Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-07-11
LEAKE TO BE JUDGE.
BEING ENDORSED BY THE BAR THE
GOVERNOR WILL APPOINT HIM.
A Friendly but Quito Spirited Contest
The Commission Expected TO be
Made out To-Day.

death about two weeks ago OF vu"~' - -
Ttzhuch.
lie has been nominated, so TO speak, by
the members Of the Richmond bar IN
convention assembled, and there IS no
question that the Governor who. II ls IN
derstood. desired the bar to unite upon
man, will endorse the selection.
II is believed by those in the best pos,
tion 90 know chat the cominl,,9lo4 wiz WIN
be mado ont to-day and that NJ. Leahe
viii accept In that evcut ne VIII imne-
diaieiv take up his residence here, Wherc
b. already has his Office and CHIEF practice.
His home is now IN Ashland.
MELTING or Tm BAR.
Much interest has been felt in tho filing
a This vacancy and tho names Of Quit" a
number Of bright legal lights have been
j mentioned ia connection with the Once
i ON TUESDAY q call. o. which about seventh
rrcmbers Of the profession affixed ther
ncnaiures. was issued for meeting Oh the
entire bar 20 be held ia the CITY Circu, l.
Court room al l.3l o'clock yesterday 70
consider tho appointment aud - mako
Il such recommendation rs Tue HicO''"~
might see proper. ~,
Promptly 40 tho hour appointed Mr.
Edward Y. Cannon called TO order the
LARGE aesemblaco, which embraced nearly
every lawver in Richmond who Is mol
= Temporarily ont of the CITY, ana named
= Dir. ". ". Henry for chairman ana he was
#pnanimously chosen. hr N. NJ tfiIilhih
s,~as made secretary. and later on, Wiien II II
as decided 10 ballot. Messrs. william j..
Bands. Jo Lane Stern, and James j..
hnderson were requested 10 act as his as
stants, which they dld.
A NOVEL PEoCEED1NG.
Mr.. Edward Y. Cannon, at the request ot
q lir. Henry. briefly stated the object OF the
3 meeting and added that the Governor had
iniinafed 20 friends Of some Of tho aspi-
Z rant for the position that ho would Ike
FOR tho bar. which seemed 90 be very much
diyidod. 20 uDite upon some competent
an acceptable man.
~ Mr.. Cannon, continuing. sad this was q
prvol thing, and the proceeding was with
& ort precedent IN his experience. lie had
s never known the bar 20 be convened 10
{ recommeud or nominate a candidate Tor
3ndocshio He therefore did not know
siiust how it was best o. proceed. but sup
& posed It would be well 10 appoint a com
Inttee 10 formulate some plan oi acton
aud with some reluctance he made q mo-
ton TO this effect, and OF Mr.. Horny sug-
b cestion named seven as the number to
constitute the committee the idea beng
10 have at least one friend Of each candl-
date on tho committee should 1t be de
oided TO appoint one.
ONLY CONSUME TI,E.
81 Major Benjamin ii. Nash opposed Mr..
FCannOn's motion. lie could see no uecos-
.stitv for such committee. The gentlemen
bresent thoroughly understood the situa-
hon, and If they wanted as body To eX-
press preference for any one they could
z d. so without the Instructions OF a COM
T nlittce how 10 do u. To appoint one
Z would be an idle consumption Of time. IL
ashould first be decided whether the bar
Mould OF would not endorse some one OF the
aspirants.
"a Mr.. Cannon replied that the object Of
flis motion was TO prevent useless discus
4fiOn and invidicus comparisons, "a well as
81 save time lie had great respect for the
& &opiuiOn of Major Nash. but thought com
A,ittee might readily agree upon plan 90
tte pursued by the meeting which would
shvoid unpleasantuess that might be pro-
ducod by free discussion on the floor OF
the merits OF the several candidates
The motion was lost by very decided
vote.
TAKE NO ACTION.
Major Nash then offered the following
resolution, which had been prepared IN
advance and received tho approval Of
several Of those present;
Whereas IL Us Known hat the members Of the
rlous candidates for tho iudgeshiP OF the Chan
Gerry Court It therefore the sense Of this meet
ine that nounitoG recommendation DE made by
tie mombors Of the Richmond bsr here assem-
blod
Mr.. John Dunlop opposed this resolution
In "a brief but vigorous speech. Most of
those present, he said. had come for the
purpose OF having the merits of the can
didates considered and 20 recommend one
o. the Governor. He then alluded 20 the
wishes of the Governor IN the matter. say
inr that bis iXcclleucy had told many who
called upon him that IL would relieve him
oi great emharras ssment If tho bar would
centre upon a candidate. Mr.. Dunlop
thought an expression from this meeting
would have great weight with Governor
Mckinney.
CAST 4 srCRrT BALLOT.
Mr.. Cannon said while he and Major
Nash differed as 90 the propriety OF appoint
/. ing a committee he heartily endorsed the
q Majors resolution. and, continuing. spoke
4Rt some length on the subject. Hewas Op-
& posed 90 anything Ike a caucus Of the bar.
and did not want any hand and fast
rule applied. This was not an advisory
board ot tie Governor, and 10 take an open
ballot and endorse the person receiving
sthe highest vote as the choice Of the bar
4 would perhaps set q dangerous precedent
that would be followed elsewhere IN the
State and perhaps be attended by un-
ll asant II not dirciul results. He favored
secret ballot His idea was 10 let each
lawyer present deposit bis ballot. voting
f1r the man Of his choice and then TO send
those % the Governor. 50 that he could see
exactly how the bar stood. No possible
laTm could result from this and IL might
as his EXcelency IN determining who
would lo the most acceptable person for
tle Office. ilo was opposed be said, TO
ANYTHING Ike coercion on caucus rule.
Mr. Ste.er inquired of Mr.. Cannon how
the entire bar could be a Caucusi Such
committee as had been suggested might
constitute caucus, but this large meet
ins of the bar could not. lApplause.l
Sir. Cannon replied that he thought
ev rfb1dv present. Mr.. Stegcr included.
uui r-tOod exactly what he had said, and
d reiterated his position W.threference TO
auy caucus rule being applied. The Gov
c.uur LDuld make the selection himself,
iut tlg speaker thought II entirely proper
l0r "a Vote % be taken III the manner that
haI been Indicated.
VOICE OF OPPOSITION.
Ny. Frank W. Christian opposed the
y, olutlon and spoke with great deal OF
fcry0r. ia thought that tire GOVERNOR
wish that the tar should give expression TO
their preference 'Or the incumbent of the
important position should be complied
VITA. 10 was friendly contest and there
saould be- no feeling n the matter. The
Dor. be thought, was eminently the
proper tribunal TO pass upon the
qualifications Of the aspirants. and he
was satisfied that neither one OF them
would accept the Office II he believed that
another was the preference OF a majority
of tie fellow-members OF his profession.
Get ballots be- taken without lEdulging IN
comparisons and on each ballot drop the
lowe., msn. lApplause.l People had Sc
c0nd as well ~ first choice, and II they
found that the man they mos. desired
could not get the prize they should have
an opportunity to vote for the next one
Do their favor. j his was his objection 10
the proposition OF AIR. Cannon. 10 take
such vote would not at all help matters,
a. the Governor already had before him
pauers containing the signatures OF nearly
all tho members OF the bar. What the
Governor wanted was the sentiment OF the
bar a. body. not the preferences OF It's
iud dIyduai members. He hoped there
would not he any such childs play as com,
ing together with a numerously-signed
cail and then adlOurning without taxing
any action.
SIR George W. Mayo made brief speech
q