Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1910-10-30
ciary out of politics and to keep poll
ties out of the judiciary.

ciary out of politics and to keep poll
ties out of the judiciary.
BARS PARTIsANsHIP
In this connection 1 may advert to
the fact that there is an idea enter
tanned that a non-partisan Judiciary
comprehends in substance bi-parti-
san j dietary. With this suggestion l
cannot agree. Nom craftsmanship IN
the selection of judges, as l have be-
fore suggested, is based upon the
principle that men shall be elevated
to the bench because of their fitness,
worth and ability and not because of
the fact that they belong to or do not
belong to a given political party. There
might be as much true craftsmanship in
a bipartisan judiciary as in partl-
san judiciary. The selection should be
made, not because of craftsmanship, but,
if necessary, in spite of partisanshlp.
When an inherent ability TO discern
the right and an innate determination
to do it without fear and without ia
vor shall be the only standard of selec-
ton of Judges, then we shall in truth
and in fact have attained a non-parti-
san judiciary and then we shall also,
in truth and in fact, have done that
which will best conduce to the eleva-
ton of our judiciary to sphere which
it should occupy in the minds and the
hearts of the people.
"A non-partisan judiciary is respon-
sible, not to a part or parcel of the
people, not to a faction in a state or
community. but is responsible to the
whole community itself. Being chosen
in the non-partisan fashion, each indi-
Vidual member of the community feels
some responsibility for the selection
of the Judge so chosen, feels some in
terest in his welfare, feels some right
to demand that he shall, in the popular
language of the day, make good SO,
too, the individual thus selected feels
that his responsibility is not to the
party, but to the whole people and that
his continuance in office will result
not from the success of his own polit-
ical organization, but rather from a
proper performance of his Judicial
functions.
SOCRATES Is QUOTED
THE wise old Greek philosopher, Soc
rates, said that in his judgment there
were four essential attributes of true
Judge: TO listen courteously, to an
swer wisely to consider soberly and
then to decide impartially.' In this age
the Judge elected in the non-partisan
spirit that | have heretofore suggested
and in the manner in which [ have
pointed out, ought to be able to con-
form to the requirements laid down by
Socrates and thereby display all the
essential attributes of the ideal judge.
1T will, of course, be true that even
under such conditions injustice will oc
casionally triumph, impartial decisions
win be prevented and justice thWarted
in her attempts to minister to the
peace, happiness and progress of So
ciety. But then, as now, we will have
to consider, remember and give heed
to the poets thought when he said:
Fright forever on the scaffold. wrong for
ever on the throne:
But that scaffold sways the future and
behind the dim unknown
Standeth God within the shadow, keeping
watch above His own"
"Then as now and even under such
ideal conditions the community will
have to content itself with judgments
and decisions drawn from human
sources, which cannot but be punctu-
ated with human imperfections; and
then, as now, and under any conceiv-
able arrangement, it will have to rely
upon a just a wise and omniscient
Providence to work out the great
problem of life i'm such a manner as
will result in the greatest good to the
greatest number