Third Term

THIRD TERM.

Whether it is wise or otherwise, Michigan is pretty strongly committed to the two term idea in political offices. That there is much force in the idea cannot be denied. There are also same objections, but the reasons for this limitation are certainly strong. The tendency generally is for officials with life tenure or a long term to get out of touch with the people. Their sphere of activity and thought and associations are so widely different from those of the common people that such officials get out of sympathy with the masses. They live in a largely different world. Their plain of life is so different that it becomes extremely difficult for them to give proper weight to those things which go to make up the rights of those in so widely separated a scale of existence. In no office within the gift of the people is this true in a larger degree perhaps than in the judiciary. The tenure is always a long one that the office may be as little affected as possible by the kaleidoscope of politics. This is no doubt wise. But two terms upon the circuit bench, extending over a period of twelve years, is long enough. Experience of course is valuable, but the tendencies above mentioned more than outweigh this. Then, experience must be acquired. No man has it when he first goes upon the bench. And with as many men with large knowledge of the law, scholarship wide general information and high character, as are to be found among the practitioners at the bar, it is in no sense necessary to elevate any man to the bench term after term There is danger in it. The court must be brought nearer the people and much can be accomplished in this direction by changing judges at not so infrequent intervals.

In making these changes, proper qualifications are the first requisite in a candidate. Given these, the people will generally guard their interests best by declining to elevate a man to the bench for a third term.

Judges are elected upon party tickets. No one should be misled by the statement that the office of circuit judge is not a political office. That is simply to gain votes for the other candidate. The democrats of this judicial district have a candidate for circuit judge who is in all way qualified and he should receive the full party vote. Especially, since he has been forced to make the run for the sake of the party against his will and because his opponent is a candidate for a third term.

Democrats should support with their ballots the theory of government in which they believe. Republican success is always due to their close adherence to this principle. If democrats do this there is no question as to the result of the coming election in this judicial district.