Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1869-12-30
The Circuit Judgeship.


croy, Jim Knight, wants the people of this
judicial circuit to elect democrat to the
circuit iudgcship next spring, to I'LL the
place now Occupied by Hon. }. ]. Mills.
With this object in view be recommends
that 10 political nomination be made
Had he stopped there, no one would
have cared, because his trap was so
bungingly laid that everybody could
see it and avoid it bnt bis ruling passion
for Islander and lalseEood could aot be
restrained and II took control Of his pen
before the article was finished and the
following yilupeiation against Judge
Mills is the result;
Why can not, and why will not the
people OF this Judicial District act the
part Of sensible persons in the election
10 come of in the spring? 1t Is now most
generally understood that the present!n-
cumbent although candidate for re-
election is, Tor many reasons entirely up
fit for the position; there is not man IN
the District who has attended one OF his
courts but has felt Illuminated ut the
sight of such man occupying such n
responsible position. Entirely lacking
in dignity his conduct has partaken more
of the politician seeking political NOM
nation than that of Judge between the
differences of his fellow men under the
law. Not only has his conduct in this
matter disgusted thinking men, but he
has openly and avmedly made decisions
ia opposition 10 well established princi.
pies of law, giving as his reason that
although not law or justice, it was the
people, decision. and to these same PEG
pie this man is looking Tor a re election
in entire distrust and uncertainty pre-
walls in this district ia relation to what
next tangest he will fly oil ON, and no
matter what the case may be, or what
the facts or law of any case is, it is safe
to buy pools on either side Of any guess
ton before him and an enterprlslng
demagogue can always succeed in liking
the voice Of the people" so as to be quite
sufe OF his sympathy, ut least This
state Of things has prevailed to such an
extent that the result has been to multi,
ply and increase the number of suits to
lie tried, and more than doubled the ex~
pcnse Of each year to the county.
There is no doubt, and few will attempt
to deny it, that the district would save
thousands of dollars to pay him his sal
airy, and then to double that and pay it to
competent men TO act as Judge. We
do not assert that he is corrupt, but do rs
sert that his peculiar mind is such as en-.
,irely unfs him Tor the position The
excuse offered by his friends that he is
crazy, is not such MS to warrant the REQ.
pie in longer continuing him ON the
bench. { he is to hc supported by the
district on account of his extreme poit~
zeal views, it will be much better for the
different counties to pay their share Of
the expense l,y direct appropriation for
that purpose. Democratic Lafayette will
gladly do SO, provided we can secure n
Judge such rs ne Intelligence of the
district demands, and this will be done
as a direct saving ct taxes.
Now we are not going to put on the
belt us champions OF Judge Mills or any
other man, with view to assisting him
TO secure nomination, but EEL it our
duty to not let such SANDERS of an honest
man and upright, intelligent Judge go
undcuicd, That Judge Mills conduct
has ever 'partaken more of the poli-
,icion seeking a political nomination than
has of Judge between the differences
of his fellow men under the law, we
deny without investigation And on the
contrary, assert that Judge Mills has
never in any case given Z. desision or
done any official act TO justify such
charge against him That Mr.. Mills is
one of the best read lawyers in the dis
,rlct is generally acknow lodged, and that
to have o decision Of his on points OF law
reversed 10y the supreme court has been
a rare case the records will show. The
closing paragraph Of the Democrat ar
ticIe is the regular Democratic dema-
gngoe cry" extrayogant taxes out Of
which that party has of late made stren-
nuus efforts to make capital We wonder
Knight had NOT embodied among other
charges agOinsl judge Mills the one we
heard about year Hgc that nine out OF /
ten OF those sentenced hy him to the .
pententiary we're Democrats : which (
charge could be sustained, because nine /
tentbS OF all tue criminals ever tried be- I
fore Jud e Hills mere Democrats
ANex-othcer who recently talked with I
the PreHdcn. reports the following: