Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-05-25
THE COST OF SPECIAL ELEC.
TONS,

TONS.
1t is plainly apparent that consider
able uneasiness is being experienced
by Judge Robert ]. Grier's
friends over the presentation of
the facts that have been so
convincingly set forth as to the pre-
dicament in which Judge Grier
has placed himself. as well as
the counties Of his present
circuit. by not resigning when
by reason of mysterious influence, he
became a candidate for the supreme
court.
The latest brave effort to get around
the situation comes from the meeting
Of the editorial friends of Judge Grier
held over in Galesburg. from which
emanates the surprising information
that If Judge Grier is elected it will
require only a special primary as the
election of a Judge TO succeed Grier
can be had at the regular November
election" Unfortunately two fixed cir
cumstances rise up to confront this
statement First, Judge Grier's own
words, when he declined TO become
candidate for the supreme court
three years ago. According to the
| Monmouth Review of June "a, 1909,
/ Judge Grier in an interview setting
/ forth his reasons for reaching the de-
cision not 70 become a candidate, then
said: Il do not care to involve the
district in the expense of another cleo
ton The Monmouth Atlas of
the same date in commenting
Of Judge Grier's declination said,
the local mans high sense OF
honor prevents him from doing
this. He. believes that the call
ing Of a special election for circuit
judge would entail an expense for
which he would be personally respon-
sible and he is not willing to labor
under this burden"
If Judge Grier's high sense of honor
prevented him from putting the dis
trict TO the expense Of an additional
election then, involving. as he con
strued ii, a burden for which he felt
that he would be personally respon
sible, and which he was not wilma
To labor under, what has happened
since TO remove his sense of honor
and his conception of what a spec
ial election would mean 10 the dis
. trict? This is a question that viii
e naturally present itself to the aver
age tax payer in the district
b Consider the other side o.
the argument. that a vacancy
on the circuit court bench il
? Judge Griers district now would
necessitate simply the expense
OF a primary election and that tht
direct election could be held with the
regular November election. The plair
facts of the matter are that no Judi
cial election could be held in connec
2 ton with the November election, which
; Is a general election. without direc
! violation Of the spirit, at least, Of III,
! constitution of Illinois, which provides
in effect that all judicial elections shaI
= be held at a time other than those OF
/ which elections OF a general or polit
, ioal character are conducted. So tina
: II the unexpected should happen, anc
: there should be occasion for Judg,
= Grier resigning from the job he i.
5 still clinging to. it would, if the
, purpose Of the constitution is carried
out necessitate two separate and dis
tinct elections TO I'LL the vacanacy-ons
; a primary and one a special judicia
. election in Judge Grier's district.
The letter of the law governing Judi
, cial elections, as has been repeatedly
stated, is that they shall be held apar,
e from general elections. the obvious
purpose being to divorce them as fal
; as may be from the influences of pol
itics. Under the laws OF Illinois, the
elections for judges are set at time
: OF year and on a day of the weel