The Topeka state journal., 1922-11-06
DIG OUT POLITICS
Chance That judiciary May Be
Given Freedom.
Voters Believe Party EmbIems
Should Be Wiped Out.
DILLARD SHOWING STRENGTH
Prediction That He'll Jump Far
Ahead of Ticket.
One of Most Highly Respected
Lawyers in Kansas.
DILLARD SHOWING STRENGTH
BY A l.. sHULTz.


average voter is a rather well defined
idea that the judiciary someway.
somehow, ought to be removed from
partisan politics. The opinion is per
haps more firmly established among
lawyers than laymen. altho there is
certain to be a state wide slashing of
candidates in the Hopkins billiard
race for supreme court justice. While
there has been little open fighting on
the office it seems certain that go per
cent of the lawyers oE the state VIII
next Tuesday disregard party lines IN
their support of Judge William p. Dill
lard of Fort Scott.
billiard, who is the Democrat nomi-
ness for supreme court position NO l.
is one of the big outstanding lawyers
of the state. The mere fact that he is
a Democrat in a nominaliy strong Re
publican district has tended 10 keep
him in the background in public al
fairs. But court judges and lawyers
have for a number of years recognized
HIM as one OF the most able lawyers
in the state. Last summer the Demo
Gratis placed his name on their ticket.
There .sn't a doubt but that he VIII
run thousands of votes ahead OF his
ticket. In communities where he IS
known because of his unusual ability.
he will not be limited IN an over
whe-ming vote by partisan lines.
May Mean Legislation
a Out of the Dillard- Hopkins fight
may come some new state legislation
affecting the judiciary. Lawyers ana
persons interested in strong Judlci-
ary are not taking kindly to the
handicap which has been placed on
the elevation of strong men to the su-
preme bench because they do not nap
pen TO belong to the right political
party. Judge billiard started in the
race with the big nominal handicap of
10000 Republican majority against
him. He is opposing Richard J. Hop
kins. present attorney general, who
has fattened on publicity because or
a well organized press bureau. 1t
isn't an easy task to break down the
effect of wide publicity attached to
every move OF the present attorney
general during nearly four years IN
Office. Unusual qualifications are al
ways a thing to be desired, but Judge
billiards. friends have had trouble in
presenting them in contrast with four
years of free advertising for his op-
ponent.
OF Fort Scott, tho, there is tendency
to forget party and recognize ability.
George w. Marbles Fort Scott Trib-
une. which has been a stSunch friend
OF Governor Aliens administration,
has told the story of the handicap
which faces Judge billiard next Tues
day.
In an editorial under the caption
'Born for the job" the Tribune said:
In Fort Scott there lives a man who
could this evening board a train, land
in Washington Friday about noon, go
to the capitol, adopt the vesture of a
justice of the United States supreme
court and take up the duties of that
office with such marked ability and
dignity as would distinguish the
Ii hest tribunal in the world.
There are some great lawyers in
Kansas. There is hardly another gift
ell with natural talents born to the
profession of the law such as are pos
sessed by W. p. billiard of this city.
Had Judge billiard come to Kansas
in his young manhood as a Republi-
can instead of a Democrat. he could
not have escaped a distinguished ca
of the sheer force of his character,
personality. outstanding scholarship
and breadth of mind. But it is in
the law that he is peculiarly qualified
1t was said OF former President Taft
that he had a judicial mind. In no
man we have ever known is that term
so perfectly persOnified as it is in
Judge Dillard.
AIR. billiard was nominated by the
Kansas Democrats last summer for
Justice of the Kansas supreme court.
lie did not seek the nomination. 1t
was thrust upon him. Were he on
the Republican ticket, he would be
and his selection for the high office
would be acclaimed by the party
spokesmen as an earnest of its fidel-
ity to the public interests Everyone
would consent that an ideal thing had
been DONE
The evils of partisanship doubtless
have their compensatory aspects. but
bv what logic may the failure of
people to avail themselves of such an
onDo-tunitv as this be Justified