Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1884-03-29
FOE JUDGE OF THE PROBATE COURT,
JOHN A. PRATHER.

To the Democrats of Lafayette County,
No county Office has more importance or re-
sponsibilitY attached to it than that of Judge
of the probate court; within q generation
every estate In the county must pass in re-
view before him, the vast financlal interest of
which renders it essentially necessary that the
qualifications and integrity Of the incumbent
should be without question, and his charac-
tel, above reproach.
Judge Prather during his long service as
chief justice of the county court gave ample
evidence of his qualifications and fitness for
an official trust, having discharged the duties
thereof with much profit to the county, and
credit to himself. Under his admin stration
the interest of the widows and orphans would
be fully protected and well cared for; charg.
Ing such fees as the law prescribes, never
more. In selecting persons for Office the
claims Of those who have served the people
faithfully and efficiently should have the
kindest consideration, and rewards bestowed
where they have been earned. Upon first
taking his seat as judge of the county court
he found the county involved in almost mex
tricable financial trouble and confusion, with
bankruptcy staring the people In the face,
from which there was apparently no escape.
But under the superior executive ability and
judicious management of Judge Prather and
those associated with him, order has beer
brought out of chaos, the Indebtedness re-
duced to manageable limits, and confidence
restored, the county government now work
ing like a well oiled machine land promising a
brilliant fnf1rro IN n,,r roor1a V1hi1a {,l-o
Of the county court he stood as an impossible
barrier between the taxpayers and bond
holders, thwarting the designs of the latter
and protecting his constituents; in fact sub
hitting to arrest and imprisonment rather
than levy a tax to pay what he considered to
be a unjust demand. For his services as
Judge of the county court his compensation in
comparison to the pay of other county of.
ficers was q mere p%Ittance, and we think
justice requires that he should now he given
an Office, the emoluments of which would
compare with the services rendered. There
may be those who doubt the propriety of q
minister of the gospel accepting Office to all
such we will say there Is plenty of Bible au-
thority for it, and Judge Prather should not
lose a single vote on this account. When
Judge Prather was first ~inaugurated Judge OF
the county court the c~ounty's bonded indebt-
edness and accrued interest was 1,2Oo, 900.
When be reti: ed from Office there was out.
standing 1901 900 of compromise bonds, and
$l54, 900 of old bonds being a total of $780,
600. When first indicted into office the an
nual interest charge was $4,000, when be
retired it was 81 900, including interest on
the incorporated portion Of the debt.
When he first took bis seat on the bench the
tax levy was 2 cents: now 81 49;county war;
rants then Is per cents discount; now cash at
par; county bonds then about 60 cents, now
worth q premium. Judge Prather's record
Is before the people. and we think his claims
should receive the substantial recognition to
which they are so justly entitled.
TAY.pAVEp