The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1879-05-24
FAIR PLAY, GENTLEMAN!

thus far declined to take sides IN favor of an,
one, two or more candidates, but, believing tn
whole seven in the field to be good and com
petcnt men. has aimed to give all fair chance
/ But occupying this high, neutral ground, thu
! FREE TRADER cannot look on calmly and al
: low the candidates or their friends to take un
fair advantages of each other or misreprcsen
tations to be made to the damage of any ont
} or more to help the Others. We must insist OF
fair play, gentlemen. The Ottawa RepUJiicdU
and other papers in this district 90 cents d
line, Messieurs candidates, if you please,) in
the advocacy of their tavorites have made Il
sort of combined assault on Judge Leland on
the score that he Is 80 excessively SLOW, you
know" in the dispatch Of business, and by
ringing the changes from week to week on the
importance of securing judges who shall be
quick and prompt, have got out quite an i'm
preston, greatly to Judge Leland's injury
that he is an exceedingly slow coach, while
McRoberts and Goodspced are quick and
prompt, and Blanchard, Stipp &c, are also
very likely toprove more quick than
Judge Leland Now, gentlemen, this is the
height OF injustice to Judge Leland, because
it comes miles from being borne out by the
facts. Let us see,
From 1872 to 1877, when Judge Leland be.
came member of the appellate court, he held
court in this county 125 days and disposed of
2, 147 cases, being an average OF 3.s per day.
Out of II of his cases taken to the appellate
court have been affirmed and reversed.
Judge Goodspeed, during the past term in
this county held court 80 days and disposed Of
313 cases, beng an average of 30 per day.
At the November term, 1873, in Grundy coun-
ty Judge Goodspced held court 80 days and
disposed OF 70 cases, being an average Of %
per day. out of IA of his cases taken to the
appellate court during the past year, Q were
affirmed and ) reversed.
Judge McRobcrts has held one full term in
this county and disposed Of 2S2 cases in 10
days, being an average Of 63 per day At his
last term in Grundy county he held court u
days and disposed Of So cases, averaging 81
per day. During the first four terms of court
in VIII county after June first, 1873 he held
court 274 days and disposed Of 5S1 cases, aver
aging % per day. Out of IA of his cases TAX
en- to the appellate court from tins county 2
were affirmed and - reversed and out of 3S
of his cases from all three counties taken to
the appellate court, II have been affirmed and
20 reversed.
II will thus be seen that while the average
of Judge Goodspeed for rapidlty is lowest, his
average for accuracy is trtlc the best; but
the highest average Of Judge McRobcrts for
dispatch resulted in siX-sevenths of his
cases beng reversed. So there appears to be
something better than mere dispatch. Take
accuracy and dispatch together and Judge Lee
lands average is the best
| The truth Is, Judge Leland, instead of being
slow, Is really prompt in deciding cases. While
the lawyers tell us that Judges Goodspeed and
Mcltoberts are both in the habit of taking
cases under adviscment, thus having the ap-
pcarance of disposing of more than is actually
the case, Judge Leland always decides oH-hand
at the conclusion of the evidence and argll-
ncntS, ana never taxes cases under advise
ment So, gentlemen, stop that talk about
Judge Leland beng a slow coach
There is Il similar display of unfair hostility,
1t seems to us, shown towards Mr. Barber by
Congressman IIayes's paper at Morris A
charge at least 20 years old Is rakcd up against
him of ante-dating thc paper in question has
| it 0ntidatng) when he was in the viii county
clerks office, some naturalization papers
There is another allegation about II bill of en-
ceptions in which he was concerned, having
been taken up TO the Supreme Court with the
signature OF Judge McRobcrts attached, which
the Judge says he never signed All this bust
ness was fully ventilated years ago when Mr.
Barber was a candidate for clerk IN VIII coun.
ty, but rs he run 400 ahead Of his ticket, and
has since then, by large majority, been elect
ed mayor Of Joliet, it is manifest the people
who should know most about them have no
faith in these Charges" They are evidently
mere campaign ISLANDERS