The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1888-10-27
The JUDICIARY IN POLITICS.
Why the Democrats Rejected II. g.
Hicks and Nominated Charles
NJ. Pond.
MAN WHO BROKE FAITH
The Story of His Promise and It's Sequence
Hicks Defeat Made Certain
By His Own Acts.
HISTORY OF IT..

appointed by Governor Hubbard to fill
the unexpired term of Judge M. B.
Koon, resigned. A conference COM
mittee, consisting of fifteen Republic
cans and the same number of Demo
Gratis, met in the algonquin CLUB rooms
to select candidate if one could be
agreed upon The matter had been
canvassed among those delegates, and
it was understood that the Republicans
would favor the selection of Judge Rea
to succeed himself. To this selection
there was no inconsiderabla objection
among the Democratic delegates, but
those who opposed the selection Of
Judge Rea were assured that if tfe
Democrats would yield to the PROPOSE
tion TO permit him to succeed himself
without opposition and without polit-
ical contest, that the next judge to be
chusen should be from the ranks of the
Democracy.
This assurance was made upon the
strength Of the admissions OF promi-
nent Republicans aud members of the
ba1 and the conferenc committee that
that would be fair and right and would
be acceded to as a matter of course by
the Republicans, so that it was tacitily
understood before Che conference con-
vened that Judge Rea was to be chosen,
The conference committees convened
and Col f.. G.. Benton was chosen
chairman aud Il. B. Forrest secretary
of the meeting. Among the Republi;-
can delegates present was 81. G.. Hicks.
The Democrats were represented by
Hon. E. NJ. Wilson, A. T. Ankeny,
Seagrave Smith, Charles j. Bartleson,
ESQ, and others.
After the name Of Judge Rea had
been proposed. Hon, E. M. Wilson,
speaking for tlie Democratic side, stated
that the Democratic delegates had con-
cluded in the interest Of a non-partisan
judiciary, to join with Republicans in
the nomination Of Judge Rea, but that
the concession was made with the un-
derstanding, and in the fullest faith,
that when another judge should be Sc
lected, and that in all probability the
next legislature should provide for one,
he should be taken from the Demo-
cratic party.
To these remarks FL. G. Hicks, speak
ing from the Republican side, and as
the representative of the Republican
faith, said that the Republicans heart
lily Joined with the Democracy in the
sentiment announced by Mr. Wilson
in reference TO the non partisanship of
the judges in this district, and that
when the next judge was to be selected,
if the Democrats would produce man
who would favorably compare with the
present Democratic member of the
bench referring to Judge Lochren)
that he would cheerfully, and he had no
doubt the Republican party would with
equal cheer, join with the Democrats
in placing such Democrat on the
bench. Other Republicans present ex-
pressed the same sentiment, and Judge
Rea was unanimously chosen.
Now, as predicted by MIR. Wilson, and
as previously canyassed aud under
stood, the legislature did proYide for a
fourth judge in this district within
four months after the time of this very
conference, in which Judge Hicks be-
spoke his opposition to partisan judges
so freely, and With so much apparent
candor.
Soon after the passage of the law
making the new judge more than three
hundred members of the Hennepin
county bar, without reference to po!it.
lcal complexion, and at least two hun
dreG of whom were members of the Re-
publican party, constituting, in fact,
the soul and body of the bar of the
county, united with one voice in the
selection of the Hon. Segrave Smith as
their choice for the place thus provided
by the Legislature. But H. G.. Hicks was
not among the number.
HE BROKE THE FAITH
reposed in him by the Democrats at
that conference, in the fall of '88. on the
very first opportunity presented for him
to display the spirit of non partisanship
in the choosing OF judges. More than
that, he broke a solemn promise then,
made, and in order to secure his own
appointment, obtained the signatures
Of about q SCI re of his personal friends
at the bar, not more than three of
whom are entitled to prom iDence, aud
g few leading politicians in his own