The Grange advance. [volume] (Red Wing, Minn.) 1873-1877, 1876-10-25
Letter from E. J. Hodgson, ESQ.
ST. PAUL, Oct. 23d, 1876.

Editor Grange Adronce:-I notice
that you have magnanimous]y permit
ted, Mr.. Herbert, an old editor Of the
ADVANCE, to advocate the election Of
Judge Wilder through your columns.
Your iberality in this instance leads
me to trust you will accord another old
editor Of the ADVANCE the same priyi-
lege.
1t is true am not now a resident Of
the second congressional district, and
by some might be considered as being
little of6cious in taking any part what
ever in the present campaign. But
surely I must be either less or more
than human if, in one short year, I
should cease to take a lively interest in
the affairs Of a people among whom I
resided 50 long. That interest must of
course be strengthened by the fact that
4 man whom l have known for nearly
twenty years is a candidate for con-
gress.
In the first place | wish to say that /
am not biased or prejudiccd in any pos
sible degree against Major Strait, for
/ am very favorably inclined toward
him. like the man, and always nave
since first knew him. | am far from
believing that he has not made II good
representative in the past, or that he
would not make a good representative
in the future. | should advocate Judge
Wilder's election, then, not upon the
ground of Major Strait unfitness or in
competency, but upon the ground that
Judge Wilder is much ADLER and
much more competent man. 1t is ex-
tremely rare that we find IA man so
we'll qualified for that position in every
respect as is Judge Wilder. I am not
talking at random, or guessing at it, or
giving a hearsay opinion, but I k,.ow
that to be the fact absolutely. Let US
examine some of these qualifications in
detail.
First, as a man of integrity he is
above reproach. Where is there man
WIZ AuO"S VIII HOulu uUG GruSC
every dollar he has in the world in
Judge Wilder's keeping, if there was
any need of doing so? Not one.
Where is there a lawyer who has prac-
ticed with Judge Wilder for five or ten
or any other number of years who would
not as soon take his word as his written
stipulation? There is not one. ap-
peal to every lawyer who has done busi-
ness with him if this is not true.
Where is the client whoever trusted a
case to Judge Wilder that did not get
the very best service the Judge was
able to render? Ten years experience
in the same court with him, enables me
to say emphatically, there is not one.
Now speak of these things because
there are hundreds of people who know
them to be true-lawyers, judges and
jurymen know how scrupulously faith
full he has been in the discharge of every
trust committed to his keeping. Hon
esty and integrity are not confined to
mere matters of money but relate to ev-
cry act of life. In this broad sense
Judge Wilder is an honest man.
Secondly, he is an able man. For
the last fifteen Or twenty years he has
ranked with the very ablest lawyers in
this state. His whole mature lite has
been devoted to his profession. His
familiarity with fundamental and con-
stitutional and statute law pre-eminent-
ly qualify him to be law maker. No
man knows better the defects and short
comings of the law than him. His
ability as a lawyer, as a speaker, as a
close and log gical thinker, as keen
debater would give him a position of
influence and power in con- gress, that
few possess, and to which I am sure
Major Strait never dreamed of aspiring.
Now, my friends, think we need few
such men in congress.
Thirdly, Judge Wilder is man of
most untiring industry and persever-
ence. He is one of the hardest working
men / ever knew. When he took hold
of a case he never spared himself. If
it required that he should work all
night as well as all day, he worked all
Mi ght. All his strength, his energy, his
time and talents were devoted to it.
When he believed he was right, he nev-
er let up until success crowned his ef-
forts or a court of last resort decided
against him. His industry and perse-
verence would make him an exceedingly
useful member of congress, and would
render his services invaluable to his