The Judge, the Primary, and the Socialist Scare

The Judgeship Contest.

To the Voters of Stevens County:

The selection of a judge is a matter of vital importance, so important that party lines should, in this matter, be forgotten, and only the fitness and qualifications of the candidate be considered. So much is this true that our state law has provided that the judge shall practically be chosen at the primary election. To preside in court fittingly requires qualifications beyond those of any other position. The lawyer, by reason of his training and the necessities of his profession, is partisan, seeking means to avoid or combat the arguments of the other side, rather than to weigh them and acknowledge their worth. Consequently, a good lawyer may prove to be a very poor judge. Beside a good knowledge of law the most important quality to be required of a judge should be the ability to set aside all personal preferences and determine the law justly between parties without regard to their personalities, and this is one of the most difficult things for man to do. In fact, very few men can completely do this, and many judges who are learned in the law and entirely honorable in intention unconsciously allow their personal preferences some little weight in matters to be by them determined. Others are swayed largely by their personal preferences.

There are two candidates for judicial positions for whom, I believe, every voter in Stevens County should cast a vote on the day of the primary, and no voter should permit anything within his control to prevent his casting his ballot for these two. Both have presided in courts of this state with such dignity, such absolute fairness and impartiality, and have displayed such mastery of the questions of law coming before them, that they have the admiration and respect of all fair-minded people, both lawyers and laymen, who have had an opportunity to observe them in official positions. One is a Democrat and one is a Republican. Judge Chadwick, of Whitman County, is a candidate for judge of the supreme court of the state, Judge Carey for re-election as judge of the superior court of Stevens County. Both should receive your votes, for they have been tried out and are particularly qualified for the positions. By reason of the ability they have displayed each has been called upon to preside at very important trials in all parts of the state. We of Stevens County have reason to take pride in the record of Judge Carey the past four years. It may be that other candidates for his position are also well qualified, but of this we have no record evidence and can only guess at, while we know that he is in every way qualified.

Judge Chadwick's qualifications are also well known. You do not know how soon your property, your good name and liberty, or even your life may be subjected to the decision of these courts. Try no experiments in such positions, but instead vote for these men who have been tested and found true.

Respectfully submitted, Sidney W. Rogers.

Voters of Stevens County, Beware.

Is there not imminent danger of the judgeship of the superior court of Stevens County falling into the hands of the Socialists? If the vote cast at the recent primary election held in the state of Illinois is a criterion from which we may judge of the number of votes that will be cast at the primary election in Stevens County, then it is safe to predict that the judgeship is in great danger of falling into the hands of the Socialists. The vote cast at the general election two years ago was 3,400; half this number is 1,700; the Socialists, after having made a careful poll of their numbers in Stevens County, confidently assert that Judge Harkness will receive at the primary election, rain or shine, 800 votes; that the Socialist vote cast two years ago will be greatly augmented cannot be denied; neither can the fact be denied that there is much difference prevailing among the rank and file of the voters of the Republican and Democratic parties, as to their attendance at the polls on primary election day. In speeches made by Judge Harkness upon the stump, he takes great pains in impressing upon the Socialists that the fight for the judgeship is between himself and Judge Carey and admonishes his supporters to attend the polls. Examine these figures and facts and must you not say to yourself the judgeship of the superior court of Stevens County is in danger of falling into the hands of the Socialists? Let every voter turn out and register, and let every voter turn out on primary election day.

—Chewelah Independent.