Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-11-07
AS ONE WOMAN SEES 1T
Women Who Are Running for Office
as Magistrates May Be Helped by
Women Who Won't Put a Mark
After the Party Name
BY SARAH ID. LOMRIE

| not going TO vote straight ticket" this
time by marking an "X" after their party
| name and leaving it at that.
They gave as their reason that the count
ers Of ballots, finding that 'X' up at the
| top, did not trouble themselves often to look
| further. Whereas, even II the voter had
| voted straight that is, not outside his
| party-he might have omitted some names
in his party.
1t is not very interesting election, every
! one says. But It decides some important
matters for the future.
The election officers who will count the
| ballots and decide the rights and wrongs Of
| the polling booths at the next election for
Governor and Mayor and Council and Legis.
| laturc are TO be elected: one judge of elec-
| ton and two inspectors for each district.
| The assessors for each district, who have
| considerable say as to who shall vote and
| who shall not in this crowded town, are also
TO be elected.
The District Attorney for Philadelphia,
who is the lawyer WHO proseCutcs all per-
sons or organizations that violate the rights
Of the city, also is elected. The City Treas
urer, who is the banker of the city and
makes payments for the city upon warrants
issued by the City Controller, and the City
Controller himself, who has authority to in
speCt and revise city department accounts,
prepare estimates and budgets and audit the
city accounts. are both to be elected. as well
as the Receiver of Taxes and the Register
of Wills.
A s CITIZENS We must come in contact
~ with or feel the authority of or come under
the power of all or most of these men. If
they arc men Of good character we benefit
il they are men Of doubtful character we
suffer. But probably officials of no depart
mont are so important to our general well
fare as those connected with the courts of
justice
In the coming election three Judges of the
Court Of Common Pleas and one Judge of
the Orphans Court are to be elected.
Generally these Judges succeed them.
selves. as their original fitness for the Office
is presumably only augmented by experience.
There arc sixteen of the cty's little
judges the magistratcs-to be elected.
The office of magistrate has not always
been dgnited by the men who hold the
positions or by those who are candidates for
it. The court itself is often not placed in
particularly elevated surroundings. and the
proceedings of some of the courts are not
always of nature to nllay at least suspicion
Of favoritism on the one hand and Injustice
on the other. Th" fact that the magistrate
need not have studied law nor have held any
very responsible position in the matter Of
carrying out the law. and beyond q very
simple preparation for the duties of the
place need not be a person of education or
authority. has thrown the position open to
"A rather doubtful class of candidates. whose
chief requisite in some cases was their po-
litiCal pull with their local boss. This is, of
course. not true of all candidates nor of
many OF the magistrates, but 1t has been in
the past position that has been abused;
hence perhaps the constant talk of abolish
ing the magistrates courts.
The cases dealt with are generally of such
character that common sense on the part
OF n" arbiter and an aptness for compre-
hcnding difficulties and adjusting them by a
rcprimnnd or n plea for good behavior or
justice can be mad" to suffice. at least tenn
porarily. especially If Il fine is added to drive
the point nome.
lheorei'aIl!. IN" magistrate court
should act rs deterrent for more serious
crimes ana say" tho hlgh"r courts the set
Element OF mas Of Sma' cases that should
never Dc allowed I" reach the point of a legal
hattie. And in th" hands of judicious and
dlsin'"r"Nt"d ana lnt"IilSent and kindly and
nt the came time Shrc"d and experienced
persons. sven court could be blessing in
the n'ighborhood. Tn" salary and hours of
duty are such as 10 command just that
service.
1t is interesting that OF all the Offices now
open TO women in this town. that particular
ON" has made the most appeal to women
candidates.
nave talked TO two ct them. and found
each in her way very we'll equipped for such
an oth'"' think II very strange that Miss
Foster was not returned at the primaries
on the Republican bnIl0t. There is good
chanc" for III" Republican, women to elect
her yet. aud that. too, without going against
their. party prinriplcs. as she still is up for
election Is harh"d by tn" Voters League
ana Is on" "i IN" candidates OF the Prohi-
httion Party. by emitting any one of the
eleven magistrates on the Republican ballot
ana marking an N after her name big
vote OF IN" intelligent women Of the city can
be rolled up in her favor.
SNHE Is n very good type, Is Katherine X.
- Foster. And of the best sort that our
public school system turns out to become n
wage Garner and a woman of affairs. Keen
on her job pleasant speaker, a good stu
dent, the right-hand secretary OF a busy
man, whose discretion can be depended upon
and whose good humor docs not come off
when tested.
She has learned to Judge human nature in
more ways than ono in the office Of the Dis.
triCt Attorney, and she wants the job
do not imagine she has any illusions about
revolutonizng the magistrates courts or
putting the men in their places or "pooring
the criminals or sIcuthing the police force
1t looks +" h"r il k" something she can do,