National Affairs: New Bench in Chicago

In Illinois’ Cook County (Chicago), judgeships are usually easy picking for Democrats. This year Illinois’ young (39) Republican Governor William G. Stratton, who is an old hand at politics, decided he would try to change that situation. The first governor in years to take an open interest in Chicago judgeship races, Stratton made the rounds of rallies, fired up the G.O.P. organization, told ward and precinct workers they would be held responsible for the turnout of voters in their areas. He concentrated on the Republican suburbs. Result: the Republicans scored a solid upset, won eight (seven superior-court, one circuit-court) of 14 contested judgeships. Said “Billy the Kid” Stratton: “It shows two things. We are on the right track with our policies, and we had a unified organization.”