The Waterbury Democrat., 1942-05-26
ILLINOIS VOTES ON HIGH COURT
 IN PARTY TEST
By DON E. cHAAIBERLAIN

Hy DON B. CHAMBERLAIN
 (Bniled Press Stan Correspondent
 springfield, H., May 26 UP)- Illinois prepared today for the first test of political party strength since the United States became involved tn war. The test comes in the elec- ton of five state supreme court justices, scheduled for June 1.
 Issues for the most part, will be strictly local although both Demo- crati. and Republican leaders will oe on the alert to interpret the re- sliits to their political advantage. At stake in the elections is party control of the high tribunal.
 At present, the Democrats have the most members on the supreme bench, q situation which has exist cd for more than a decade, starting with 1892, when the Democrats gained four seats to give them a five to two majority over the Re- puhlicans.
 The Democrats increased this majority to six to one in 1886, then lost 8 seat in 1898 and another last year when the Republicans staged aa upset in a normally Democratic district in southern Illinois. This gave Republicans three places on the high bench to four for the Democrats.
 Wilson UnOppOsed
 Of the five districts holding elec- aons this year, only three involve contests. All of these are downstate, one in a normally Republican dis rict, another in a normally Demo- sratic district and the other in what is termed toss up."
 Justice Francis s. Wilson, Chi ago, is linopposed for reelection. A Democrat, ne was elected to suc- ;eed the late Frederic De Young, Chicago Republican. He is 8 vet Tan of the last war and was born n Youngstown, O. He was circuit judge before being elected to the higher court.
 The other unopposed candidate Is Republican incumbent, Walter T. 0unn, 62, Danville, representing the third district, which embraces 4U COuk4tC0 44A OAlV AICiA CdoV~ICAAtAd dA agricultural district. He was elect pd to the high court in 1888.
 The three districts where there Ire contests are the first, the sec- ond and sixth.
 Farthing vs. Thompson
 Incumbent Paul Farthing, Belle vile, blinded in an accident when he was l2 years old, is Democratic candidate for a second term in the first distrtict He was first elected in 1888. He is 54 years old, married and the father of three daughters and one son.
 Hig Republican opponent Is State Sen. Charles H. Thompson, Harris burg. Thompson, completing 8 four yeaY term, has served twelve years, during alternate terms in the Sen. ate. He is a staunch party man. Before serving in the Senate he was states attorney at Harrisburg.
 Incumbent June Smith, Gen. tralla Republican, and Madison County Circuit Judge Dick E. Midge, EdWardsville Democrat, are oppo- nents in the second district. The district takes in 21 counties and embraces the states rich oil fields.
 Republicans Optimistic
 Smith was elected to the high | court last year to fill a vacancy caused by the death of Norman L. Jones and was the first Republican ever elected from the district.
 Midge, veteran of the Madison county circuit court, is 62 years old. What is considered an advantage for him is the fact that he comes from populous Madison county with a heavy Democrat vote.
 Although a Democrat, Elwyn R. Shaw of Freeport, now represents the sixth district, Republicans are optimistic over the chances of elect ing De Kalb Circuit Judge William J. Fulton, Sycamore. Shaw, who has some Republican support, is completing his first term.
 The sixth district Is located in northern Illinois and includes 12 counties which usually go Repub- lican. Among them are several of the states COP. banner counties.
 Two sitting justices who are not involved in the elections this year are Chief Justice Loren E. Murphy, Monmouth, Democrat, and Clyde E. Stone Peoria, Republican. Terms of Illinois supreme. court justices are for nine years and each receives an aRAV1t1o1 coIo1.1y af G1E mn