The Colville examiner. [volume] (Colville, Wash.) 1907-1948, 1908-04-11
Monday Convention Day


cratic convention for Stevens county, The cordial
hospitality of the county seat will be extended to
delegates and visitors. Many will meet for the
first time in year. Newcomers to this county
will for the first time see the assembled democracy
of this section. An event of special interest will
be the presence of William Goodyear editor of the
| Colfax Commoner man prominent in the demo-
cratic politics of this state for years, impressive
| and forceful speaker, and candidate for the NOM
ination for representative from this congressional
| district. He will address the convention in the
| afternoon and will be the speaker at the Jefferson
banquet in the evening.
The convention will be called to order at p. n
at the courthouse by County Chairman L. B.
Harvey.
The banquet will be held at the Colville Cafe in
the evening.
The office of The Colville Examiner will be open
with welcome to the party's representatives
Monday will be the anniversary of the founding of
the Examiner, for just year ago at the Jeffer
son banquet the plans were formed for establishing
| this paper.
| Since the Examiner was founded and is con-
troed by the county democracy, it is the desire Of
the editor that the delegates and visitors make
themselves at home at this office. Reports of con-
ditions in the various precincts should be made
here for reference during the campaign, and any
item of information which will be of service to the
party this year should be reported.
From present indications there will be large
attendance at the convention and banquet
49,
| Republicans of Stevens county-or more pro-
perly, republican office seekers seem to be much
exercised over the provisions of the direct primary
law particularly that section which provides for
partisan judiciary ticket. The intent of this
law is to remove judicial proceedings from politics.
and to allow the election Of judges to be made by
| the people and not by political parties. The law
was passed by republican legislature and is one of
the very few acts of that body endorsed by honest
| men Of all parties. The superior judges are not
only the arbiters for the people but the custo
dians of the peoples rights. If elected on nom
partisan ticket there is no occasion to pay political
debts while in the judges chair and better jud-
iciary would be the inevitable result-a consumma-
ton devoutly to be wished
But now comes the Northport Republican advis-
| ing the republican party to ignore the law alto
gether, and saying that it would be we'll for the
republicans of Stevens county to unite on single
candidate to be placed on the non-partisan eec-
tion ballot for the office of superior court judge"
It is not plain just what influence there is at work
in Northport which causes that newspaper to con-
stantly advise the violation of the law If re-
publican Judge can not be elected except by vio-
latng the law, there is good reason for refusing
to elect him. And if candidate for judge pro-
ceeds in the old manner to line up the party's
strength to secure nomination, in open violation
of the purpose of the law, the public not help
but be impressed with the total unfitness of such
man to sit on non-partisan judicial bench. If
man has so little respect for the law that he would
attempt to evade it before election, what conf
dence could the people have in him on the bench
| after election?
The seeming dire necessity of several Northport
interests to have E. H. Carey reelected to the judg
ship is probably not matter Of general under
standing, but the fact that they are willing to go
to the extent of transgressing the law to gain their
ends should certainly be investigated by the voter
before casting his vote in any manner for their
candidate.
| There is no good reason why Stevens county can
not elect non-partisan for a Judge, the same as
will be done in other counties. There can be men
found in this county who are willing to seek the
nomination by lawful means. 1t is not even fair
| to the many honest men in the republican party
thus to let the impression go forth that their
party countenances dishonorable proceeding.
This years election will be the first under the
partisan law. The law should be followed and
given trial, and candidates selected who are will
ing to place themselves within it's provisions.
| Stevens county's current expense warrants are
now taken at the banks. For several months
there has been no ready sale for these warrants,
which although they bear 80 interest are not like
ly to be called in for payment for three years.
There has been no question at any time but what