Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-05-18
NON-PARTISAN INFLUENCES IN
THE JUDICIAL ELECTION


In Monmouth, the friends of Judge
Grier are making energetic pleas for
him in the pending supreme court cleo
ton on the theory of local pride-be-
cause Judge Grier has always resided
in Warren county and is well liked
there. As an evidence of how Judge
Grier has stood heretofore, the en-
thusiastic friends OF the judge point
10 the fact that in the past the demo
Gratis have nominated no opposition TO
him when he has been running for cir
cult judge-it has been of the nature of
a non-partisan election whenever Judge
Grier has been a candidate, say his
friends down Monmouth way.
How well, indeed, is Judge Grier pay
ing what should be his debt OF appre-
citation to the democrats, not only OF
his own district, but to the democrats
of the fourth supreme court district,
in allowing himself TO be drawn out in
opposition to Justice Cooke, who is
standing for reelection as one Of the
Two democrats in the supreme court
OF Illinois. The evidence of supreme
gratitude, so presented, is but another
OF the somewhat extraordinary fea-
lures of this campaign from the Grier
standpoint. And then, as TO the claims
that Judge Grier's elections so far have
been OF the on-partisanship nature.
Some more ingratitude. Having profit
ed by this principle, as 1t has applied
TO his own political fortunes, Judge
Grier now seeks to set that principle
aside by going over the district ap-
pealing for support from the republi-
cans on the ground of partisanshiD
fealty. Where ingratitude and incon-
sistency go hand in hand was there
ever such parade? Judge Grier has
never been opposed by a democrat in
his own district, and now he comes
out through the force Of mysterious in
fiuence as the only opposition Justice
Cooke would have had from the repub-
lican side. Having enjoyed the advan-
/ tases of the nOn-partisan spirit in his
own district, Judge Grier now seeks TO
set aside that same principle in the
supreme court district.
As TO the claims of local pride and
personal popularity, which It is the
hope of Judge Grier's friends will
/ spell something for him in the election,
/ r. may be said there is that side TO JUS
/ tice Cooke, too. Right here in this
, county he is regarded as all but a Rock
/ Island county man. The counties of
/ Rock Island and Mercer are so closely
united, and their interests so interwov-
en-, politically, socially and in a mercan-
tile way, that they are practically one.
/ There exists a feeling Of neighborli-
ness that is peculiarly notable. That
Judge c. J. SearIe carried Mer-
Ger county in the recent primary for
the republican congressional nomina-
ton, whereas he received in Warren
. county the magnificent total of 21g
votes, less than 10 per cent of the
vote polled-and he knows why-af-
fords proof of the relations existing
between the two counties.
In more recent years the bonds of
union have been strengthened by the
Rock Island Southern interurban
which has made Rock Island a trad
ing center for Mercer county. Person
ally. Justice Cooke is regarded in Rock
Island and in Rock Island county, as
one of the people here. He has been
coming here since he was boy, and in
HIS triumphant election two years and
a half ago to the supreme court OF L.
linOis, there was as much rejoicing in
Rock Island as in Mercer county.
So II Judge Grier Is so immensely
popular in Warren county that the
democrats have nominated no opposi
ton 10 him for the circuit bench, and
have thus given him a non-partisau
election, Justice Cooke is equally as
popular not simply in his own county OF
Mercer but in the adjoining county OF
Rock Island. where the citizens, ir
respective of politics, think he should
have had no opposition, particularly
on partisan grounds And they hope e
see him reelected by larger majority
than before. This is the prevailing
sentiment, not only because of hi:
/ present popularity and acknowledged
fitness, and the neighborly feeling thai
awakens local pride, but because Of the
one overshOwing principle at stake in
this election-that of broad non-parti
sanship in judicial elections.