Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1885-02-25
THE COMING JUDICIAL ELECTION


The term of Judge Taylor of the state
supreme court expires with the present
year, and his successor will be chosen at
the spring election.
Judge Taylor has been a member OF
the court Tor nearly ten years. He bad
previously been one OF the circuit judges
Of the state. He is an able, upright and
experienced Judge. The only objection
raised to his election is that he is 67
years old. But he is man of vigorous
constitution, never impaired by any ex-
| cesses, and in the full possession now
and is likely to be for many years to
come, of all his intellectual and physical
strength. If reelected he will not be
older at the end of the term than many
| Judges who have served with unimpaired
| faculties with distinguished usefulners.
We do not think his age is an objection.
and we believe it is the wiser policy when
we have good judge upon tie bench TO
! retain him, rather than to experiment
! with new men.
= 1t was, therefore, in our judgment, 2
mistake for the meagre assemblage OF
lawyers who held meeting in Madison
on Tuesday, to attempt to bring forward
another candidate and TO dictate TO the
people whom they shall elect. We con-
cede that the opinions OF the bar OF the
state should have great weight in select.
ing a judge. though the people at large
are net inclined to admit that the law
yers should control in such matters; but
the Madison gathering was no represen~
tation of the state bar. or evenlof the State
Bar Association. The Milwaukee bar
was represented by two of it's youngest
members, not generally known in the
state, and by the keeper of an abstract
office; none of the prominent members of
the Milwaukee bar were present. The
presiding officer of the meeting was
Moses M. Strong, formerly well known
Democratic politician, but never promi-
nent as a lawyer; it's secretary was for
merly engaged in the practice of law as
the partner of Colonel Villas, but has
abandoned the profession and Is now
the editor of the Madison Democrat.
The highest number of votes cast by
persons present was 68. Nearly one half
of these withdrew when it was found that
the gathering was organized to make a
nomination and "set up" for Mr.. Villas, OF
Eau Claire When the vote on candi-
date was taken there were only 30 votes
by persons present, and of these 29 were
for MIR. Villas. The supporters OF Villas
had provided themselves with proxies to
the number of %, making bis nominal
vote 64 This is clearly no expression OF
the bar of the state, some 400 OF whose
members have signed call asking Judge
Taylor 10 be candidate 70 reelection.
The signal unfairness of the spirit which
ruled at the Madison meeting was shewn
when Mr. Turner, of Ripon, moved to
postpone a nomination one week Id order
to give notice to the bar generally that a
nomination would be made at that time,
promising that in such case he would be
bound by the action OF the meeting.
This fair proposition was voted down, and
then the friencs of Judge Taylor with
drew from meeting which they found
was intent not on representing the sentl'
ments of the legal fraternity of the state
but on the accomplishment Of personal
object.
The nomination of this fragment of the
Bar association is a younger brother OF
Colonel Villas of Madison. He gradual
ed a. the State University and has since
resided at Eau Claire. He is represented
as man of ability and good lawyer,
but it may we'll be doubted whasher he
possesses such superior capacity as to
warrant the people in setting aside
tried and experienced judge to give him
a place on the BENCH MilacGukee Sen
tifacl.