The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1877-03-15
THE COUNTY JUDGEsHIP
WHAT "A CITIZEN" HAS TO SAY
ON THE SUBJECT.
shall the Office OF County Judge go
INTO the lac eping of Incompe.
tent, E;ssif ated hands:
Thxow 2 ship to the Dogs and
Elect an Honest, Sober Man.


Elect an Honest, Sober Man.
Electors Of Monitoacoc Cou7atay-At
the next ensuing election you have to
fill the Office of County Judge.
Have you reflected properly upon the
responsibility of that act2 Do you realize
that the entire property of this County
changes hands, once in every twenty
five or thirty years, through the inter-
vention of the County Court?
Have you considered how your wishes
may be thwarted, as to the descent of
your estates, and how your widows and
children may be defrauded and wronged
through tue mal-administration of that
office, by drunken, ignorant, or cor
rupt County Judge, and the inefficient,
irresponsible and dishonest administra-
tors and guardians appointed by him
While living, do you select for agents
and attorneys to manage your business,
incompetent, dissipated and bankrupt
men? And do you deem it prudent to
commit the care and management, after
your decease, of your estates, acquired
by life long toll and effort for the benefit
of the loved ones that live after you, to
morally and physically depraved and
dissolute men, who have proved wholly
incapable of sustaining themselves in
the ordinary private vocations of life?
In life you can revoke authority re-
posed in an unfaithful servant, but in
death you are powerless to shield and
protect your bereaved wives and children
from the blunders and mistakes, by
ignorance or design, of an incompetent,
besotted or corrupt County Judge.
Awak e, then, to the startling respon-
sibility resting upon you, with reference
to the. filling of that Office. Consider
the infamy and disgrace that has shroud-
ed it for the last two OF three terms,
through incompetency and dissipation,
and say whether it is wise to perpetuate
that deplorable state Of affairs.
Look over the list of aspirants for the
Office and say, if the election of some
of the most urgent and active of them
will improve the existing state of things.
Does it follow because man has been
to the State Legislature, and especially
one whose whole support has nearly all
been derived from County patronage,
and who. instead of improving his con-
dition by the favors and promotion be-
slowed upon him, has become bloated
cripple and bankrupt, that he is fit for,
and entitled, to the Office of County
Judge? Many a man has helped to
enact laws that he neither knew the
nature nor effect of. Does that fit him
in one of the highest judicial capacities,
to expound and execute the law
Because man, of general good char
acter, has held county Office for many
years, the duties of which are simply
clerical. Does that qualify him for an
office, the safe and proper discharge of
whose duties requires legal attainments
which he in no degree possesses?
There are plenty of men-merchants,
mechanics, farmers, etc.,-far better
qualified for the Office of County Judge,
80 far as their general character, habits,
business qualifications and integrity are
concerned, than several of the present
aspirants to that Office. But do they
seek it? No. And why not? Becacse
they have too much modesty and good
sense to ask for a public position which
they know they are not qualified to fill.
But men incapable of conducting any
priuate business successfully-men who,
having held Offices requiring but slight
business qualifications, have the vanity
to think they are therefore capable of
holding any Office within the gift of the
people-broken down politicians, and
dead beats generally, SO for, and insist
upon securing the most important and
responsible Office in the county, as if
they were entitled to it, as matter of
right.
This county has suffered and been
disgraced quite long enough by electing
that class of men to Office, and it is high
time that the intelligence and good sense
of it's people should unite their efforts
EN- naasse, regardless of party ties or
affiliations to suppress the existing cry
ing evil by thorough and radical reform.
No enc but a lawyer Cor some one
possessing the requisite legal attain
ments) of exemplary character and
habits, and acknowledged integrity and
ability, should ever think Of being
County Judge of this county. And the
electors ought to have wisdom and good
Judgment enough not to support any
man for that Office whose legal attain
ments and good moral character do not
fully and fairly entitle him to it.
Who of you, when your rights Of per-
son or property are so invaded or pre-
JUDGED as to require legal redress, con-
suits a farmer, a mechanic, a merchant,
a doctor, a clergyman, a county officer,
or even an ex-State Senator-unless he
be lawyer-as to the right to, and
means of such redress? Not one. But
you seek a lawyer, the best you can find,
if you feel able to pay his probable fees,
but a laicye5, at any rate. Such cases
arise and are generally concluded il a
mans life time, while he has the oppor-
tunity to change his employees, if the
first engaged proves unfaithful or I'M
satisfactory. But, In view of the fact
that the estates you have spent o life
time in acquiring, with the view of
transmitting them unimpaired to your
widows and children, or other beloved