Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1909-09-20

and he had brought with him a long
and carefully prepared campaign
speech. which he delivered immediate,
~ upon his nomination.
So, here are the two candidates
Mr.. Cooke, representing the sponta
neous voice of the whole of the de-
mocracy of the district and many re.
jpublicans; Mr.. Mcclure, representing
a committee of Is and the Berry-De-
ineen faction So much for the candi-
dates.
| Fundamental Principle Involved.
But, while comparison of the candi-
dates is important, there is also in
this judicial campaign a vital and fun
| damental principle at stake. That
principle turns upon the question as to
whether our supreme court shall re-
main bipartisan.
| Prior to the death of Judge Scott.
the judges of the supreme court con.
sisted of five republicans and two dem.
ocrats. At that time the republican
party had generous representation on
the bench
In the event of Mr.. Cookies election,
the political status of the judges of
the supreme court will be the same as
it was prior to Judge SCOTS death,
namely. five republicans and two dem
ocrats. If Mr. Mcclure should be elect
ed, the supreme court would consist of
six republican judges and one demo-
cratic Judge.
It's not easy TO see how any thought
ful citizen, whatever his party afiilia.
tons might be- could honestly feel that
IL would be in the interest of the peo-
pie for our supreme court to be over.
whelminSly representative of one po-
litical party. Such policy must in
evitably result in lessening the con
fidence in the court by large minor
ity of the people of the state. For
this minority would be sure to feel
that the object in making the court
overwhelmingly partisan was to gain
party advantage in the decisions of
the court itself.
To Maintain Political Balance.
On the other hand. the election of
Mr.. Cooke to succeed Judge Scott
would not only restore the political
balance in the supreme court TO what
it was before Judge SCOTS death. but
the precedent of an election approving
of that principle would do much to-
ward sustaining the policy in the flu
ture.
And this bipartisan policy is not
only one commendable in theory: it is
also principle which has become
thoroughly imbedded in our institu-
tons. and has been sanctioned by the
highest authority in the state and in
the nation. Its approval is seen in
our state constitution, permitting min
GRITTY representation. Ii is seen in the
laws of the state requiring that all i'm
rortant appointive boards should be
bipartisan. Its approval was evident
in the special court that was appoint
ed to decide the Hayes-Tilden contest:
tho APPROVAL of the bipartisan principle
was shown by President Taft's select
cabinet
So the bipartisan principle is no
experiment. 1t has been tested and
approved and its application to the
supreme court of Illinois would be in
harmony with both theory and prac-
tice The mere fact that Mr.. Mcclure
is opposed to the idea of keeping our
supreme court bipartisan is no suffi-
Gent reason why republicans who ap-
prove of the bipartisan policy should
not vote for Mr.. Cooke. For one
thing, the manner of Mr.. McClure's
nomination does not make him repre-
sentative of the republicans of the dis
trict. In fact. he was nominated by
at method which, as the Quincy Wing.
republican paper. has said was I'M
representative of the republicans of
t he district"
For another thing, Mr.. Mcclure s
views are not entitled to any weight
with his party as a party, for the rea-
son that he has publicly stated that he
does not ask any republican TO cast
his ballot for him because he is a re-
publican. This declaration of course
releases republicans from any party
fealty and leaves them free TO support
the candidate and principles which APP
peal 10 them as citizens
For the reasons given. and many
more that might be added. democrats
and republicans alike should esteem
it patriotic duty to elect George A.
Cooke as supreme judge on the 18th of
this month