Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1885-05-08
JUDGE oRNER's RESIGNATION


JUDGE oRNER's RESIGNATION.
Last week We barely had time and
space to mention that Hon. Geo D.Omer
had shaken of the judicial ermine, and
that by direction OF Gov. Martin it had
been placed on the shoulders of Mr..
Ray, OF Wellington.
Our people were surprised on learn
Ing the news, but unlike their yelling
ton neighbors, they were not billing
hot" or even angry. We were all
pleased when Barber county secured
the judgeship. and hoped that our
George, with the assistance he could
count on from the outside, would be
able To hold his own In the nominating
convention against the combined forces
of Sumner anil Harper counties.
What caused Judge Orner to resign
Is only n matter of conjecture. Some
say that he could not content himself
with getting down to the intricate
study and examination required Of a
Judge, that he was too restless. Others
say that Bill. Hackney came over here
and induced the judge to quit the bench
under promise Of taking him, Orner, in
to political firm being organized to
make Hackney governor, expenses in
the mean time to be paid by the Santa
Fe railroad. We do not know which
rumOr TO believe; but We rather favor
the latter. Mr.. Hackney was here, and
he went away with Judge Oner, after
the two had been in close consultation
here for two days.
Over at Wellington the newspapers
and lawyers are very angry, and they
are saying hard things about Gov. Mar
tin. Witness the following from the
Wellingtonian, Allison's paper, a
straigh-out republican organ:
Yesterday the city was astOnished by
the news that Judge Orner had resign
ell and that James A. Ray, of this city,
had been appointed to the vacancy.
That there was to be a vacancy, no
man In Sumner county knew, hence
no Sumner county man or any man
from any Of hecounties in the district
recommended the appointment of Mr..
Ray To the position. On the other hand
there Is every evidence that the ap-
pointment was dictated by Bill Hack
ney, who does not reside in our district
and who, had we governor who car
ed the least for the sentiment of the
people, would have been given to I'M
derstGnd that it was none Of his bust
ness who was appointed to the place
Judge Orner aud Bill Hackney went
north on the afternoon train, on Tues
day, and were accompanied by Mr.
Ray. who had been notified by Telegraph
to meet them on the train. Judge OrneI
resigned and Bill named his successor
the whole thing being done in n hurry
and before any one here knew that Or
ner contemplated resigning.
We thought that Governor Martin
made mistake in appointing Orner
and we think he made a greater one in
the present appointment. We do not
question Mr.. Rays standing as u gen.
tlemaD, but it was a courtesy that the
governor of the state, Whom we have
been foolish enough to think was the
peoples governor owed to the people
OF the nineteenth judicial district, to at
least apprise them Of the fact that there
was vacancy, that they might have ex-
pressed their preferences as 10 who
Judge Orner's successor should be. And
I'm acting hastily and secretaly as he has
in the matter, Governor Martin has
simply demonstrated, beyond a ques-
ton, the fact that he Is tool Of the old
crowd Of politicians, who have manipu-
lated the politics Of the state for years.
he is simply n dough man in their
hands, and, hereafter, when our people
want any relief, or anything else, for
which they have TO look to the governor
they must petition the old political bar
nacles who are controlling him. In this
portion Of the state, over which Hack
ney seems to preside, they should adj
dress their petitions to the Honorable
Bill, and not To the excuse Of n man,
for whom they cast their votes for gov
ernor. We write this with regret. Ey.
cry time, before last fall, that Johr
Martin has been mentioned for the gov,
ernOrship, we have given him a hearty
support, and would have done so las
fall, had we been in the state. We die
30 because he was n newspaper man
and we believed him to be a strong
minded honorable gentleman, who would
make the state model executive. But
we now see our mistake. Newspaper
men seem to be just as liable to max,
fools OF themselves, when elected I,
such high positions, rs common peopl,
and John Martin has been the first I,
do IL. However honorable he may b
he has shown himself to be n weak
minded tool Of designing men, and ha
forfeited the respect OF every republi
can In Sumner county and the nine
teenth judicial district. He may no
believe that we voice the sentiment o
n majority OF the republicans OF Sum
ner county in this, but lac will realize
when another state convention has con
vened at Topeka and Sumner county
present with delegation solid agains
him. The appointment Of a Sumne
county man, when not asked by Sum
ner's citizens, will do nothing toward
bridging over the feeling created by hi
appointment Of Orner, but is receive
as a direct slap in the face OF the me
who have heretofore been his stronges
friends here. While we have nothin
to say against Capt. Ray, and while W
do not blame him for accepting an az
pointment rendered, We have lost a
respect for the governor, who has en-
tered into the job, at the dietation Of