The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1922-12-08
'MERED|THURGED
TO ACCEPlAP0SI
DESPITEDI.|EI|FE|.IAT'
Newspapers Of State Clamor.
ing for Appointment of
EalEnont lurlst..

A growing sentiment for the ap.
pointment Of Judge James A. Mere.
dith Of Fatrmont to one Of the va
cant positions on the bench Of the
State Supreme Court has been In.
dictated In newspaper comment
throughout the state irecently. AL.
though Judge Meredith has ex.
pressed himself as not inclined to
accept the appointment because Of
his defeat Ii the recent election,
his reappotntment Is being strong.
~ advocated by the Republican
press.
In speaking Of Judge Meredith,
the Parltersbifg News says:
One OF the most exacting tasks
which Governor Morgan will be
called upon to perform during his
administration IS the selection Of
members Of the Supreme Court
TO fill the two vacancies soon to
exist The News IS aware OF the
growing sentiment for the ap.
pointment OF Judge Meredith 70 fill
one oil these vacancies.
Students OF public affairs, who
have analyzed the vote at the last
election see In the result a mark.
cd preference for Judge Mere.
dith, o. shown by the increased
vote which he received over his
associates on the congressional
tickets In the various districts,
and Senator Sutherland. It is
perfectly Obvious that Judge Mere
diih 3 defeat resulted from the stay
at'home Republican votes. His
vote too is all the more striking
when there Is taken into considera.
ton the fact that there was abso..
luteIy no EFFORT made to acuuaint
the voters with his qualifications.
The fine Standing which he enjoys
in this state was absolutely demon
strated by the unanimIty with which
the Republican convention gave
him the nomination.
in Parkersburg and no doubt
elsewhere some Of the stauncnest
Democratic lawyers voted for
Judge Meredith, not as c reflec.
ton upon theiS party candidate.
but because they recognized in
Judge Meredith q man pre.emi-
nently qualified by education, prac
tice and character for the position,
and Of the ideal age.
we suspect that Judge Mere
dith would be5loathe to accept the
appointment but we feel that If
Governor Morgan should see tit
10 bestow \ upon him, no better
choice could she made, and 1t might
be his regard Tor the profession,
his devotion to the state and his
anxiety to see the high standards
of the court maintained, would
compel his acquiescence and &C.
ceptance.st
The Wheeling Intell!gencer Is
also OF the opinion that Judge
Meredith IS the proper man to fill
one OF the existing vacancies In
the court Says the Intelligencer:
"It Is understood that Governor
Morgan IL to give one OF the vacant
positions on the bench Of the Su
preme Court Of West Virginia to
Judge James A. Meredith OF Fair.
mont Judge Meredith was ap
pointed to the Supreme Court to
I'M the tnexpfred term OF Judge
Charles w Lynch, resigned. He
was the Republican candidate to
succeed himself, but was defeated
IN the general election by his Dem.
ocrattc opponent.
II Is reported that Judge Mere.
dtth feels sensitive because Of his
defeat and Is dIsinclined TO accept
IN appointment Of Governor Nor.
gan 10 one of6the vacancies on the
bench The 1ntelligencer believes
that the larger majority OF the peo.
pie of West Virginia do not agree
With Judge Maredith's viewpoint.
They see in him man eminently
qualified and experienced as a jur.
list. having an the dignity and re.
quirements essential to the high.
est judicial body in the state, and
would gladly welcome his appoins.
mont.
There Is nothing In the vote OF
the recent election to cast reflec.
ton on Judge Meredith. It was an
issue between the Republican and
Democratic parties and the Dem
oerats won He ran considerably
ahead OF the Republican senatorial,
candidate, and n most congress.
sional districts polled more votes
than the congressional candidates.
II was aRotelof Communication, and
not condemnation.
The Intelligencer recognizes the
feelings of delicacy which prompt
Judge Meredith to eliminate him.
seis as candidate for appointment
TO the Supreme Court, but Il be.
lieyes the call to public service Is
paramount u Governor Morgan
offers this position to Judge Nero.
dish. r wiz be his patriotic duty 70
accept H.,