The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1881-02-10


yer, and the latter at times charges enor-
nous fees that are always readily allowed
by the present County Judge. Even if
under all circumstances the services of a
lawyer should prove to be indispensable
there is no doubt but what all business
might be more cheaply and expeditions
ly transacted If the county Judge under
stood the German language. We hear
that Germans, who are fully qualified for
that Office and who are fully possessed of
the confidence of our fellow citizens are
seeking nomination for that Office.
Would not the German population of
Manitowoc county find it to their interest
to pass that office into the keeping of an
honest and competent German?"
If there is any subject which we dis
like to discuss it is one involving nation
ality. Above we reprint an article from
The Nord-Westen, simply for the pur-
pose of showing the argument used by
the editor of that paper to defeat Judge
Kirwan. In the case of district attorney
last fall Mr.. Schmidt was not so jealous
of the rights of German Americans. Mr..
Sch nitz is a German and one who did
credit to himself and to the county in his
conduct of the office of District Attorney.
Whatever little influence Mr.. Schmidt
had was exerted in the behalf of Mr..
Walker. And properly enough as Mr..
Walker is competent and Industrious
officer. But we desire the people to no
tice the inconsistency of this demagogue
who is laboring for selfish purposes to
stir up national prejudices. Two weeks
ago he wrote knowingly false and ma :
licious article against Judge Kirwan and
he has not mad the manliness to offer an
explanation when proved to be falsitier.
He has boosted that he would drive Judge
Kirwan out of Office. He and little
coterie of which he is center by virtue of
his position of editor, have made ar
engagements for the filling of county of
fees for years to come. He is laboring
for the formation of ring of which he
is to be autocrat, close corporation
which will dictate the work of democratic
conventions. The Office of county judge
is to be the throne behind which Carl II.
Schmidt is to stand as the power. and
party edicts will issue therefrom. Judge
Kirwan is not the only officer whose SEN
tence is pronounced and whose official
decapitation is a part of the programme
to be enacted. We have personal knowl-
edge of an edict issued against another,
a gentleman who does not boss conven :
tons and aid in packing caucuses.
The fact that Judge Kirwan is unable
to speak German is the only fault that
can be laid to his charge. He has made
faithful officer and has always stood be-
tween the people and the rapacity of
those who scent prey in the estates of
deceased persons. 1t has been said by
some attorneys that they do not care
much for probate practice now because
Judge Kirwan has so reduced fees that
there is not SO much money in it as for
merly. Something unknown before in
the history of the probate Office of this
county. Lawyers have taken appeals to
the circuit court from Judge Kirwan's
allowance of fees for work done for eli
ents in his court and have always Sc
cured larger allowances in the cir
cult court. Take these facts in con-
nection with the Nord- Westerns asser-
ton that large fees are always allowed
by the present Judge. In no case does
the law allow county Judge to draw pa
pers in an estate worth more than $1,000.
Judge Kirwsn has drawn papers in every
estate in which it was his duty to do SO,
| and without cost to the parties. Would
| it not be wise to elect man who is cap
| able of drawing such papers, when re-
! quired?
The rules for the government of coun-
| ty courts, do not in most cases, allow a
county Judge to draw papers, and thus
force the employment of an attorney. We
cite the rules for Mr.. Schmidt's benefit
as he seems to be unconscious of their
existence.
Section 4, Page So of Rules Of Prac
tice IN County Courts Of State Of Wis
| cOnsifl.
No county Judge while holding such
| Office, shall be in any manner engaged or
act as attorney or counsel in any action,
proceeding or matter in, or which he has
good reason to believe will be brought
in, any of the county courts of this state,
or give any advice or opinion concerning
the same or the questions therein involv.
ed, except and only SO far as may be ne
cessary or proper to do SO in performing
his duty under the provisions of Section
2455 of the Revised Statutes.
SECTION 5. Except as provided in Sec
ton 2455 of the Revised Statutes. nc
Judge of any county court, while holding
such office or his clerk or any person EN-
ployed by such Judge in or about his of
fee, shall draw any such papers neces
sary for the commencement or proseeu-
ton of any action, proceeding or matter
in any of the county courts of this state
The exception mentioned is where th,
estate is less than 5000.
The above shows how intelligently Mr.
Schmidt can write on topics connected
with the county court. He was candi
date for county judge four yeers ago aux
judging from the ignorance he now dis
plays, his only qualification was abilit.
to speak the German language.
We learn Mr.. Whitman is candidate
for county Judge as is also John P. Wick
ert. We are inclined to exonerate Mr.
Whitman from the charge of inspiring
articles of such strong knownothing ten
denotes as appear in the Nord-Westen
, We have reason to believe that he would
not stoop to such means to secure an
office, much less a judicial one,