The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1921-05-31
EditonaI Geaasnent
81 Current Sasjssss
WEST viRaiRIA,s CLAIMS
TO A HIGH HONOR

tfrom the Bluefield Telegraph
The recen death Of the Chief jus
tice Of the United States suggests
the probability that within the
next few years the Supreme Court
Of the United States will be large.
lily renewed. The death Of the Chief
Justice, Of course, makes a va.
caney. and three other members
OF the court are past the age Of
retirement. This situation Is
frausht with vital interest to the
people Of the country. The appoint.
ment OF judges to fill vacancies
occurring in this court Is one OF the
most important. II not the most
important, duty imposed upon the
President.
This Court Is expected to have
q composite view Of the social,
business and economic conditions
Of the whole country, and Tor the
purpose Of making it possible for
It to obtain this view the country
Is divided into nine judicial cir.
cults and oEa OF the Justices oil
said court appointed to supervise
the judicial affairs OF each circuit,
Undoubtedly 1t was contemplated
that a judge Of the Supreme Court
would be appointed from each Of
the nine circuits. This would result
In having upon the court a judge
who Is acquainted with the Judi
cial system, and the social, busl-
ness and economic conditions in
each of the circuits, not only from
outside observation, but from &C
tual contact. It is, Of course. not
always advisable to follow this
curse, but in the main we believe
1t may be said that the best results
can be obtained when the court Ia
made as representative as possible
OF actual conditions all over the
length and breadth Of the land.
The Fourth Circuit, composed OF
the states OF Maryland, Virginia,
West Virginia, North Carolina and
South Carolina, has not been hon
ored by the appointment OF one Of
its citizens upon the bench Of the
Supreme Court since the Civil War.
OF course, for o number Of years
after the close OF that conflict the
political trend in these states was
not In sympathy with the control.
ling forces in the nation. This can.
however, no longer be said. The
cleavage between schools of poll.
tical thought which divided sec
tons Of the country for many years
after the Civil War no longer ex.
lists, and these would seem to be
no good reason for longer depriv.
ing the Fourth Circuit OF repres.
entatiop upon the Supreme Court
OF the United States.
The State OF West Virginia,
possessed perhaps a greater diver
sity Of natural resources and com
mercial industry than any Of her
sister states in the Fourth Circuit.
Many lines OF industrial develop.
ment in West Virginia are novel in
their character, giving rise to new
questions for determination, and
an application Of legal principles
to conditions which did not here
tofore obtain. This has made the
bench and bar Of the state alert
and skillful along lines not pres
ented In the same degree to the
bench and bar OF the sister states.
From the vast mineral, timber and
agricultural resources Of the state
will continue to arise similar novel
questions, demanding for their sol
ution intellect OF the highest or
der. Then, too, the state is now
and has been for many years in
sympathy with those principles Of
political economy which now dom.
mate the national administration.
It, therefore, seems to us in the
appointment of Judges to the high
est court in the land the claim OF
the Fourth Circuit for recognition
should be considered and that
West Virginia has a superior claim
b cause Of It's economic and poll.
teal situation to any state In the
circuit.
There are within the confines Of
the state many members OF the
bench and bar who would fill a
position on the bench Of the
Supreme Court OF the United
States with honor and ability, aud
who would in the administration
Of the office detract nothing from
the glorious traditions attaching
to that court. Among these men
we venture to suggest Judge Har'
old A. Ritz, the present President
Of the Supreme Court Of Appeals
Of West Virginia. He has behind
him q record OF judicial service 10
which we confidently appeal as
evidence Of his character and abll'
ity as q Judge fit for the highest
judicial position In the land. This
Judgment Is based, not only on our
own opinion and observation oil
his conduct, but MS we'll upon the
opinion Of those who have no other
means OF judging than a review o.
his judicial record. Proof Of this
will be found in an examination o.
the volumes Of the American Law
Reports published since Judge
Ritz began his judicial career
This series contains reports o
cases selected from all the court!
OF last resort OF the United States