Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1868-02-19
THE APPROACHING JUDICIAL
ELECTION.

Dixon and EAssoclate Justice Paine, of
the Supreme Court of the state, were ap-
pointed, will expire in May next, and
their successors are to be chosen by pc
pular election in April next. The Chief
Justice then elected will hold the office
for one year or J; the Associate Justice
for three years.
The state conventions of the respective
parties, which are shortly to meet, will
nominate candidates for Judges The
court being composed of only three
Judges, its political character will be de-
termined by the result of this election.
The Democratic leaders have resolved to
make political issue in the election.
The state committee Of that party set the
example of calling political convention
to nominate judicial candidates. The re-
preventative men of the party, from all
parts OF the State, proclaim that hey in
tend to make political considerations para
mount IN voting for judges this spring,
and to carry the State for the Democratic
candidates if possible, LIST, with view to
the prestige it would give them in the
Presidential election, and I'd, to secure a
reversal of tie decision of the court in
re lard to the suffrage amendment, and
thus reopen the question of negro suf-
frage in this State. They build their
hopes of success upon the belief that they
can get out the full Democratic vote of
the State, while they calculate that In
the strong Republican districts where
there is little or no contest in the election
of town officers, only slight vote will be
cast at the spring election. There is, of
course, some danger in this regard, but
we suspect the Republican farmers of
Rock and Grant, Walworth and Green
Lake, and of similar ounties-most of
whom read the papers and are apt to keep
an eye to what is going on--will see the
point, and, coming out in force to the
ballot-box. blast the hopes of the expect
antDemocracy.
The question of candidates has been
somewhat discussed. The opposition have
JAS S. Brown and VIM. p. Lynde, of
milwaukee, E. A, Ellis, of Green Bay, S.
U. Pinney and A. B Braley, of this city,
and perhaps others, on the list of candi-
dates. These are all new men, as far as
service on the bench is concerned.
Among Republicans, in addition to the
present incumbents, we hear the Dames
of Judge Taylor, Of 6heboygan, Judge
Lyon, Of Racine, O. II. Waldo, of Mil
waukee, and Isreal Holmes, of Columbia
county, spoken of in connection with the
nominations for Chief or Associate JUS
tice, The Portage Register says Mr.
Holmes will not be candidate In re.
gard to Judge Taylor, an excellent and
experienced circuit Judge, we have the
best of authority for saying that be does
not wish to be nominated for either pos
ition on the Supreme Bench. Mr. Waldo
Of Milwaukee, we regard as one of the
best men in the State, a learned aud able
lawyer, with mind Of unusual breadth
and clearne5s, and man of strict intcgri-
ty. We hard know of a man who, in
our judgment, is better fitted for The Sup
rene Bench; but We have no idea that
he could be prevailed upon to leave his
large practice for a position involving
more labor, with a salary of only So 500
year and, moreover position OF uncer-
tain tenure, as in the case with elective
judiciary. There remain of the candi-
dates mentioned only Judges Dixon,
Paine, and Lyon. The latter is gentle
man whom we know we'll and warmly
esteem. He is good lawyer, and a SEN
sible, upright man.
It must be conceded that Judges Dix
on and Paine are both men Of fair ability
at least, while their experience gives
them superior fitness for the bench as
compared with men :heir equals in other
respects. AS far as integrity Of character
is concerned, they also have the confidence
of the people. No one probably could be
found who, knowing the men, would
doubt their incorruptibility and their
honesty of purpose Under such circum-
stances, unless some very good reason can
be shown why another course" should be
pursued, it seems to US sound state
policy to continue these tried and expert
enced judges upon the supreme bench in
case they will consent to remain there
Madison Journal.
THE IMPEACHMENT Project KILLED.
The impeachment project has been
second time killed, and the sensat ional
predictions and speculations Of various
persons have again come to naught Mr..
Stevens brought forward his indictment
against the President in the Reconstruct
ton Committee this morning, and declal
ed that he would have square vote on
the matter. The document concluded