The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1910-03-10
The Supreme CNur! ladgeshIp.

At the next election here will be
elected tAree Judges Of thu Supreme
Court-the successors Of Chief JUS
tjce Clark and Judges Walker and
Manning. That Chief Justice Cla, k
and Judge Walker will he each rorr-
mated without opposition by the
Democratic State Convention seems
to be generally conceJ i. Both ti.e,e
gentlemen have demonstrated Their
fitness for the Suprena2 Court Bench
and they deserve the ur opposed nom.
ination Of the party. The nomination
Of Judge Manning to succeed himself
is alone contested; the gentlen'ar
who IS making this contest is Judge
" r. Allen, o. Go'ds:aoro
Upon what ground is this contest
made?
The letters sent out BY the commit
tee in charge Of Judge Aliens cam
Daign place his contest upon the
ground that he has discharged well
the duties of Judge Of the Superior
Court about eight years and in this
position rendered splendid service to
the people Of the State.
We have no desire and no purpose
to detract one particle from this fine
service. But is this alone sufficient?
There are other Judges upon our Su-
perior Court Bench whose legal abili-
ty is generally recognized as equal to
Judge Aliens and whose service on
the Bench has been larger. If splen-
did service on the Superior Court
Bench and length of service furnish
the reason for promotion, then there
are some Superior Court Judges who
outrank Judge Allen in length of ser
vice and who equal him in ability.
But why should Judge Manning
alone, of three members Of the Court
to be nominated, be denied a nomina-
ton? Judge Manning was appointed
by Governor Kitchin to fill the vacan-
cy caused by Judge Connor's REGINA
ton; some one had to be appointed
of course, and the Governor is vested
by law with the appointing power.
Judge Aliens name was presented
to the Governor; 50 was Judge Man
ning's; so were the names Of other
able lawyers in the State Governor
Kitchin had to decide, a1d he appoint
ed Judge Manning. The concensus
of the State press comments at the
time of the appointment was that
the Governor had made no mistake.
Judge Mannin='s work as member
of the Supreme Court has confirmed
this opinion (of the press and the
wisdom of the Governor in the ap-
pointment. Governor Kitchin, Of
course, knew Judge Manning well,
not only as a lawyer, but as a man
and Democrat. So far as we car
hear, the lawyers of the State speak
IN terms of high praise of Judge
Manning's opinions as Judge of
our Supreme Court. We accept their
judgement upon that point.
Appointed by a Democratic Cover
nor, and having made good" or
the Supreme Court Bench, Judge
Manning is entitled to the nomination
Of our party, according to its unbro-
ken custom and precedent. The en-
dorsement of the Governors appoin-
tee by nomination has, as we recall,
been refused a very few times three
times by District Conventions, but
never, as we recall, by State Con-
vention.
Had Judge Connor remained Gu
our Superior Court Bench, the
friends of Judge Allen would not be
running him against Judge Connor.
Why, then, are they trying to defeat
Judge Manning. who, every learned
lawyer in the State comedies, is fill
ing the position with great ability