Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1910-10-07
AN APPEAL TO THE PEOPLE
BY the Non-Partisan judiciary League Of
Washington.

Washington.
We. the representatives Of the
Non Partisan Judiciary League of
Washington, make this appeal to the
people of this State:
The surest safeguards of Republi-
can institutions are courts composed
of judges who derive their authority
from the people. who are unswayed
by party prejudice. and who, free
from the influence of privilege, do
not subordinate the rights of the
many to the exactions of the few
To secure such judges there devolves
upon every citizen an obligation Of
such weight and solemnity that it
dwarfs all other considerations.
The rights and property of all
classes rest in the end on the impair
tiality and ability of the men who
compose our courts. 1t is the plain
duty of every voter to work for the
election of men who will best dis
charge that trust; and in the choice
of such men every voter should have
a direct and unfettered part.
Our primary law, as originally en-
acted, gave to the people full partici-
patton in the selection of members of
the Supreme Court, free from the in
reference Of conventions dominated
by selfish interests. We pledge our
selves to use all honorable means to
secure the repeal of the act of 1909
which took the nomination of Su-
preme Judges from the people and
returned it to the convention sys-
TEN; and in its stead to labor for the
enactment of a law for the nomina-
tion and election of Supreme Judges
in the same manner as that in which
Superior Judges are now nominated
and elected.
The law of 1909 which returned
the nomination of Supreme Judges to
partisan conventions was enacted at
the instigation OF special interests by
q Legislature pledged to support the
peoples choice, through the pri-
mary. of all State officers. A breach
of trust for which there exists no ex-
cuse, it was also q preliminary as
sault on the direct primary system
conceived and executed by men de-
termined to wipe from the statute
books the best means thus far de-
vised for giving expression to the
popular will.
While taking measures to avert
this danger when the Legislature
meets, the people of the State should
also have the opportunity at the
coming election to express their dis
approval Of the methods and results
of the State convention held at Ia
coma on August Sd, 1910. The nom
inees of that convention. if elected,
will constitute majority of the Su-
preme Court and carry control of
that body for long term of years.
The larger number of the delegates
to the convention were chosen in an
arbitrary and illegal manner. and
without giving the people of the
State even the semblance of a voice
in their selection. 1t was not a Re
publican convention in any true
sense of that term. 1t carried out
the programme of the interests in
control, and, in the face of deter
mined opposition, the five Republi-
can judges whose terms were expir.
ing were renominated, thus accomp-
fishing one of the most shameless
pieces Of political jobbery ever per-
petrated in this State.
There is but one way in which the
people can at this time express their
disapproval OF the work of that con-
vention. We choose that way, and
disegarding party affiliations, we
recommend the nomination by this
conference of five candidates for the
Supreme Court, selected with sole
regard for their knowledge of the
law and their courage to discharge
with integrity and impartial justice
the duties Of that body.
We regretthat the impairment of
the primary law by the last Legisla-
ture compels US to hold this confer
ence in order to voice popular discon-
tent with that impairment and with
the work of the Tacoma convention.
In placing before the electorate the
names of the men whom this confer
ence may select. we act as we believe
the voters would act if they had not
been robbed OF the opportunity. If
that opportunity is restored to them
by the next Legislature, we pledge
the candidates nominated here to-
day to tender their designations be-
fore the primary election of 1912 and
submit the question of their renom-
ination and reelection to the voters
of the State.
The fight on which we are entering
In not aoo;n @ 4 indi yidrolc hut aoaincf