The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-09-03
president TAFT
FAVORS LIFE TERM
FOR THE JUDICIARY
In Speech Before Bar Asso-
citation Says They Should
Be Appointed, Not
Elected

Montreal September The President
of the United States. an ex-president and
a former candidate for the presidency,
figured today by name or by actual pres
ence in the proceedings Of the American
Ear associations annual meeting. The
association adopted a resolution indorsing
President Wilson'S action in regard to
Mexico Ex-President Taft addressed the
members tonight, advocating greater inde-
pendenee of the judiciary. Judge Alton b.
Parker, democratic candidate for Presi-
dent in 1904. proposed the resolution unani-
mcusly adopted, for the approval of the
celebration of a century of peace between
the United States and Great Britain.
Mr.. Tafts address, delivered at Royal
Victoria college, was the event of the
evening. His subject was "The Selection
and Tenure of Judges"
VIII Speak Today
Tomorrow the ex-President viii speak
''1he Social Importance of Proper stand
ards for Admission to the Bar
Mr.. Taft returned to one of the issues
of the campaign in which he was defeated
tor recollection as President of the United
States and advocated greater independ-
erce of the judiciary. His subject was,
'The Selection and Tenure of Judges.
He argued that judges should be appoint
ed instead of elected, and that they should
hold office for life.
''The greater the independence OF the
courts" said Mr.. Taft, "tie stronger
their influence, and the more satisfactory
their jurisdiction and the administration
of Justice. In q popular government the
most. difficult problem is TO determine a
satisfactory method of selecting the mem-
bers of its Judicial branch"
Selection of judges by appointment
he declared. did not altogether deprive
the people of this right. The selec-
tion can be really popular without re-
sorting to an election The chief ex-
ecutive elected by the people TO repre-
sent them in executive work does, in
appointing judge, execute rhe popu-
lar will He can search among tha
members of the bar and can inform
himself thoroughly as TO the one best
qualified. Generally he has sources of
information, both of an open and con
fidential character. and IL he is not
himself a lawyer or personally familiar
with the qualifications of the candi-
dates he has an Attorney General and
other competent advisers to aid him in
the task. For these reasons. in every
country of the world. except in the
cantons of Switzerland and the United
States, judges are appointed and not
elected"
Many Able Judges by Election
Mr. Taft admitted that the United
States had many able judges Ly cleo
tion; but he pointed out, in many states
the practice prevailed of re-electing
good Judges without contest. Any good
that might have gbeen DERIVED from
the elective system. however, pI omised
to be lost, he asserted, with the more
general adoption of the direct nominal
tion system.
Like all the candidates fcr office
to be elected under such conditions,
judges" he said, "are expected to con-
duct their own canvass for their nom
ination, to pay the expenses of their
own candidacy in the primary, and in
so far as any special effort ~ to be
made in favor of their nomieation and
election they are to make t them
selves. They are necessarily put in
the attitude OF supplicants before the
people for preferment to judicial
places. Under the convention system it
happened not infrequent1y for reasons
l have explained, that men who were
not candidates were nominated for the
bench but now in no case can the Of
| fee sc \ the man.
Nothing could more impair the
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