The Topeka state journal., 1914-01-28

of judges at general elections IN I,s, kan,
be done I should say it ought to pc
done. and / should say also that TINS
would constitute the longest single
step towards the desired goal
s.But whether the constitution Do
amended in this regard or not, there
are other things also which. In my
Judgment. ought to be done, ana
which I assume might be done Wttn-
out constitutional amendmenL v
ssI see by examination OF your new
law that although the judicial ballet
at the primary election Is separate
ballot, at the election, apparently, the
names of the judicial candidates 20
on the same ballot with the canoi-
dates for state and county omSes.
This, 1 think, will have consideraDae
tendency to defeat the non-partisan
idea In Wisconsin the judtciai oaiIot
is always a separate nauot anm u 49, 49,
into a separate ballot box Tne ioea
is that this entire physical severance
of the judicial issue from all other 1s-
sues tends strongly to bring 20 tne AZ =
tention of the voter the fact tnat u y
something quite separate ana apart
from the ordinary election, and to
emphasize the Importance OF CAIN
consideration OF the merits OF tne Ju-
dicial candidates quite apart from any
other questions. important as con-
=
as important as the question whether
there should be any primary election
for judicial candidates at all. Wis
consin has had q statewide primary
law for years. but it has never applied
to judicial elections. Such elections
were deliberately and destgneoiy ex-
cepted from the first primary law,
and there never has been, SO far as
am aware, any suggestion tnat Tue GA
ceptiOn was unWlse.
candidates for the bench are NOM
mated by nomination papers signed
by required eIcentage OF the cleo
tors Of the district, and hled In the
proper office. 1t might be imagined
that this easy method OF nomination
would produce a large field OF candi.
dates at every election. Probably 1t
sometimes has this effect In cases
where the sitting judge is not can
be SO, 1 am not at all sure that such
result is in all respects objection
able.
"Finally, I may say that I do not
think that the making or repeating OF
laws or constitutional provisions or the
setting up Of machinery OF any KIND
will accomplish the wished for results
unless the great majority Of the mem
bers Of the bar make up their m1nos
to sink personal ambitions Tor the gooo
of the common cause ana stand Loyalty
behind the movement. The bar is
much criticised and often untustly ma
! ligned, but the influence of united
bar is great. and II that influence be
exerted steadily. and without intermis-
sion for years 1t must have effect. Let
members of the bar as one man stand
by the sitting judges who have demon
strated their fitness and decline to en-
| ter the field against them; this would
go far to prevent any opposition can
didacy in such case, for there are few
| lawyers who have any qualifications
for the bench who would wish to run
if they knew that their candidacy was
| opposed by all of their legal brethren.
| II doubt not that this course would
involve considerable self-sacrifice and
especially so on the part OF my Demo
cratic brethren who. I assume. have been
! largely shut out of judicial offices for
many years, but may I not appeal to
| their patriotism? Is it not quite GER
tain that this must be the better course
II on-partisanship is ever to be se-
cured? Is not present self denial often
I the best and perhaps the only means OF
accomplishing large results in the fu-
ture? The Democracy Of Wisconsin
went through the same experience, but
they reaped the result when by com.
mon consent and in obedience to the
principle which they had helped t.
build up their representatives on tho
bench were made secure In their seats
during the long Democratic depression
beginning in 1894 and continuing doVr
to the last general election.
May not l. a Democrat, appeal t.
my fellow Democrats of the Kansas bal
to lay aside the petty personal ambi.
tions and jealousies Of today, and joir
hands with their brethren Of all parties
in the effort to make seats on the bench
stable and secure and thus build fol
the future?
THE small man looks not beyond the
little circle illumined by the farthinG
rushlight of the present. but the great
man lifts his eyes to the distant hill:
and 10! they are glorified with the ligh1
of the approaching day"
The following persons have beer
elected to membership in the State Bal
association: Vernon Day, Anthony
Fred j. Evans, Garden City; Anzie E:
Jordan. Beloit; I. M. Mahin. Smitl
James T. Nolan. Ellis: F. F. Prigg
Hutchinson: s. H. Piper, Independence
Arthur c. Pooler. Beloit; ]. H. Sim
dependence; Thomas M. Van Cleave
Kansas City; George J. Donner, Syra
cuse; w. c. Harris. Emporia: A. B
Keller. Pittsburg; z. Wetmore, Wfch
ita; H. o. Caster. Oberlin; John Mar
shall. Topeka; H.. w. Humble, Law
renee: C. 8. Bloss. Winfield.
George r. Peck Of Chicago was mad,
an honorary member Of the organiza
tion.
The sessions will close late today.
| vAII1c Ie INnDclccn