The broad ax., 1916-08-12
ELECTION OF JUDGES.

The Virginia LGt0 Register has pro-
nounced news on the election of
judges by the people. 1t says:
I'VE are sorry to see joint resolu-
ton has been offered in the General
Assembly to provide for the election of
judges both Supreme and Subordinate,
by the people. We rejoice to see 1t
was defeated.
The argument has been used that
there are ''log-rolling" and "combina-
tions" in the General Assembly which
render elections of the judiciary by
that body unwise THE proof of the
pudding is chewing the bag" is the
old saying. We challenge any state
with a people elected" judiciary to
show a better, higher, cleaner, ADLER
lot of judges than those which today
wear the ermine in Virginia.
Take the last contest between Lille
and Sims for the Supreme Court
Judgeship. The accusation was made
Of "log-rolling," ETC., in that contest.
What was the result? What could
have been the result? Why no matter
which of the two was elected the
State would have obtained the SER
vices Of an upright, able, learned and
high-minded lawyer, whose career will
do credit to the State and those who
elected him. We had our preferences.
We would have voted for Professor
Lille; but we recognized and recognize
the fact that his opponent was in ev-
cry way worthy of the Office to which
he was elected, and that neither of
these gentlemen would have stopped
to do an unworthy act, to have been
elected President of the United States.
But imagine them on the stump can
wasting for an Office of such dignity
such Importance, and one to be separ-
ated as far as possible from the clam
or of the mob and the soiling of the
hastings. Even then neither would
have stopped to an act unworthy OF
their standing; but how many more
might have been in the contest. Log
rolling" and combinations" may be
bad enough, but demagoguery and the
appeals to the popular demands, to the
prejudices and passions of the null
titude would be a million times worse.
We once witnessed in a neighboring
state a Joint debate of two candidates
lOI a WI JuOSoCJ
fore a large crowd. One was the in
cumbent. He Dragged of what he had
done; he boosted of what he intended
to do. He fawned; he begged; he APP
pealed to those in whose favor he had
decided cases: he tried to explain away
decisions adverse to the popular will.
His opponent-who was elected-out-
Heroded Herod. He abused his op-
ponent's conduct on The bench;
sneered at his decisions; appealed to
the pistol carrying crowd" and the
poor fellow sent to Jail for selling a
little liquor" He told how he was
going to temper justice with mercy; to
favor the poor man in his cause and
exhibited a touch of temper which
gave a fair indication of what he
turned out to be-one Of the poorest
Judges ever upon the bench in that
circuit He was reelected, however,
against one of the cleanest, clearest-
minded, ablest lawyers we have ever
known; but a modest, high-minded
man, who made no promises. save that
he would try to do his duty as God
gave him to see it, and would Judge
alike the rich and poor.
Wouldn't something Of this sort be
likely to ocur In some OF our cir
cults? No, The best proof Of the
wisdom Of our present method is the
class of men our General Assembly
elects. We believe they are better
qualified to make better selections
than the populace." =.