The Election Of Judges

Ex-President Harrison writea of " The Judicial Department of the Government" in the JanuaryLadies' Horre Journal, and says with reference to the general mode of selecting judsri s in the majority of stat es: '-There has been iniich diseussion as to the proper tenure lor the judicial office, and the tendency, as expressed in the later state constitutions, has been in favor of limited terms. The earlier state constitutions gave the appomtment of the judges to the governor or the legislature, but along with the demand for limited lerms for the judges carne another for their election by the people, and in a majority of the states they are now nominated in the party conventions and elected by popular vote, just as a governor or sheriff is choseu. 1 do not thiiik that either of these changes is a reform. Limited terms. if they are long. may be supported by niany considerations; but short, terms. combined with popular elections, have not, in my opinión securedas high a judicial standard as prevailed before. A judge who must go at short intervals before a politica] convention for a nomination, and before the people for an election, cannot have the same sense of independence and security that he would have if his term were long or during good behavior. The judicial office should be so organized that men of the best abilities and attainments would enter it as a e;ireer, ancl give their lives and the ir ambitions wholiy to it.