The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1917-19??, 1917-08-23
JUDICIARY ELECTION

tennessee next year, lHCluulHS Tue
judges of the supreme court, the court
of civil appeals, circuit judges, chan
cellors and states attorneys in the va
rious judicial circuits. The judicial
elections take place every eight years
In the original constitution of the
state the judges were elected by the
Legislature for life on good behavior.
Subsequent notifications fixed the
terms at twelve and later eight years
with election by the people.
The obvious purposes in giving the
judges a longer term than that ac-
corded other officials was that they
should be removed as far as possible
from political influence and the man
ner of involvement that politics brings
The judiciary elections, too, were
fixed in August, while November was
designated as the time for holding
other elections.
These provisions were wise, and it
behooves the people in selecting judges
especially those for the appellate
courts, to adhere as closely as pos
sible to this principle and to guard
against political ENHANCEMENT that
might cOntaminate, or at least en-
barrass, the selection of judges.
In the judicial election of 1910, it
will be remembered, there was a de-
cided revolt on the part of the people
against what appeared to be a sinister
political influence in an attmpt to con-
troll the election of judges. The free
and untrammeled judiciary" move
ment in that year resulted in a ma
iority of over 10000 for the candidates
who had refused to submit to political
control against those who had been
nominated in a primary having pro-
fessed stamp of democratic regularity.
Nothing of that kind is likely to
recur in the coming election, and the
candidates selected by the democratic
party, it is now fair to presume. will
De elected by the usual party vote.
Still it would be safe and proper pre-
caution to guard as far as possible
against any reprehensible mixing of
the judiciary and political elections,
md to have the judiciary contest set
led before the campaign for those of
he other kind has reached its accus-
tomed heat. That was what was con-
templated in separating the time of
alecting the judiciary from that when
other officials are chosen and the pr1n
ciple involved in the legal provision to
that effect should be preserved as far
as possible.
But it has been provided that a pri-
mary for the nomination of a gov
2rnor and United States senator be held
in August of next year. Candidates
,or representative in congress in the
various districts will be nominated at
lie same time and also those for mem
oers of the state legislature. Politics
will be seething at that time and the
judiciary election should be freed as
far as possible from its contamina-
ton.
The Banner is not prepared at this
lime to offer plans or eXpedients for
keeping the judicial election distinct
rom those of a political nature, and
unaffected by the plethora of politics
with which the state, despite tn" war
condition, is likely to suffer at that
time.
What is intended here is to call at
tention TO the necessity for disposing
IN some way of the judicial elections
before the political maelStrom with
It's dangerous suction, will be irresist-
bile. The best means to this desirable
end should be decided upon by those
who control party movements and who |
recognize the necessity for preventing |
the subsection of the judiciary con-
tests to political influence. 1t is time |
that these plans were being consid-
ared. The Banner has no candidates
and no special favorites among those
offering, or likely to offer, for judi
,ial honors, but it earnestly desires
hat these places be well filled and
hat a proper process to prevent polit-
cal trafficking or other injurious in
luence arising from politically
atmosphere be adopted
Nashville Banner.