Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1882-02-24

followed: Il come to represent the
people of my county. Richland
county sends q great many names.
I have not counted them, but there
are several hundred names OF the
most prominent men in our county.
The court is personally familiar with
a great many OF the names, and he
will see that the calls are entirely
irrespective of party; believing in
your Honor's judicial qualifications
and ability, and being well satisfied
with yoursservices in the past re-
quest your name to be once more
used as a candidate for reelection.
The principal men of both parties
Republicans as well as Democrats
have signed these petitions request
ing your Honor to accept the office
of Circuit Judge for another term.
II. L. Frost, of Iowa county, fol-
lowed: "May it please your Honor.
| am here to represent some pc
titioners, petitions that | might say
contain a prayer asking that you
again become candidate for Judge
of this circuit Those who have
made it are sincere in the belief that
there is not one among them all but
what are entirely satisfied with the
manner in which you have per-
formed the duti, Of your office.
On the within petitions you will
find the NAMES of your friends and
your ncig hburs Of Iowa county,
among whom you have resided for
more than quarter of century;
who have had ample opportunity
to judge of every trait Of your char
acter, and every impulse of your
mind, and they ask you to allow
your name to be used as a candi-
Gate for reelection"
Judge Cothren responded:
| am very much obliged to you
| for the compliment which you per-
sonally pay me, by the presentation
Of these petitions or calls, | see
1 from the reading Of the heading
that the signers respectfully request
me to allow my name to be used as
Il candidate for reelection. | know
of no manner of being brought be-
fore the people more satisfactory TO
me than this. If | run for the
office of Judge, it must be at the re-
quest OF the people at large and not
as the candidate Of any political
party; and while this manner Of
calling my attention to the views of
the public upon this question is as
satisfactory to me as any that could
be devised, | call upon the gentle
man who present these requests to
bear me witness that both the re-
quests and the names attached to
them are presented without any re-
quest or suggestion or connivance,
whatever upon my part. The office
of Circuit Judge is of to little con-
sequence at the present stage of my
life for me to solicit, aid assist or CO.
operate with any human being to Sc
cure its continuance, however CRATE
full | might feel to the public if they
should want me to serve another
term. Three times | have held the
office of Circuit Judge and upon
| neither of the occasions when | was
chosen did in any way seek the
position. 1t was voluntarily con-
ferred upon me at a very early
period of my life. / was elected
second time without opposition, |
voluntarily retired from the bench
after twelve years service against the
circumstances of many of the law
yers and citizens Of the district. |
felt that | had a right to retire as |
had family to support and to pro-
vide for in the future and | was not
able to do it with the salary that |
received. The first term was only
$1,000 a year, the next term was
S2,5O0, AMI | retired from the bench
to engage III the practice of my pro-
tession. | was then off of the bench
II years, aud when elected for TIN.
present term it was against my re-
nonstrance, my absolute refusal to
be a candidate by convention or a
mass meeting that brought my
name before the public. have
endeavored to discharge the duties
Of the office to the best Of my abil-
.ty. have kept aloof while upon
the bench always from political
matters. | was made Candidate
by convention for Congress, ana
declined to run. After the lapse OF
two years, another convention nonl-
mated me and placed me III a posi-
ton in which it was impossible for
me to refuse to allow my name to be
used. | allowed my name to be
used and said to the people vote for
me if you choose, | don't see any
very great difference between the
two political parties at the present
time, SO far as political differences
are concerned. AMI | cen rs well
serve the state and the public in one
4.