Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1893-01-26

nOlds speaks in warm praise OF their long
service refers to the high responsibility
deyolving upon him in filling their vacant
places, and adds that If their successors
shall be able to retire when their turn
comes with equal honor, he shall feel well
rewarded indeed.
Dover, Jan. Ex-Governor Reynolds
left Dover this evening aud, it is reported
here. will be in Philadelphia tomorrow
and will not name the new judges until
Thursday at earliest. There is strong
feeling of hopcfulness-indeed it has
amounted To general credence during the
atternoon--that Alfred T.. Robinson will
be made chief justice. The splendid en-
dorsement from practically the whole bar
of his own county; the strong sentiment
of the Wilmington bar in his favor the
verdict Of the most eminent members of
the profession that Mr.. Robinson is in
comparably the best available legal mind
in the state; all these combine to render
his appointment u foregone conclusion, if
considerations of fitness, qualification and
character are to prevail. But is is not to
be denied that the governors delay Is
viewed with some misgiving by some
ardent friends of Mr.. Robinson though
others, and probably the most of these,
argue that there is no encouragement to
be drawn thcrcfrom.
But the governor has rather dsap.
pointed the Kent bar by his unexpected
| ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS because the inten-
tion OF the Kent lawyers was to wait upon
him after the conclusion Of their caucus"
which was held in the governors room
this evening and has just broken up at
this writing (9;l5 p, M The caucus
was spirited and went towards bearing out
the prediction made during the afternoon
that, if the Kent lawyers should come to-
| gether with intent to recommend any one
to the governor for appointment to sue
coed Judge Houston, There would be as
many candidates rs there would be law
| yers; every man would vote for himself"
Nearly every Dover lawyer has been rep
| resented as longing for the executive light
ming to strike him; about the only ones
| generally excepted being George V. Massey,
| Acknowledgement John X. Nicholson and
| General Richard R. kenney. Mr.. Massey,
| IL is universally admitted, is not to be
| thought of; he is doing too well already
| and has such brilliant prospects ahead.
MIR. Nicholson is spoken of Us probably the
only man who could have the appoint
ment il he could say the word, but who
most aSsuredly will not say that word. Gem
| cral kenney is credited with Il practice
worth at least twice the salary of associate
| judge; iii fact he is reported to have earned
| $1,000 last year. OF the others, Mr.. Penne-
| will is the only Republican spoken OF, and
| lhtlG 10 u very lbtllll9 III MS
| favor among all but the most partisan of
his political opponents. He is Il perfect
| gentleman" said q Democratic lawyer this
| evening; "he is q growing man. an emf
| nenlly fair and honorable lawyer and
would make most crcditable judge, and
we ought by all means to have one Repub.
| lcan ON the bench | realize how we
| should feel on this subject were the APP
pontment in the hands of Republican
| governor, and, even on the score of party
! alone, | believe it would be good politics
| to appoint Mr.. Psnnewill.n
Among the Democratic members Of the
Kent county bar who have been named in
connection with the associate judgeship
are eX-Congressman John Il. Pennington,
Chancellor Edward kdgely (whose title
| comes from service as chancellor I'D litemJ
Henry r. johnson, Ezekiel r. Cooper,
! Charles II. Il. Day and j. Alexander
| Fulton. Were it not for his years, the
venerable Nathaniel d. Smithers would.
Notwithstanding his politics, have been
| strongly urged for the vacancy.
There were present at to-night'S caucus
l6 members Of the Kent county bar, as
follows: Chancellor Wolcott (who voted
| blank BALLOT, Ezekiel r. Cooper, K. Il,
Kenney, William L. Smithcrs Edward
Ridgey, II. Ridgely, Jr., John u. Pening-
ton, Henry L. Johnson, James H. Hughes,
George NJ. Jones, James Penuewili, J.
| l.
| Charles II. h. Day, N. Il. Smithers (who
! presidcd) and john Il. Nicholson Two
ballots were taken, the first of which re-
! suited Edward Ridsely, s; John y.
| Nicholson (ex-Congressn lan), .; Cooper, /;
| Pennewill, i Day, /; Fulton, ]; kenney, /;
blank l. The second ballot resulted
Rldgely, 0; Cooper, 5; Pcnnewill, /;
Pennington, l. John a. Nicholson, l. blank,
|. The following resolution was adopted;
R,aolD d, That II il the unaninou sentiment
of the members Of this har that the selection
of an associate judge should be made from the
memners of the barot hont county.
Mr.. Ridgely was declared the choice of
the caucus, but u motion to make his selec-
| ton unanimous failed and, after consider
able discussion, was Withdrawn.
Chancellor Ridgely, rs eyerybod calls
| him, is universally conceded to be pro-
foundry vcrsed in the law and eminently
| qualified for the appointment were il not
for his unfortunate physical condition. lie
is blind and he is old for his years. Though
| only 81 he has the bearing and manner OF
one 10 years older. But the consideration
prevailed that his legal ability, which COM
| mauds the Difference OF all his brethren at
| the bar, and his cQnanllnity and general
| sDlidity, would tit him, Notwithstanding
| his iutirmity, to most satisfactorily occupy
the bench until the reconstruction of the
| Judiciary system, which is confidently
agency OF constitutional convention: If
not possibly carrier through legislative
enactment. 1t is known that a bill ID in
course of preparation, and expected to
| come before this Legislature proposing an
amendment to the constitution designed
to work important changes in the State
| Judiciary system.
The Sussex delegation that waited on the
| governor to-day, us reported by wire, to
advocate the appointment of Alfred 2.
| Robinson as Chief Justice, was presented
to Governor Reynolds by eX-secretary
| Causey. who made very earnest speech
in advocacy of Mr.. Robinson. Mr.. Causey
was followed by Colonel Martin, Charles
w. Whitley, Charles +. Richards and the
| rest.
The impression is gaining ground here
that Secretary of State Marvel will be the
choice of the governor for the associate
| judgeship, and this impression is strength
ened by the governors absence from Dover
tonight,