The Idaho recorder. [volume] (Salmon City, Idaho) 1886-1927, 1922-03-24
SHOULDN'T POLITICS TAKE
a BACK SEAT?

back seat for a time TO give public
service a showing once in a while,
then in that case perhaps the voters
themselves may get chance to choose
a judge in the sixth judicial district.
Until mere politics was re-enthron-
ed by the last legislature in this tax
ridden state the judiciary was held
aloft and considered non-partisan
all over the state, the supreme court
being exempt from its baleful effects
and the people free to select
men of first rate ability rather than
for adroitness as politicians and pol
itical manipulators.
The present chief judge of this
distinguished tribunal is himself a
democrat but wiser Judge or a more
worthy one to wear the ermine of
that Office could not be selected from
the membership of any political party.
The former chief Judge also was of
the same household of political faith
and both were chosen by overwhelm-
ing majorities We have reference to
the honorable John c. Rice, the pres
ent head of this court, and the Hon.
w. Nj. Morgan, who held the same dis
tinction in that body when he retired
to practice law two years ago. For
mer Judge James X. Boutwell,, who
occupied the bench in the Twin Falls
district court, III also democrat,
but all these were chosen for ability
and high character as lawyers rather
than for their craftsmanship in any
party.
At time when party feeling was
perhaps stronger than it is even
now the late Ralph r. Quaries was
chosen to occupy place on the bench
of the Supreme court over the repre-
sentative of the dominant party at
that time, for Judge Quarles was "A
lifelong democrat too.
According to the test for elccting
man to the exalted station of
judge the Jeffersonian requirement
should be asked about him and affir-
matively answered---Is he honest ? Is
he capable? Is he faithful to the con-
stitution? Never at all should il be
asked--ls he jollying good fellow |
who may be shallow-pated in the law |
or a smooth politician?
Applying the test as the Author of I
the Declaration applied 1t, who would /
be picked out as q worthy occupant I
of the bench soon TO be vacant in the /
Sixth district? Doubtless there are
many other men worthy of the honor
IL they be sought out and tested, but l
we have in mind one at least who
would I'LL the bill q. b. Quarles is
such man. Mr.. Quarles, II should be
known, IL an experienced lawyer
though for most of his active business
career has been otherwise employed
than at the bar. In his young man
hood he was builder AMI erected
three or four of the modern DWELL 4
ing houses in this city. He II was who
gave Salmon its first hytro-electric
service. Ii public school management
in this city had been maintained and \
kept up with the same intelligent and .
faithful support Mr.. Quarles gave TO
il fifteen years ago Salmon schools
would not lag behind any schools, for
he was progressive in that public I
service as well as mindful of the tax I
payers.
The usefulness Of Mr.. Quarles as
a banker Ia part of his recent ac- .
tivities and daily life in this commu- !
nifty and need not be mentioned, but
what distinguished him above all else ,
in public service was his contribution
two years ago 10 the relief of land !
out of tangle of vexatious lawsuits /
into which they had been drawn !
against their will. The famous or per- /
haps infamous water-right suits in
volving all of the great Lemhi valley !
lands are here referred to. II was
Gus Quarles who found the way out
for these sorely tried people, who were |
bound to become bankrupt, many of
"A ks, hAn
ed OFT In the courts with their en-
tailed costs. Ii was estimated that no
less than quarter of million dol !
lars was the amount sought 10 be
taken from them by the lawyers en-
gagged in the enterprise. At that time
ii was not generally known or il had
been forgotten that Banker Quarles
was u lawyer at all. but he showed
himself 10 be very wise counsellor
in that crisis. There is no such pal
pable wrong" he used 10 say, "that
has no remedy" and he never lost
faith that he would find relief, trying
first one and then another measure
until finally he suggested 10 his bro
Their, the late Judge Quarles. that the
remedy might be sought at the doors
Of the Supreme court. Suiting action
10 word the proper writ was sought
and obtained AMI a very large meas
ure of the credit therefor belongs 10
Gus Quarles. IL worked relief just rs
had been planned For this great SER
vice, which was performed BY Mr..
Quarles as layman. he made no
charge whatever, never asking
penny for the great benefits secured.
And so II Is submitted that G. Il.
Quarles, the survivor of the two of
the same honorable name connected
together In this notable lawsuit,
should be entitled TO consideration as
q suitable man for elevation 10 the
bench at this time.
Mr.. Quarles was admitted 10 the bar
in his young manhood from studying
law under the tutelage of his distin-
guished brother, the late Judge
Quarles; afterwarl praeticing the pro-
fession for a number Of years and
serving one term in the Office of pro-
bate judge.