The Republican., 1924-08-14
Baltimore SUM


by appointment or by popular vote,
The Sun has persistently sought elm
ination of partisanship. 1t has rec
ognized the fact that when the Gov
ernor must appoint to the bench his
first business it to disregard politics
and name men who best fit the re-
quirements. When he names men
who do fit the equirements-and they
are easily to be found-it may seem
illogical to criticize him because he
did not take politics into considera-
ton and endeavor at the same time
to equalize the political complexion of
the bench.
But the situation in Baltimore illus
trates the desirability of correcting a
lopsided political condition. There are
but two Republicans out of eleven
members of the Supreme Bench of
this city. In the circumstances, The
Sun thought the Governor should have
endeavored to reduce this Democratic
preponderancy by diligently seeking
at least one more Republican lawyer
in Baltimore who measured up to the
position. He may have done so, but
failure to find such a man means, to
a moral certainty, that in 1926 the
Republicans, regardless of how good
service the appointees render, will
seek to correct badly balanced
bench, from the political standpoint,
by nominating opposing candidates.
In the absence of serious public
purpose to disregard party in voting
for judges there is always danger-
it has repeatedly occurred hereZthat
some political upheaval will sweep in
to office men Of most inferior attain
ments.
In W. Stuart Symington, Jr,, and
Joseph N. Ulman, the Governor has
made excellent appointments. TIL
Sun believes they will add to the
strength of the bench and predicts for
them service honorable to themselves
anu Satisfactorily " IllC pNtDllNs
1t is an unprecedented situation in
which a Governor has to name in a
short space of time three judges Of
the Supreme Bench of Baltimore, three
judges of the Court of Appeals, one
Circuit Court judge, and designate a
chief judge of the Court of Appeals.
1t is easily understood why Governor
Ritchie declares that he has assumed
no greater responsibility.
Retiring judges, who are eligible
under the law, are all reappointed,
the Governor says, as matter o
course. In doing so there is no rea-
son to doubt that his action meets
with the approval of the public and
of the bar.
In designating Carroll T. Bond as
chief Judge of the Court of Appeals
to succeed Judge A. Hunter Boyd,
whose term expires, while choosing
one of the younger members of the
body, the Governor has selected a
man VIII llOluS lllS 1CoPCNG VI IilC
public and of the lawyers of the State
in a high degree and who is fully
worthy of the honor.
1t is in the Fourth Judicial district
that The Sun must again refer to the
opportunity which existed to show
that the Governor was endeavoring
to do his part in keeping the bench
out of politics. This is a Republican
district. There are now on the Court
of Appeals six Democratic and two
Republican judges. Certainly in the
large and populous counties of Allie
gany, Washington and Garrett, COM
posing this district, it would have
seemed possible for the Governor to
find Republican lawyer fully capa-
BILE of filling the duties of the office.
In point of ability, character and
standing, William c. Walsh, of Cum
berland, is a good selection. But for
the reasons heretofore mentioned the
Governors interest in nonpartisanship
as applied to the judiciary should
have been exemplified, as could have
been done, without loss to the bench.