Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1909-09-20
Vital Issue at Stake in Choice
of Supreme Court Justice
Next Saturday.
COOKIES STRONG POSITION
Eelicf That the Highest Tribunal in,
the State Should be Bi-Par-
tisan Is Upheld.

Saturday
In every campaign, it is the privi
lege, as it is also a duty of voters tc
compare candidates.
If there is a principle involved in
the campaign, it is the bounden duty
of voters TO give that principle care
full consideration.
In the present judicial campaign
which will end with the election on
the 18th inst. successor is to be
elected to the late Judge Guy c. Scott
of the supreme court
Two candidates are before the peo
pie for the position, namely Hon
George \. Cooke of Mercer county and
Milton E. Mcclure of Cass county.
The selection of Mr.. Cooke as the
democratic nominee is one of the most
marked instances OF spontaneous
thought in the political history of the
state. So well recognized were Mr.
Cookies qualifications for judge of the
supreme court, such was his wide.
spread popularity, because of his pun
ity of character nObleness of mind
bis agreeable personality and 9th,
er characteristics that democratic
thought throughout the district in
stantly fixed upon him as the ideal
candidate for the position as judge
of the supreme court
At the convention held at Monmouth
Mr.. Cookies name was the only one
proposed for nomination. and at the
pnd of tho dnIiborati,-a borp,or ;o,,.
and unanimous meeting. he stood as
the candidate, not only of that conven-
ton, but the candidate of united,
enthusiastic democracy throughout the
district.
Nor was the approval of Mr.. Cookies
candidacy by any means confined TO
the members of his own party Many
thoughtful republicans throughout the
district. who knew the man and loved
and respected him. who recognized
his eminent fitness for supreme Judge,
rejOiced that he had been named as
a candidate
Once Turned Him Down.
Milton e. Mcclure was a candidate
before convention comprising 12O
delegates, representing $4,000 republi-
cans of the district Although that
convention took 200 ballots. it refused
TO nominate Mr.. Mcclure
On the contrary. the republican CON
vention at Macomb. as a result of a
piece of horseplay that would have
been unSeemly in nominating a con-
stable, nominated as a candidate
Trr1n MI
antics of that convention led TO the
most scathing condemnation by repub
licans and republican newspapers all
over Illinois.
: Judge Mack. of course, declined the
nomination, one of his stated reasons
being that he did not feel himself to
be the choice of his party throughout
the district. Judge Macks declination
loft the republican party without i
candidate.
Instead of the republican convention
being reassembled for the purpose OF
selecting candidate represent alive
of the republicans of the district, and
endeavoring in that way to atone for
its horse-play. the republican commit
tee itself took the matter of nomina
ton in hand, under the skillful but
silent guidance of Orville F. Berry. a
i. Deneen appointee.
Thirteen members of the committee
held private caucus in Quincy Ex-
change of views showed that the Ber-
ry frame-up had been effectual and
that there were enough votes i'll the
committee 10 nominate Milton E. Nc
Clurc of Cass cOunty-MiltOn E. Nc
Clure whom the convention had re-
fused to nominate; Milton e. Mcclure.
whose brother James E. Mcclure, has
Illinois penitentiary ever since Deneen
has been governor.
Nomination Decided in secret.
After having decided the nominal,
ton in secret. the committee held an
open meeting, at which other candi-
dates were allowed the privilege of
announcing they were no longer as
pirants for the position.
Prior TO the meeting of the commit
tee. the Quincy Wing, republican
paper, had insisted that the voting by
the committee should be in proportion
10 that of the delegates in the conven-
ZION. The Wing pointed out the un-
fairness of making a nomination OF
one vote to the county
Inc Wings suggestion was ignored
ana Mcclure was nominated on the
oasis OF one vote to each county. OF
the 10 members of the commit ee
Mnlch nominated Mcclure. a majority
uid not represent over one-fourtb of
The republican voters of the district
Did Mcclure refuse the nomination
so made-McClure. whom the conven
ton at Macc.nb had refused to nom
mate? No, indeed. So far from re
Easing The nomination, Mr.. McClur,
had come 10 the committee meeting
advised that he would be nominated