The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-07-24
THE SENATOR FROM NORTH CAR
OLINA,

Judge Walter Clark Chief Justice
OF the North Carolina Supreme Court
is candidate for United States sena-
tor. There has been some talk about
the improperly Of being can
didate for a political office while
occupying the highest judicial office
In the State: but. according TO the
Tarboro southerner. Judge Clark has
made very fair proposition-he win
resign his position as Chief Justice
~ Governor kitchin Will resign his
office as Governor and Senator Sim
mons will retire from his place as
United States Senator.
Nobody believes for moment
that Judge Clark would be in
huenced by his candidacy for
Senator 10 abuse his office as
Judge; he would be ht for neither
oi!ice II such were the case. but there
Is feeling that politics and justice
do not mix. This Is all the more re-
markable because. as matter of fact
all over the country the Judges are
elected or appointed because they are
faith their selection or election being
influenced BY the complexion of the
party In the ascendancy. Yet II can
not be claimed. fairly. that the ad-
m!nistration of justice has been col
ored by the political afilieti of he
Judges on the bench. Now and then
mere and there, perhaps. there may
eral experience. but it can be said
that the Judges have risen in the
administration OF their Office above
partisan considerations. When Mr..
O'Gorman was elected Senator from
New York. 1t was freely conceded by
his most pronounced political enemies
That. in spite OF the fact that ne had
Deen placed on the bench by Tam
many Hall he had been invaria bly,
Just in his judgments Judge Clark
himself. we believe. was the repre-
sentative Of political faction Of his
own party. and 1; VIII be generally
admitted that ne has not been in
auenced In his work on the bench
by the fact that he is a partisan in
po!it!cs Just the same. however. it
would look better If the judges should
refrain from political activities.
II would seem in the present case
that Judge Clark has made a promo
Eition that Governor Kitchin and sena
tor Simmons cannot decline without
subjecting themselves to much criti-
eism Both OF them have a good deal
OF patronage at their disposal. and
unjust though such an accusation
would be, there will be some persons
who VIII charge them with using il
III their own interest and 10 further
their political ambition Judge Clark
has nothing TO give away in the nature
cf so-cailed patronage" and as he
would not and could not suffer his 40
sit!on on the bench 10 Influence ais
decisions. in the very nature of things
ana IN the opinion of the public ne
VIII be at decided Disadvantage IN
the race he is now running Senator
simmons appears to have pretty well
cooked his own. goose by his vote
on the reciprocity bill Saturday a,J
as to both himself and Governor E5itcb-
in it Will be said that they either fear
their fate too much or their deserts
are small. If they shall fail to put il
to the touch and get down along with
Judge Clark on the same political
level.
AND thest ;i.:.r candidates having
done this, the Democratic voters NJ
North Carolina could not do better
thing for themselves and cor their
state and for the country than 70
vote as one man for former Governor
Aycoek. the noblest Roman of them all