Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-05-15
THE QUESTION OF QUALIFTCA.
TTON

T1ON.
Such OF the republican newspapers
Of the fourth district Of the Illinois
supreme court as have been support
ing Judge Robert ]. Grier in his con-
tention that the election now pend
ing should be determined upon the IS
sue OF partisanship have suddenly
changed front. They have discovered
that the people, irrespective Of politics,
do not take kindly to the proposition
Of injecting this idea into an Illinois
/ supreme court election, in lieu of the
! time honored custom all over the
state. Hence these papers are shift
| ing TO the policy Of qualification. They
are now maintaining that democrats
as well as republicans admit Judge
Griers qualifications. Good. So, it
may be said, that republicans as well
as democrats admit Supreme Court
| Justice George A Cookies Qualifca-
tons. The recognition and approval of
/ Judge Cookies qualifications as prov
en- by two and a half years service on
the bench, was strongly emphasized
when such republican newspapers as
the Chicago Record-Herald, the Spring
/ field Journal, the Peoria Herald-Tran-
script, the Quincy Wing, the Springfield
News, the Peoria Star and the Aledo
/ Times-Record came out for the reelec-
ton of Justice Cooke on the ground of
fitness worthy Of endorsement in pur-
suance of the principle that judges
should be elected to the supreme court
in keeping with the non-partisan spirit.
So that all things being otherwise
even on the question of the qualif-
cations of the two candidates, the sit
ting member of the court has a shade
the advantage of ii in the matter of
two and half years experience and
proven worth in the particular office
for which both aspire.
There can, therefore. be no issue
on the question Of qualification. No
one has praised Judge Grier's worth
personal as well as professional, more
often than has Justice Cooke, while
on the other hand the bar of the state
without regard 10 politics, praises the
services of Judge Cooke as deserving
of The highest commentator, particu
larly when il is taken into considera
ton that he has been on the bench
so short a time in filling out an un
expired term. He is admitted TO have
a Ene judicial mind and grasp Of
law and its application Added to thi.
. he has attracted attention by his rare
capacity for work, the quality which
, has distinguished him all through his
! life. Indeed he has already beer
termed the working Justice"
; Whether in the supreme court build
, ing at Springfield or in his law ofic,
at Aledo, in court and out Of court. il
term and out of term, he is one of tn
= busiest men who has ever sat upon tn,
! bench Of the supreme court of Illinois
/ II is on this account as well as becaus
b of his remarkable knowledge of tn,
] law that he has al once become i'm
: mensely popular with his ASSOCIATE
, justices at Springfield The fact tina
= Justice Cookies services have been s,
% pronounced as 10 attract attention an
win the endorsement of the bar an,
OF many Of the great republican news
papers from various sections of Ill
nois precludes utterly the possibilit
of a basis Of contention on such ground
:. and this without the least disparage
D ment Of Judge Grier. Judge Grier sin
a ply possesses no advantage in thi
4 view of the case.
r Accordingly qualification as applics
d BILE to two such candidates. is not the /:
;. sue. The issue is simply one Of mol
t partisan INSTRUMENTATION OF
d wise custom as contemplated by IN
e constitution Of Illinois and as respecte
e and enforced in Illinois for years.