Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-09-25


as a result. No office is closer to the
people than that Of judge, and the
choice Of men TO fill this place should
be upon a non-partisan basis as nearly
as possible, and yet here is our re-
publican governor, in his effort to OBJ
tain a political advantage, throwing
this election and the general election
together. II is violation Of the con-
stitution OF the state for him TO do
this, and yet that fact does not deter
the governor"
Mr.. Kenworthy then told Of the de-
fects in the present judicial machin-
cry OF the state, deprecating the fact
that the judges had neglected TO make
recommendations for the improvement
Of the laws, as required by the consti-
/ tuition.
DELAYS IN COURTS.
THE people Of the state must en-.
dure great delays in justice" Mr..
Kenworthy said, with the result that
many of those who have just causes
for legal action prefer TO settle their
cases out Of court, or through some
.
great loss and injury. A litigant in
this county can consider himself lucky
TO get a trial within two years from
the date Of filing action. There is
no doubt that this condition is causes
by the laxity of the judges, who have
failed 20 offer any suggestions to the
state legislatures for the improvement
Of conditions"
MR.. MOORE HEARD.
Mr.. Moore. who followed Mr.. Ken
worthy on the program, also pointed
out the defects in the legal machinery
Of the state, and said that immediate
and urgent reform was needed He
emphasized what Mr.. Kenworthy had
said about the delays in the law, and
was equally severe in his criticism Of
the governor for fixing the date of the
judicial election for Nov. 3.
1T is apparent to all thinking men,"
Mr.. Moore said, that the governor
has gone far out Of his way to bring
these elections together. He cares
not for necessity of choosing able and
upright judges If it appears to him
that there is a chance of those judges
coming from the democratic party. He
has thrown these elections together so
that the voters, in their partisan haste
and excitement, will overlook the pc
culiar requisites that should apply TO
the choice of judges. This action on
the governors part was made design
eddy.
Judges now in Office in this state
have not lived up TO the law in the
matter OF making suggestions and rec
concentrations for the improvement of
the states legal machinery. These
judges, sitting on the bench every
d day, are in better position than any
one else TO see defects, in the law. and
yet not once have they offered any
advice for Improvements.
At the present time the courts OF
Rock Island county are clogged with
, untried cases. There are 300 of these
cases on the common law side, and as
many more on the chancery side and
there Is no hope whatever of an i'm.
provement under present conditions
AS my friend, Mr.. Kenworthy, pointed
out 1t takes two years for a case to
reach trial, and usually about two
I years more for it TO get through the
!. court after being called for trial.
= We have been greatly handicapped
I in this county by the refusal of the
a supreme court to assign a suncien
, number of judges 70 this county. Rocl
Island county ought TO be a judicia
. district by itself, with three or foul
: judges sitting here all the time"
Mr.. Moore closed by congratulatin,
0 the new club on its choice of officers
o and on the harmony and enthusiasm
> that were apparent everywhere. H,
e said the main thing for democrats t
o DO this fall was 70 get the vote out
: and that, with this important detail al
tended to. success at the polls wouIt
be assured
e At the conclusion OF Mr.. Moore's ad
u dress. Mr.. Nollmer was introduced
o following whose eloquent address
g rising vote Of thanks was tendere,
o him.
g Chairman Johnson Of the demo
> cratic county committee spoke brief
& In appreciation OF the club, and DR.,
e cicted that ii would prove an impoI
tant factor in the campaign. Tn
e county committee. he said. would joi
r the club in quarters. and the two o.
o carnations would work hand in han
h for the success of democratic prime
a. pies and candidates.
n CLARK AND LEWIS COMING.
n 1t was announced by the presider
IS that Speaker Champ Clark and Co
n onel James Hamilton Lewis will d,
= liver speeches in Rock Island With
the next two weeks, the speeches {
Speaker Clark in two cities in III
Fourteenth district being the onl
!, ones he will deliver in Illinois.
The finance committee. through Al
drew Olson, reported that It would /
glad 10 receive funds, which undo
n the constitution, should be voluntar
and that al the next meeting would /
In a position 70 make a report
The chair. upon motion. appointe
as q committee in charge Of headcua
=. tiers ]. W. Cavanaugh. c. J. Smith an