Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1908-04-30
THESUPERIORJ JUDGE
SHOULD Be SELECTED SOLELY FOR
HIS QUALIFICATIONS.
r1iSinfOrmed Papers Fall Into Error
Regarding the AC fiOn o the COuntv
Bar Association. II Was d patrj.
Otto Move in Perfect Accord With
Primary Law.

In the last issues of the Montesano
Vidette and the Elma Chronicle
those two excellent papers were dis
posed to throw some fits over the ac-
tiOn of the Chehalis County Bar AS
sociation in naming it's preference for
superior judge, to be elected next
November to succeed Judge Irwin,
to the extent of nearly a column
each. The similarity of the line of
argument used lends the suspicion
that the articles were inspired from
one source, and their numerous mac
curacies entitle them to be consid-
cred very Able articles.
They both shrek with horror at
the idea of the Bar Association en-
dorsing candidate-more especial
ly horrifying that the endorsees
name was not Irwin. 1t is so very
plain that had the association en-
dorsed Mason Irwin for reelection
our two worthy contemporaries
would have been spared those spasms.
But, since they have raised the
question, why should not the asso-
citation select candidate whom it's
members believe to be best fitted for
the bench?
The law expressly eliminates party
politics from the selection of judge.
AS the association contains all of the
practicing attorneys in the county,
and one of their number will neces-
sarily fill the position, who is better
qualified to name the man best
equipped for the office? Similar or
ganizations in other counties have
taken this action, and we look for
the medical society to suggest nom
inees for offices requiring medical
knowledge, such as coroner and
health officer, and with perfect pro-
priety. If an elective office demand
ed knowledge of carpentry, it would
not be considered out of place for
the carpenter unions of the county to
suggest a competent man for the
place. 1t would be duty to the
public.
The attempt to enlist county fac
tional quarrels into this contention is
unworthy of a reputable newspaper.
Such work should be left to the pol
itical shyster where it belongs, and
whose candidate will be loser by it
among the big majority who believe
in the law that separates this office
from partisan politics-not to have
it made an article of barter and sale
by the INSCRIPTIONS for their own
gain.
The bar association numbers near
ly forty names, nine-tenths of whom
are republicans. More than three
fourths of the membership prefer
Sheeks for judge, and it is to
their honor that they show hearty
disposition to obey the new law by
ignoring partyism on the bench by
naming a well known democrat. A
democrat who is conceded by the en-
tire bar to be the most thoroughly
equipped man in the county for the
place. The endorsement was spon-
taneous, neither Mr.. Sheeks nor any
of his friends made an effort to Sc
cure it. The honor came to him un-
sought, his distinguished services
will come to the county, to the profit
of it's citizens, should it's voters SO
elect. There is nothing whatever
in his endorsements to cause our
neighbors to become hysterical. The
people will still elect the judge.
The Chronicle says, 1.-The taxpayer
has more at stake in this matter
than the attorneys" and becomes
quite worried over this judge busi-
ness. Well, perhaps it is right, yet.
it occurs to us that when an attorney
has cause to be dissatisfied with a
court or it's rulings there is usually
a taxpayer, in the form of client,
close to him in that dissatisfaction.
We fully endorse the sentiment OF
the Chronicle when it says: I'VE
must have for judge fair and i'm
partial man we'll fitted for the place"
We agree with the majority of the
bar association that Attorney Sheeks
exactly fills the bill. If our contem-
porary has good reasons for thinking
Judge Irwin better qualified, 1t
should make them known. Seven
months to election is altogether too
long in which to make abuse of the
bar association do duty as argument.