The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1914-07-02

tfnguished jurists at different times
| composed the court of FIVE: A. o. P.
Nicholson, ]. w. Deadrick. Peter Tur-
ney, Thomas J. Freeman, John L.
Sneed, Robert Mcfarland, William F.
Cooper, H. II. LuTton, W. c. Cald-
well, D. L. Snodgrass, ". c. Folkes,
B. j. Lea, w. X. McAlister, w. D.
| Beard, NJ. NJ Neil, John K. Shields.
Without argument, this brief his
tory of the court is a complete vindi-
cation of the position of the demo-
cratic party, that the best and only
satisfactory method of choosing men,
to be voted for by the people for judi
cial positions, is by party nomination.
But it is argued that the people of
the state, in 1910, committed them
selves to the principle of "a free and
Independent judiciary by electing the
independent candidates, and that ap-
plying the same principle they should
now vote for Judge Williams. This
contention is based on a miscoucep-
ton of the issue involved in that cleo
ton. Judges Neil Shields and Beard
had been nominated by a democratic
convention and elected and their
terms having expired were candidates
for reelection. They as well as 9TH
er candidates, were asking for con-
vention to nominate a democratic
ticket for the supreme court and were
candidates for the nomination. VThe
state executive committee refused to
grant their request for convention,
but called primary, in which to
nominate a candidate for governor
United States senator and state Off
GERS TO be elected by the legislature,
and five for members of the supreme
court and five for the court of civil
appeals. They declined to enter the
primary and announced themselves
Independent candidates. They simp-
~ revolted against the action of the
committee in refusing to call sepa-
rate convention to nominate judi
cial ticket in accordance with the
hitherto unbroken precedent.
Buchanan Candidate for the Demo.
cratic Nomination.
The supporters of Judge Williams
also cite the election of Judge Duc-
hanan two years ago, without oppo-
sition, as a reason why the demo-
cratic party should not have nominal
ed Judge Burrow. The circumstances
of this election are still fresh in the |
public mind. Judge Buchanan had |
been appointed to fill the vacancy oc- |
casioned by the death Of Judge |
Beard. He did not make the race as |
for and received the nomination from |
4 democratic convention called for |
that purpose. Judge Felix Moore was
at the same time nominated for the
court Of civil appeals as the party
against Judge Cate, who
lad been appointed by Gov. Hooper
upon the death of Judge John NJ. Tay-
or.
Judge Williams was not a candidate
or the democratic nomination, but on
he contrary virtually said in his an
that he did not want it.
The largest and most representative
ever held in the state
nominated Judge Robert Burrow, and I
Is the nominee he is entitled to the
support of all democrats. He is a
nan of ability, learning and integ-
'ity, and eminently fitted for the po-
iition which he seeks.
We, therefore, call upon all patriot
C citizens who sincerely desire to see
he judicial elections in Tennessee
emoved from factional politics, to
-ote for Judge Burrow and thus eX-
,ress themselves in favor of return
ng to the old paths and of adhering
0 the method of selecting our judi
ial officers, which has proven so sat
in the past.
In the republican stronghold of
last Tennessee that party uniformly
dominates and elects judges of the
ircuit and Chancery courts, and we
re informed that in the city of Knox
lille the republicans recently nomi-
ated a candidate for judge Of the
uvenile court. We are thus forced to
he conclusion that the republican
arty would adopt this same policy in
eference to the supreme court if they
ad votes sufficient to elect their
ominees. Being in the minority in
he state and knowing that they
7ould be unable to elect republican
ominees they profess to favor non
artisan judiciary when it comes to
he election of the members of the |
upreme court In other words, the
epublican policy is to elect republic
an judges in republican judicial cir
uits and chancery divisions, but to
avor a "non-partisan court" where
emocrats are in the majority.
The whole thing is manifestly a
political play and demo-
rats should not be deceived by it, but
hould vote for Judge Burrow, the ;
nominee.
L. d. HILL,