St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-10-15
THE JUDGE IN POLITICS.
Why the Democrats Rejected Henry G.
Hicks.
A MAN WHO BROKE FAITH.
The Story Of His Promise and Its Sc
quenee---He Is to
Blame.

the arena OF pOllJhcS, IrOH lHc pidhS VI
which the selection of the high and re-
sponsible office of judge should ever
be kept, it is bnt fair and proper that
the responsibility of this misfortune
should rest upon the shoulders OF those
who brought it about. And that II. G.
Hicks is the primal and sole author of
this lamentable situation there is no
question, and these well-known and in
disputable facts sustain the charge:
HISTORY OF IT.
Two wears ago a Judge was to be
elected to succeed Judge j. p. Rea, APP
pointed by Gov. Hubbard to fill the I'M
expired term of Judge NJ. b. Koon, re-
signed. A conference committee, con-
sisting of fifteen Republicans Ond the
same number of Democrats, met III
the Algonquin club rooms to select
a 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 him
self. To this selection there was no in
considerable objection among the Demo
cratic delegates, but those who opposed
the selection of Judge Rea were assured
that if the Democrats wOuld yield to the
proposition to permit him to succeed
himself without opposition and without
a political contest, that the next Judge
to be chosen should be from the ranks
of the Democracy.
This assurance was made upon the
strength of the admissions of prOmi-
nent Republicans and members OF the
bar and the conference committee that
that would be fair and right and would
l.. LII q tfAr- Of Ivy
the Republicans, so that it was tacitily
understood before the conference con-
vened that Judge Rea was to be chosen.
The conference committees convened
and Col. r. c. Benton was chosen chair
man and X. 3. Forrest secretary of the
meeting. Among the Republican dele
gates present was ii. G. Hicks. The
Democrats were represented by Hon. +.
NJ. Wilson, A. Il. Ankeny, Seagrave
Smith, Charles j. BartleSOn, Esq, and
others.
After the name of Judge Rea had
been proposed, Hon. E. NJ. Wilson,
speaking for the Democratic side, stated
that the Democratic delegates had con-
cluded in the interest of a nOnpartisan
judiciary. to join with the Republicans
in the nomination of Judge Rea, but
that the concession was made with the
| understanding, and
IN THE FULLEST FAITH,
that when another judge should be
selected, and that in all probability the
next legislature should provide for one,
he should be taken from the Democratic
party.
To these remarks II. G. Hicks, speak
| ing from the Republican side. and as the
representative of the Republican faith,
said that the Republicans heartily
| joined with the Democracy in the Senti-
ment announced by Mr.. Wilson in ref
erence 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 a 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 Demo
Gratis 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 Mr.. Wilson, and
| as previously canvaSSed and under
stood, the legislature did provide for a
| fourth Judge in this district within four
months after the time of this very con-
ference. in which Judge Hicks bespoke
his opposition to partisan judges so
freely, and with so much apparent can
d or.
Soon after the pass age of the law
making the new judge more than three
| hundred members of the Hennepin
county bar. without reference to polit-
zeal complexion, and at least two hun
dred 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. Seagrave Smith as their
choice for the place thus provided by
the legislature. But II. G. Hicks was
not among the number.
HE BROKE THE FAITH
repOsed in him by the Democrats at
| that conference, in the fall of 'S6. on
the very first opportunity presented for
HIM to display the spirit of nOn-partiSan-
| ship in the choosing of judges. More
than that, he broke solemn promise
| then made, and in order to secure his
own appointment, obtained the sigma
lures of about score of his personal
friends at the bar, not more than three
of whom are entitled to prominence, and
few leading politicians in his own
partysoutSide of the bar, and by the aid
| of Republican governor, whose parti-
san debts were so high that he could
| not climb outside of them, he obtained
his present over a Democratic lawyer,
whom no man will say stands below
| Judge LOchren in any sense, while he
stands as far above Judge Hicks as to
make comparison indeed odious. Can
any fair-minded man deny that Judge
Hicks was responsible in that case for
taking the judiciary into politics? And
| & hn& In 20 Anx,
! partisan ticket for his own successor
ship?
Not alone because he carried the robe
which should be an adornment without
political gem into the passionate field
of politics.
Had he possessed the legal attain
ments requisite for an able and respect
ed judicial officer, and the num-
erOus qualities essential to a wise
and conscientious administration of
Justice, the two years which
| he has been upon the bench,
might have removed the prejudice
created by the circumstances of his Sc
lection. But that he has not these quail
fications was first demonstrated in the
fact that he broke his faith by
SEEKING AND ACCEPTING
the place; and, in the second place. by
| Tie dlulOot UNIVERSAL OpIOCtiOIl OIldI 10 ~
be found, and exists among the bar be-
fore whom he has presided as judge.
For it is well known that but few Re-
publican lawyers advocate his re-elec-
ton: and it is claimed they are his per-
sonal friend and erStwhile political as
! sOciateS, whom he has catered to and
favored while on the bench; while there
are scores of them who are vigorously
seeking to displace him, among whom
are the ablest men on the Republican
side. 1t is we'll known that he is the
choice of the Republican politicians,
and not the choice of the Republican bar,
any more then when he was appointed
| o1ar tho nrotaSt of the latter Having