, 1877-11-04

Before the nominations for county officers
were made on either side, The TRIBUNE
pointed out the peculiar and delicate respon-
sibilities attached to the position Of Probate
Judge, and urged both parties to select not
merely able lawyers, but men whose practice,
experience, and personal habits should fit
them to the arduous duties of the position.
One of the two parties has violated the pro-
prieties most fagrantly by nominating
Justice-of-thc-Peace HA1SEs, who lacks every
essential qualification for the trust. AIr.
H.1SEs' nomination by the Democrats was
the result Of curious political intriguing, and
it was made with the design Of securing GER
tain political advantages in utter disregard Of
the exacting aud sacred responsibilities at
tached to the Probate Court. He was first
named by the Industrials, aud then accepted
BIZ the Democrats, who were willing to carry
any and all Of the Industrial nominations that
should not interfere with the plans Of the Ring,
thus hoping to make sire of the industrial
vote. LEB's handiwork can be clearly
traced in the selection Of HAEEs. L1ED and
his strikers ran both the Industrial and the
Democratic Conventions. DAVE THORNTON
was to run L1Ep's campaign, and Ed PHu-
LIPS md JB1 GLEASON nre among L1EB's en-
ployes, paid by the county. Now, DAVE
THORNTON, Ed PHILLIPS, and JIM GLEASON
were the most conspicuous figures and the
most persistent barnacles in the town frauds
which the people had SO much difficulty in
putting down. AIr. HAEEs, as a Justice Of
H.. p,,,a ,roc n ,,or, har nf 4la To,v, n,,r<3
and his sympathies throughout seemed to be
with the hummer crowd; he voted in such
q way rs to embarrass the Reformers as
much rs possible. 1t is not strange that this
hummer crowd should improve their first
opportunity to reward Justice HANEs, but it
is scandalous that the most important ju-
dicial position to be filed should he sacrificed
to this political intriguing.
Leaving out of account altogether Mr.
HA1SEs' vicious political associations in the
past, his own cahbre and career unfit him
for the position he seeks. The Probate
Judge is er oDicio the guardian Of the orphans,
the protector of the widows rights, and the
administrator of estates. There are proba-
bly, 100000 families in Cook County, and of
these not less than 1000 are compelled an
uually to submit their affairs to the nrbitrn-
mcnt of the Probate Court. The settlement
Of estates is one of the most involved and
difficult branches of the law. The Judge
has very broad discriminating powers, and
his duties require him to be man of
the most irreproachable integrity, Of quick
apprehension, of ready and proper sympa-
thy, of great patience and industry, and
thorough familiarity with the law
and precedents governing testament
ary cases. Mr.. HASEs' preparation for
the duties of Probate Judge have been of the
worst possible description. He hnd scarcely
been admitted to the Bar before he was ap-
pointed q Justice OF the Peace through the
influence Of his family and friends; he has
had very little practice at the Bar of any
kind, and probably none whatever in Pro-
bate business. AS Justice of the Peace his
dealings have been mainly with little person.
al quar1els, lawsuits involving less than 5000
in the issue, rePlevin cases, hummer con-
stables, shyster attorneys, professional bail
ers and bondsmen, and packed juries. Such
is the average business of the Justices Court.
I cannot full to contract a mans intellectual
force, dull and harden his sy'npathies, and
stunt his growth in every direction. En-
crossed with succession of petty details, he
soon relapses into passive state Of indifer-
ence, with no higher ambition than to give
judgment where he is surest Of collecting his