Omaha daily bee., 1889-10-26
AN ADDRESS
To Voters in Favor OF Non-Partisan
Judiciary.

To voters i'll Favor OF q aNOn-PartiSan
Judiciary,
AT we'll attended meeting of lawyers fav-
orable to the candidacy of Mr.. Clarkson for
Judge, at which were present A. j. Poppleton,
George B. Lake John p. Breen, George f..
Brown. John d. Howe, J. III. Blair. E. w.
Whipple, w. M. Glider, w. ID. McHugh, w.
O. Bartholomew, j. j. O'Connor and others,
it was resolved to prepare an address to the
electors of this district on the merits of the
present contest, which committee was ap-
pointed and on the 23d day of October, 1888,
reported to an adjourned meeting the follow
ing address, which was unanimously adopted
and ordered published. M. ID. HYDE, Sec,
To the Electors of the Third Judicial Dis
trict:-The Importance Of elevating the bench
above the strife and wrangle of partisan pol
itics need not be urged upon you. Two wears
ago you gave expression to your sentiments
upon the subject in the most emphatic man.
ner. You elected four judges who command
ed the confidence of all classes. They
adorned the bench. We have been able to
point all the world to them, with alb.
partisan principle, which, it was earn
estly hoped, had been triumphantly es-
tablIshed in this judicial district. A
rcprehensblc attempt is now being made to
overthrow 1t. Whether it shall stand or
fail, is the momentous issue. That the
highest standard of excellence for the flu
ture, as we'll as the present is more likely
to be obtained by withdrawing the office of
Judge from the unseemly and discreditable
strife and contention of party PRIMARIES,
conventions and politics, IS not now an open
question among people most interested in
the integrity and honor OF the bench.
We, being inspired by the gravity of the
situation, desire to place the following
statement before you, to correct certain err
rors that Interested partisaps are indus
trously circulating, and to influence you to
cordially support Joseph H. Clarkson, who
stands for the non-partisan principle, against
III. j. Davis, who stands for its overthrow.
Mr.. Clarkson is thirty-five years of age,
he has practiced for thirteen years, and
been at the Omaha bar for ten years. He
is an honorable and capable lawyer.
Mr.. Davis is thirty years OF age and has
pracJiced for six years
Before Judge Croft had in fact resigned,
and before the people had had an opportunity
TO consider the question OF a successor, GER
tain enthusiastic young men, friends OF Mr.
Davis, industriously set to work To forestall
public sentiment and TO commit (as 1t Is
called) as many to his interests as possible.
This was after the manner of professional
politicians too often seen IN cases OF the
death or resignation of public officials.
These friends of Davis thereupon set to
work to secure bar meeting, expecting to
obtain its endorsement of MIR. Davis.
bar meeting was called. This was an appeal
in behalf of Mr.. Davis to the nonparuisans
10 SeiccL MIN lOr JHelf CHOlce. Ilc WIS lheu
placed as the representative OF the nonpar-
tisan principle. Over two hundred law
yers met at the court house upon call
published in the newspapers. If, as has been
asserted by Interested parties, any attorneys
of the counties of Burt. Washington and
Sarpy, were not properly notified, II was
largely the fault Of Mr.. Davis friends. We
do not think, however, that there is just
ground of complaint on this account, because
the call was very widely published and per-
sonal notice TO members of the bar was not
attempted, nor to be reasonably expected.
Nearly all the leading members OF the bar
were present. No class of citizens can be
found who are more ardently or sincerely in
favor of u high, honorable and spotless 1u-
dietary than those sterling lawyers who have
stood for so many years in the front ranks OF
our best citizenship. And generally, 1T may
he said OF the whole bar, that it was in full
sympathy with the endeayor TO keep the
bench up TO its present elevated standard.
We believe the bar is more likely TO name
worthy candidate than partisan convention,
especially in view of the deplorable fact that
only few of our citizens attend
the primaries, or conventions, or
ship represents all classes, high and low,
rich and poor, aud all sides of all questions.
The bar IS brought directly into contact with
the courts; il represents the whole litigat-
ing public. We have superior advantages
for becoming acquainted with the merits of
judges and lawyers.
The three principal candidates before the
bar meeting in question and their strength
as shown by the ballotlng, were Clarkson
first Estelle second and Davis third. After
several ballots, every one OF which placed
Davis third, 10 became evident that the nom
ination would go TO either Clarkson or Es-
telle, and thereupon Mr.. Davis friends with