Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-04-29


When Judge Scott took his seat
in the supreme court, he became one
OF two democratic members of that
tribunal which is composed of seven
judges. 1t was felt by republicans
as well as democrats that two out OF
seven were certainly not more than
the democrats were entitled to. Hence
when George A. Cooke ran as demo-
crat to succeed Guy c. Scott, a dem
ocrat, two years and a half ago, he |
was tridmphantly elected IN the spirit |
OF fairness. Having served out the |
unexpired term at under pay and |
| having Just become reasonably IA
miliar with the duties, he is now run
ming for the full term, under pre- |
cisely the same political conditions
that prevailed two years and a half
ago, in that he stands as a democrat
TO succeed one of the two democrats
sitting on the bench. 1t is under
these conditions that his reelection
is assured by reports from every cor
ner of the district. The response of
the people TO the non-partisan senti-
ments that bear upon the entire sit
uation will insure Judge Cookies re-
election.
There is no answer to this proposition
and hence It is, no doubt, that those
who for political reasons seek TO
change the established order Of things,
have resorted to personal abuse of
Judge Cooke in the hopes of accom-
plishing his defeat This campaign
of attack broke loose a week ago
yesterday through the Chicago Ex-
amlner, and II was not at all unnat-
ural that the answer should come
through another Chicago paper, the
= Journal, one Of the oldest and most
reliable newspapers in the state. 1t
is that answer in all that 1t contains
and implies that has brought forth
still further attacks from the camp
Of the friends Of Judge Cookies op-
ponent, which assaults, strangely Co
incident as they appeared with the
visit OF Judge Cookies opponent to
Rock Island the middle of last week,
. even before the Journals exposure
appeared In the district, have be-
come likewise strangely similar to
However, 1t is not the purpose of
The Argus TO indulge in personalities
In the discussion of candidates for
so exalted an Office as Judge Of the
, supreme court. In the same spirit
that the office should be removed
from the prejudices of politics, so
should those who stand for the Of
fee be spared the distasteful discus
sions that all too frequently enter
into strictly partisan politics. 1t is
an office worthy of mans highest am
0ition, and so far not one word has
escaped the lips of Judge Cooke in
Z disparagement of his opponent,
7 Judge Robert J. Grier. Everywhere
= he has spoken of Judge Grier in the
tondest terms, born Of long years of
personal and professional friend
ship. In fact, Judge Cooke has gone
so far in his expressions of apprecia-
2 ton of his opponent that papers sup
porting Judge Grier on strictly polit-
r teal grounds have begun TO make cap
4 ital out OF the good things Judge
I Cooke has said of him.
2 As far as Judge Cooke is concern
[ ed, he is too busy both with his du-
j. ties as member of the supreme
( court, and his campaign for reelec-
o ton, TO indulge in personalities, even
Q II he had the inclination. When
Ill Rock Island for a few hours last
Friday on his way TO his home in
p Aledo, he again expressed 10 his
- friends the hope that personalities
= would be eliminated as far as pos
= sible in the discussion of his oppo-
Il nent. You can just say for me that
7 ] am working, and working as hard
IS as | know how for reelection, 81
J. Judge Cooke remarked Il am
r not ashamed of this fact. Work
y has been part of my creed, / might
d almost say, since l was old enough
l. 10 know anything. AS a boy work be.
.r came the part of necessity with me. and
n as | have grown older it has become
matter of choice. / worked hard
for the election two years and a halt
:, ago; | have worked hard in the of.
flee since and have coupled my best
= endeavors with the most conscien.
- tious devotion that ! am capable OF
e giving TO the duties. And l an
s working hard to be reelected. I dc
F. not think that there is any Office sc
Il digniied that it does rot warrant the
D. dignity of honest work to attain it
10 Nothing is worth having that is moi
ie worth working for, and by everj
u sense of fairness l think l am en-
ID titled to a reelection. Two years anC
d half ago ago ! was elected by re
re publicans as well as democrats, as
lie democrat TO succeed a democrat.
IL am today standing as a democrat Il
Is succeed a democrat and in view o.
m the fact that the same general con
er ditions obtain, / am confident tina
As the same results will attend the cleo
m ton"
D. Another element Of the fairness in
S yolyed in Judge Cookies candidac,
le for reelection, which he has failed t.
m make mention OF himself. is tina
y during the time he has been a mem
&c Der of the supreme court he ha!
q been serving for under pay. Tha
I is to say he has been receiving les
ie salary than the other judges on III,