The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1909-10-21
A N0NPARTiSAN JUDICIARY.

The Republican party, under proper
conditions and at proper times and
places, has always stood for the princi-
PIE of nonpartisan judiciary. Its at
titude on this subject was effectively
shown when the late Governor Lowndes
appointed Democrats to succeed de-
ceased Democratic judges, and when
he designated the late James McSherry,
Democrat. to succeed another Demo
crat as chief justice of the MARYLAND
Court of Appeals.
But the nonpartisan judiciary princi-
pie is not to be considered one-sided
proposition. 1t pre-eminently calls for
reciprocity. 1t must be case of give
as well as take. 1t must be subject to
mutually. 1t does not mean that the
Democratic party shall arrogate to it
self a practical monopoly of the bench
of the State and deny to members of
the Republican party, otherwise com
petent, participation in the judicial
function merely by reason of the fact
that they are members or nominees of
the Republican party.
1t may be suggested that so long as
we have good Judges. their poltict
faith should be matter of indifference.
This Is quite true, and under proper cir
cumstances might be adopted as prin-
ciple of action. But the political faith
OF the members of the judiciary does
not seem to be mat er of indifference
to the Democratic party in this State if
we are to judge by the wholesale ex-
tent to which that party has succeeded
IN electing its members to the bench.
Under the circumstances, therefore, it
is but right and proper that the Repub-
llcan party should nominate duly quail
fled men and seek adequate representa-
ton upon the bench of the State and
particularly upon that of the Court of
Appeals.
In no case has Democratic governor
I OF Maryland appointed a Republican to
succeed either a Republican or Demo-
cratic judge. In a number of cases
Democratic governors have appointed
Democrats to succeed Republican Judges
elected By the people. These facts. to
say the least, must be considered sig
niticant, and to the Republicans they
certainly are significant. The instances
in which the Democracy have formally
joined in the reelection of Republican
judges are so isolated as to be almost
negligible, and have as a rule occurred
under the pressure of obvious political
/ necessity. But however this may be,
such cases are more than equaled by
the occasions on which the Republican
party has formally joined in the re-eec-
ton OF Democratic Judges. These facts
would not seem to Indicate that the nom
partisan Judiciary principle is cardinal
doctrine of the Maryland Democracy.
1t is also so evident as to be almost
unworthy of comment that the parti-
sanship of the Democratic party is not
confined to matters connected with the
election or appointment of members of
the judiciary. The Democratic party,
by means of it's DISTINGUISHING amend
ment, is engaged in a work of the most
bitter, unrelenting and reprehensible
partisanship, and which. if successful,
involves fatality for the Republican
party of Maryland and means nullifca-
ton and naturalization of the influence
of the Independent vote of the State.
1t would hardly seem timely, appro-
pirate or consistent for the Democratic
party, under the circumstances, to in
woke the aid of Republican voters in the
election Of. Democratic nominees for the
bench or other Offices. The party of
Acknowledgement should be satisfied
with such assistance as it can procure
from its own members and SYM
pathizers. Republicans should now
find in this, the second, attempt of the
Democracy by means Of the Straus
amendment to destroy the Republican
party, their full right, franchise and
justification for supporting every nomi-
nee on the Republican ticket, state, ju-