The Detroit times., 1910-10-10
VOTE
BREAKS SYSTEM
People, Aroused, Sweep Judge Kin
kade and Other Progressives
Into Once.
CHAPTER III.
The VICTORY.

iOl@EOO, OCt. iV.-iue uctSot VI
Judge kinkade for circuit Judge. and
the three Independent candidates for
the common pleas bench. didn't dis
courage the independent voters. But
IL did open the eyes OF both Demo
cratic and Republican politicians. The
tremendous independent vote scared
them. When the next time came for
combining TO fight the independents
the party bosses split apart and en-.
tered into keen competition 10 curry
favor with the independents.
There were four judges to elect. one
TO the circuit and three to the common
pleas bench. The independents nom
mated Judge Kinkade for circuit
Judge. and Chas. Il. Chittenden. John
p. Manton and Curtis T. Johnson as
the common pleas candidates. The
Republicans Endorsed Kinkade, the
Democrats Endorsed Chittenden, Man
ton and Johnson; and all four were
elected
Out OF total vote Of 2s.420 In
Lucas county. Judge Kinkade got 26.-
S67-there being no candidate against
him but the Socialist.
This put Kinkade on the bench with
two OF the three circuit judges who
had helped the Ice trust lawyers and
l.eir clients. II also put three free
judges on the common pleas bench
three out OF four.
This year one of the remaining cir
cult judges sought denomination. His
own party turned him down, and made
an effort To regain public confidence
by nominating another candidate. The
Democrats, too, put up the best polit-
zeal Judge they had available. But the
independent voters could not be lured
from their fight for nonpartisan judi
ciary. and have nominated as an inde-
pendent candidate for circuit Judge.
Johnson Thurston, lawyer OF ample
means and large practice, who several
years ago led the petition In boots that
marched to the council chamber and
prevented the granting OF a franchise
10 the street railway company by q
machine-controIled council.
The odds arc against him, as they
were against Kinkade four years ago.
But independents don't care for odds.
They say this IL a campaign that will
90 on until all judges In Ohio are
nominated by the people. without re-
gard TO party afilliation, and elected as
free judges rather than as Democratic
or Republican politicians.
But the people are waking up. This
year they are demanding that all can
didates for the state legislature pledge
themselves before election TO vote FOR
a bill creating q non-partisan judiciary,
nominations to be made at q direct
primary by the people themselves, and
judicial candidates to be placed upon
a pure Australian ballot without party
designation.
! This much have the people In this
part OF Ohio done for themselves,
The result has been magical Trust
lawyers no longer have a pull with
the courts. Some of them, defeated
in the Republican judicial convention
| where they failed to renominate their
fudge. are now for the independent
candidate SO as TO be sure they Will
get a soua-~ deal In the courts.
hut that isn't all the independent
movement has done. A friendly pro-
bate Judge was defeated, and an inde-
pendent elected in his place. People
now say Lucas county has the best
probate Judge in the country--one
who actually uses his ONCE to protect
the windows AID orphans whose In
terests are placed by law In his
charge.
The method by which the people
nominated their independent candt
dates was simple. Petitions were cir
culated and presented to the election
boards who placed the names on the
ballot, In a separate column. with nc
eagle. rooster, duck, goose, parrot oi
any other birdlike party emblem al
| its head. Then men who believed In
the non-partisan judiciary went Out
and talked to the people on the street
corners, In halls, at their homes In
| city or on farmland paid their owl
expenses. They were helped by one
newspaper in Toledo-The News-Bee
Only the high spots have beer
touched In this brief story OF might,
interesting campaign Of several years
duration. The conditions that existed
| were not singular or unique. In every
judicial district in the land will pt
found trust lawyers active In judcia
(; conventions and elections. Every
where will be found special privilege
seeking control of the courts. Nearly
everywhere arc kept judges who BY
their official conduct are teaching the
| people contempt OF court by making
courts contemplate.
And everywhere, thank God, there
| will be found the same kind of hon
est, justice-loving people who some
| day will arise In their might. hurl the
mighty from their seats OF judicia
power. and make law something to be
respected by making II synonymous
| with Justice.