice Cullen before his promotion to
the Court Of Appeals. Both of these men are
Democrats. The nOn-partisal spirit shown then
should prevail again this fall Justices Black
mar and StapletOn. being appointees of Governor
| Hughes have been selected with the most criti-
cal regard for their fitness by a man who is too
good lawyer to err as to their qualifications,
and who has too strict a conception of the
judicial office to permit political considerations
70 influence his appointments. Justice Blackmar
at the time of his appointment was counsel to
the Public Service Commission of this district.
Prior to that he had been in practice in this
city where his standing was so excellent that
he was chosen by the committee of lawyers
known as the judiciary Nomnators in 1905 as
a candidate for the Supreme Court. Justice
Stapleton was one Of the leading members of the
bar in Brooklyn. where before his appointment
he was active in Democratic politics.