The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1879-05-14
PARTISAN NOMINATIONS.
Judge Smiths Opinion of Himself.

Judge SmtJn Op1n1oG OF nAnnssAA'
Sometimes q mans honest opinion comes
back TO vex and harrass him when circum-
stances change SO as to make it greatly to
his advantage to have that opinion forgot
ten. At the coming judicial election Judge
Smith depends upon the party domination
to pull him through-in fact he believes a
party nomination is very proper way to
elect judges. Of course party nomina-
ton implies, according to Judge Smiths
card published below, a pledge to that
party, and here applies Judge Smiths
opinion of himself, in the position wherein
he finds himself in this campaign. OF
course Judge Smith is competent to give
fair opinion of Judge Smith. 1t seems
some Knox county republican remembered
this opinion, hunted it up and published il
in the following letter to the Aledo Banner
as follows:
STICKING TO PARTISAN NOMINATIONS.
Mr.. EDIToR:-I take the liberty of adj
dressing you on the question OF sticking to
partisan nominations for judge.
Judge A. A. Smith is the only one OF
the four candidates before the people tor
election in June next, for judge who pub
lished himself q candidate for partisan
nomination, and is now, l understand,
claiming that he should have the support
Of the republican party because he issuch
nominee.
Times, customs and seasons change; sc
do men, but principle and truth never.
Let US see what claim Judge Smith has
to partisan support, and then whether, &C.
cording to the rule of right and the rule OF
Judge Smith himself, he should be sup
ported. On the 18th day of May, 1867,
Arthur A. Smith. T. q. Frost, P. II. San
ford and W. G. Rice were candidates be-
fore republican convention held in Mon
mouth to nominate a judge. By the by
Horace Bigelow, of your village, was sec
rotary of the convention. A resolution
was passed at the instance of Judge Por
ter that the persons going into the con
vention should be bound to support the
nominee. Frost was nominated; Smith
bolted, ran independent, and beat thu
party nominee.
Again, in 1878, he refused to go into {
county friends to refuse to sanction a par.
tisan convention, and himself delivered
and published judicial opinion as to parti
san conventions 10. relation to judicial nom
nations.
The following is his opinion, and Will,
just in the main and substantially true,
Of course somewhat extravagant:
"a CARD
tofw, AI.t.
and inquiries whether am candidate for re-elet
ton at the judiciary election in June next, and
so on what condition.
am u candidate for reelection by the PEOPLE
I cannot be the candidate Of any political party
The Judicial election fixed by the coDstitutio
in June for the purpose OF removing It from tn
held OF politics. judge has to deal with all pal
ties, and therefore should not be a partisan.
man who owes his election to party is in
pliedly pledged to that party. 1 have no pledge
10 make. Politicians may make pledges, but
Judge who will make pledge will take bribt
have served the people for 81
pie must be the judge And this, with my CT
perisnce, is all have to recommend me.
'Galesbury, ILL.,, Aprn1O, 1873"
Now the people can Judge whether th
Hon. A. A. Smith is entitled to any part
devotion if any was due in judicial eleC
ton, and then whether, Judge Smit
being the witness, it is right and proper
any event to elect a man who is pledge
to party for a judge.
Judge Smith has been judge for Dearl
thirteen years, and the strongest argumeu
used for his reelection here is that he is
Knox County man, and Knox County
the largest and should have Judge.
think the people are willing to make
change.
A KNOX COUNTY REPUBLICAN.