The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-02-02
Davis Favo Election Of Supreme Court Judges By the People

stances. be the subject OF contract.
The good to ne derived from their
work on the roads will far outweigh
the profit TO be had from q system that
is vicious in principle
The present federal provision for
road building is petty and unsatisfy-
Ing when the needs OF our rural com
munities are considered in the vast
expenditures incident to preparedness
and to the prosecution of the present
war, where billions of dollars are to
be spent system of postal and mill
tary roads should be butt Ey the fed
eral government. These are neces-
sary to the mobile action Of armies in
war and essential to the happiness and
prosperity Of our people in. peace.
When our sold ers shall have accom-
plished the freedom Of tho world and
established triumphant democracy.
when ships OF war and guns have be-
come obsolete, these roads would re-
main a magnificent monument to the
craftsmanship of our leaders and a
blessing TO our people and to their
posterity, The Virginia general as.
sembly should lead tho states in me-
morializing the congress upon this I'M
portant subject
Election BY the People.
Bills have been introduced in both
branches OF the general assembly pro-
viding for the election Of members OF
the corporation commission by the
people. AT present mem bers Of this
commission are named by the gov
ernor. Upon many occasions before
gatherings OF my fellow-citlzens I
have earnestly urged this progress
sive movement, and at my sugges-
ton the Virginia State Farmers in
stttute then adopted resolutions fav-
oring the election OF the members OF
this commission by the people In
an address delivered before the Farm
ers State institute at stanton.
said:
IN providing. however, for
corporation commission and the
appointment Of It's individual
members bv the governor. subject
TO the confirmation OF the gen
eral assembly in Joint session.
believe they constitutional CON
vention) made a grave mistake
Indeed, I am satisfied that they
had doubts upon the subject,
because they provide for the
election after the list OF January,
1908 OF the members OF the
commission bv the qualified vot-
ers OF the state
And again:
Gentlemen, Of the Farmers in
stitute YOU must see 70 it that the
future mera bers OF the corDora-
tton commission are elected by
the people, You must see to IL
that men who have to do with
your most intimate affairs and
decide questions which mean for
your happiness and prosperity
are responsible to you and must
render 20 You nj the end OF their
term OF ONCE an. accounting II
they again seek your confidence.
We elect governor. We elect
the legislature and yet by some
psychological process, by some
fetch OF the mind. these Great
ures OF ours are endowed with
supernatural power which we are
told we DO not possess
What I argued for IA president OF
the Farmers institute reiterate as
governor. I urge the election OF the
corporation commission hv the peo-
pile: and this principle accepted,
further urge the election OF the su-
preme court Of appeals by the peo-
pie. This latter can be accom- plished
by amendment OF the constitution,
and I KIT pleased TO know that bill
fiaS DENl bkEb1ESI dlFflE THIS line AbE
at this session.
There are three grand divisions of
governm ent-judicial executive. ana
eSlslative-which are coordinate
"a nd equal. and vet the peonle elect
The executive and the legislative ana
are denied the privilege OF electing
The judicial: the anomoly is present
ed OF one OF these coordinate
branches electing the other, and by
far the most important. so far as the
rights and liberties OF the people are
concerned. A tribunal that would /,
fudge a peopls should be OF and in /!
touch with the people.
Our great school system has failed /
II our people. after alt these wears, |
are to be prescribed from fun rar-
ticipation In the management OF their |
affairs
From 1881 70 the adoption of the !
Underwood constitution, the brightest |
period in virFinia's intellectual and
political history. the judiciary were
elected by the people. and In the de-
bates of the last constitutional COM
vention the fear OF negro domination
alone prevented a return 10 the sys-
tenn which obtained in the decade
following 1880. I am suggesting the
election Of the Judges Of the court
of appeals. who would be elected by /
the whole people OF the state. The .
negro is no longer q menace.
Nor are we without precedent when
We turn 70 the consideration OF the
laws of other states Alabama, Ari-
zcna, Arkansas. California. Colorado,
Florida, Georgia. Idaho, Illinois In
diana. Iowa. Kansas. Kentucky,
MARYLAND Michigan Min
nesota. Missouri. Montana. Nebraska,
Nevada. New Mexico, New York,
North Carolina North Dakota. Ohio.
oklahoma, Oregon. Pennsylvania.
South Dakota, Tennessee. Texas,
Utah. WASHINGTON. Wtsconsln West
Virginia. and Wyoming eject the ju-
dietary hy the people. The states I'm
which the members of the supreme
court are appointed bv the governor
are Den ware Maine. Massachusetts,.
Mississippi New Jersey and New
whilo Virginia nnds her
self with South Carolina Vermont,
MD Connecticut elect!ne that imnor-
tant judicial BODY Nv the legislature.
The great ropuiation and the vast
interest involved In litigation in the
states where the surreme courts are
elected bv the people Is unfmpeach-
able evidence OF the high character
~ the Judges secured and their eff +