The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1912-11-16
Anderson Intelligencer.

(oiuhhoio' =. -. NOV. IL
Governor Blease viii. at the next
session OF the general assembly which
convenes In January. advocate direct
election OF the judiciary In South Car
olina. While Official confirmation Is
not given for publication. II is known
definitely from a source close to the
Governor that direct election of
judges will be Erged by him In his
annual message to the legislature.
From the chief justice Of the su-
preme court to the circuit judges will
the recommendation stand which
means that In this State the Cover
nor will ask that all judges be elect
ed by the people. Should the recon-
mendation be adopted IL circuit
judges and the. five justices Of the su-
preme court would be affected by the
change.
The justices and judges are now
elected by the general assembly. The
justices are elected for ten years now
since the recent change. adding an
other justice to the court. Before
that time the supreme court justices
were elected by the legislature for
eight years There are four associate
Justices and a chief justice as fol-
lows: Chief Justice: Eugene B.
Gary. Of Abbevilie; Associate Justices:
c. A. Woods. OF Marion: r. G.
Watts OF Cheraw: 4. Il. Fraser. Of
Sumter; ID. .E. Hydrick. of Spartan
burg. The Justices receive $4,000 the
year.
There are twelve circuit judges
whose terms are four years. but to
be a judge In this State is practically
life time job. In recent years. how
ever. several judges have resigned.
Judge II. o. Purdy. OF Sumter. re-
signed few years ago to resume his
law practice In Sumter which he prob
ably found would pay him more.
Judge X. Il. Copes. OF Orangeburg.
elevated to the bench during the 1910
session OF the general assembly, re-
signed a few months ago. Chief JUS
tice. Ira n. Jones. resigned at the
last session of the general assembly
TO make the race for Governor for
which he was defeated by Cole l..
Blease.
In order for the change from cleo
ton by the legislature to election by
the people. OF the judiciary. con-
stitutionaI amendment. or set of
amendments. will be necessary. The
general assembly would have to pass
bill embodying the Governors rec
ommendation by a two-thirds vote and
the matter would then have to be
submitted to the people In a general
election and IL the people likewise
vote to accept the change It would
then be ratified by the general assem-
bly, before becoming law. This il the
method Of amending the State con-
stitution.
Should the people and the general
assembly favor the change. judges
would thereafter be elected Just as
governors. members OF the house and
every other state and county officer
are now named and that Is In the
Democratic primaries In South Caro-
lima.
Doubtless. the first argument that
would be advanced In the general as
sembly against direct election OF
judges would be that will put the
matter into politics" or course. that
would be true TO an extent. But, on
the other hand. advocates OF direct
election OF Judges would advance the
statement that legislative elections Is
I'm politics" and would add: IF you
don't believe IL go into the halls OF
tho legislature during an election by
the house and senate and see for
yourself" Those who favor the d.
rect election OF judges would urge
that the people should have a direct
say-so In ths selection of the judiciary
that Is To try all cases. civil and
criminal and would further ask with
evident fnality: why not " which.
when II comes To such matters. Is in
deed question that can hardly be
answered.
AZ any rate Governor Blease Is posi-
lively going to embody such recon-
mendation In his annual message To-
the assembly. IL Is further believed
that u there II any alignment on the
matter II will be In this wise: "The
lawyers will oppose the change and
the laymen will favor IN