Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-10-18
SUPREME COURT
CONTEST LOOMS
Fight for Two Places Over
shadows State Guberna-
torial Race
DEMOCRATS MAY LOSE
Nonpartisan Ballot Can De-
feat Purpose of Minority
Representation Clause
DEMOCRATS MAY LOSE

Interest in the contest over the elec-
,io, ~ two members of the supreme
Court threatens to overshadow the gu
bernatorial fight. which so far mas
been marked by apathy.
There are four leading candidates Tor
the two places which will be filled ov
the voters at the election Tuesday, Mo-
vember s. ...-
The vote for the Supreme Court JUS
tices is cast on the nonpartisah pa
lot which is separate from the oalo'
on which the names OF part! canui-
dates for offices appear
Because of an old clause in the STATE
Constitution when two justices are 10
be elected at the same election each
voter Is entitled to vote for only one
candidate Prior to the passage OF t'e
non-partisan law thea justices were
elected on the party ballot and tne
clause was inserted to insure minor
ity representation on the bench.
Under the non-partisdn law however
II Is possible for the dominant party 10
defeat the purposes of this constltu-
tonal clause. Should the two leadhe
Republican candidates for the 'wo olaces
poll the highest vote they would ne
elected and the Democrats would re ne-
priyed of the representation the Consti-
tuition would give them.
The Candidates
The four leading candidates FOR the
two Supreme Court places are superior
Court Judge John X. Kephart. Charles
B Lenahan.a Wilkes-Barre lawyer anu
Alexander Simpson. Jr., of Philadeiphia'
and Edward l. Fox, of Easton Two
present justices who were appointed og
Governor Brumbaugh to fill vacancies
caused by death.
Judge Kephart is believed by those
familiar with political conditions to have
the best chance of the fou" 1t Is eN'
pected that he will receive he support
Of the active Republican organization
workers over the state.
Justice simpson. the other Renuhli-
,an, will receive the vote of the ware
organization In Philadelphia. with tne
heavy Republican vote in Philadelphia
20 start with Justice simpson Will nave
A strong advantage over the two Demo-
rats. Mr.. Lcnahan and Justice Fox.
should anything like the normal Re
publican vote he poled there Is a strong
possibility that both Judge kephart and
Justice simpson will win. Anything
ike an even split of the big Republican
rote would give them each command
ing lead, as Justice Fox and Mr.. Lena
,an are expected. to divide the smaller
Democrat vote pretty evenly
Palmer for Fox
Justice Fox has the backing Of the
Palmer Mccormick faction and Lenahan
IL supported by the faction which Is
lined up behind Judge Bonniwell. the
gubernatorial nominee.
Judge Kephart. who is counted on to
receive the big upstate Republican
vote was elected to the Superior Court
In 1918 without the backing of any po-
i'tical faction.
Running Independently, he conducted
one of the most aggressive publicity
campaigns in the history of Pennsylva-
MIA politics and won over the slated
organization candidate. His vote. ex-
elusive of Philadelphia. in that contest
totaled more than 100000
He is forty-sX years old, and at the
lime of his election was the youngest
man ever elected to the Superior Court
bench. Judge Kephart was an orphan
and was educated in the Soldiers Or
phans' School, at McAlisterville. He
earned enough money as telegraph