New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-09-29
JUDGE MILLSS NAME URGED.
REASONS WHY HE SHOULD BE on THE
COURT OF APPEALS BENCH.
JAMES WOOD STRONGLY ADVOCATES THE CHOICE


OF WESTMINSTER CoUNTY's JUDGE As THE
CANDIDATE OF THE REPUBLICANS.
To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: OF the seven judges OF our Court Of Appeals
only one. Judge Gray. is from the southeastern
part Of the State which constitutes the First and
Second Judicial Districts. That portion of the
State has large part Of the population and pre-
sents to that court for determination more than
one-half of the volume of business in number of
causes. and undoubtedly much more than one-half
IN the pecuniary Importance Of matters involved.
1t would therefore plain that other things
being equal. the candidate at the next election Tor
the Office of Associate Justice of that court should
be taken from that part of the State. The present
indications are that the Democratic machine. which
absolutely controls that party has determined to
nominate for that office Isaac ii. Maynard, VINO
belongs In Delaware County, and whose only or
at least chief claim to that distinction is that his
party is indebted to him for purely political SER
vices. To say nothing of the at least questionable
character of those scrvoices which leading Demo
cratic lawyers have unsparingy condemned as
immoral. If not criminal. such high judicial
Office should not be awarded a prize for
any purely political service good. bad or
Indifferent. The candidate for that Of
flee ought to be of unspotted personal character.
of high standing as a lawyer, and Of sufficient
judicial experience to have demonstrated that he
possesses pre-eminently the judicial faculty-that
faculty of patient hearing careful consideration
and deliberative and conservative judgment. He
ought also be OF such age that. If elected, he
may out the term and be available for re-
election. In this State it is. happily, fast becoming
the unwrtten law of the people to re-clect judge
who has in his first term shown himself competent
and is otherwise unobjectionable No lawyer, how
learned and experienced in the practice of the
law he may be- when he is elected judge OF
court of last resort be at his best such
Ind, lc boc had NJ N
office. Our greatest judges such Marshall and
Story, were placed upon the bench comparatively
early in life The nomination of Mr. Hornblower
to the vacancy in the Supreme Court bench has
been generally commended, not merely because Of
his excellent standing at the bar, but also because
his age-forty-two years-promlses a long peIlod oil
judicial service.
In common with very many other Republicans
have been hoping that ex-Surrogate Rollins would
be nominated by the Republican State Convention
for the office of Associate Judge of the Court OF
Appeals. His nomination would. ! think meet
general approval but it seems now to be well I'M
derstood that he will not accept it, being unwilling
to give up his large and valuable practice. Under
these circumstances. desire TO suggest as slita-
bic candidate for that nomination Judge Mis- oil
Westchester County. He is forty-two years or age
and has been for ten years county judge Of this
county. Few, if any Republicans in the state
south of Albany have had as much judicial eN-
perience as he has had. The County Court ana
Court of Sessions Of WeStchcstcf are Important
courts and transact large amount OF business
both civil and criminal No judge IN the state mas
a higher reputation in his own locality than he lie
is thoroughly educated man. having IN 1911 hc"h
graduated at Amherst with the first honor OF ms
class and having in 1876 been graduated with credit
at the Columbia Law School. In only six years
practice prior his first election 10 the bench ne
had by his zeal. ability, learning Industry ana con-
seQuent success come 10 hc recognized as one or
the leading lawyers Of this county.
Although the Republican party is in a minority
OF from one to two thousand votes in Westchcstrr
County vet he was elected the first time In 1855
h,- aiO mi second
1889 by a majority of 30l7. Al both elections he
was supported by substantially all the lawyers OF
the county without regard to party. Although a
consistent Republican and Of thoroughly Republic
can antecedents. yet he has absiancd while "A
Judge from all political management lie has mere
tofOre been supported 10y indcpendtn mt voters ana
by many Democrats who do not believe in partisan
ship on the bench. and undoubtedly would receive
for any judicial Office large similar support
throughout the State His judicial career has
demonstrated that he possesses In high degree
the judicial temperament and faculty He IS OF
most excellent character. caiable, well trained in
the law possessed Of sufficient judicial experience
popular and hitherto successful candidate for
judicial hOnors, and comes from the locality from
which the candidate should be taken | do not
believe that the Republican Convention can do
better than to make him its nominee Respectfully
yours. JAMES WOOD.
Mount Kisco, y. Y. Sept. q. 1Sg