Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-03-23
THE NoS-PARTIsAN JUDICIARY

Those staunch republican journals,
the Peoria Herald-Transcript and the
Quincy Wing, have reiterated their
positions editorially in support of
the principle that Judge George A.
Cooke of Aledo should be reelected
70 the supreme court of Illinois from
the Fourteenth district, on the
ground that the non-partisan spirit
must be maintained in the judiciary.
The Argus has already published the
formal declarations of both these
esteemed and recognized republican
newspaper authorities, but both have
since further emphasized their posi-
lions, to the end that there may be
no misunderstanding on the subject.
Down in Peoria they do say that
1t is the first time within the mem
DRY Of the present day generation of
readers of the Herald-Transcript that
it has supported democrat for any
Office. Some weeks ago the Herald
Transcript declared itself positively
and the present week il had the fol-
lowing further on the subject.
In the midst of these times when
the judiciary of the country is be-
ing subjected to close scrutiny and
free criticism il should be a matter
of pride to the state of Illinois that
member of it's supreme court has
given such excellent service to the
people that his candidacy for reelec-
ton is meeting with approval regard
less of party lines. Such a man is
George Cooke, whose term to fill a
vacancy is now expiring and who is
before the people for judgment as
to his continuance on the supreme
bench for another term.
The Herald-Transcript believes
that the supreme judicial tribunal of
a great state should be above the con-
sideration of partisanship-that the
Judge who has made good and proven
| true to his high Office should be re-
tanned in the public service without
regard to his previous party affilia-
tons. For that reason the Herald
Transcript has no hesitancy in adj
vocating the reelection of George
Cooke, democrat, as a member of
the supreme court of Illinois. He has
been an impartial, courageous and
efficient judge, a credit to both the
court and the people of the state
Comes now again the Quincy
Wing, too, following up its original
stand with this new declarations:
Justice George A. Cooke OF
Aledo, who was elected in Septem-
Der, 1903, to I'LL the unexpired term
of the late Justice Guy c. Scott, is
the democratic candidate for reelec-
ton for judge of the supreme court
for this district. Although Justice
Cooke has been upon the supreme
bench but little over two years, his
tentiOn of the bar of the state and
his fitness for the position is well
recognized.
while judicial positions in this
state are generally regarded as non
partisan and party politics do not fig
ure to so great an extent in the Sc.
lection of members of the bench the
judges are elected as candidates OF
political parties and it is always re
garded as a mark of high esteem
when a judge by virtue of the rec
ord he has made has received the
unqualified endorsement of leadinf
newspapers of other parties than hi.
own. This high honor has been paiC
to Justice Cooke, and below are ex
tracts from editorials of some of tn,
leading newspapers of the stat,
which have endorsed the record O
Justice Cooke and urged his reelec
ton"
The Wing thereupon reproduce
the original editorials of the Chicag,
Record-Herald, the Springfield Jour
nal and the Aledo Times-Record. al
stalwart republican papers in sup
; port of it's own position.
The attitude of these distinguishes
newspapers is assuredly gratifying L
Judge Cookies host of friends an,
admirers throughout the district, If
respective OF politics, who believe Il
his worth and beyond this believe II
the principle that in the personnel O
the highest judicial tribunal in tn
state, both political parties Shout,
be represented
AS at present constituted there ar
five republicans and two democrat
on the bench. The retirement O
Judge Cooke would accordingly leav
but one democrat, in Judge Farmer
to six republicans. While 1t is no
for an instant presumed that tn
political composition of the bencl
would influence decisions, the cour
would not be so apt to be SUBJECTS
: to the criticism Of being topheav
with any one particular politics
faith II the present ratio is main
tanned. The people themselves be
lieve in this principle, and the Law
so contemplated when it set the tim
for the election of members as ia
away from the general elections a
possible and fixed a different day O.
the week from that on which tn
people are accustomed to voting Il
general elections of strictly polit
5 ical character.
2 The principle Is absolutely RICH
and is being magnificently upheld b
: some OF the leading republican news
I papers in the state in their advocac
e of the return OF Judge Cooke to tn
. seat on the bench which he has S
NJ -. -. -