Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1893-03-16
THE JUDICIAL ELECTION.

On the hrSt TUESDAY OF April
next the people of Wisconsin will
be called upon to express their
choice for a member of the SUI
preme court of this state to fill a
vacancy to be caused by the re-
tirement of Chief Justice Lyon.
But two names so far have been
presented, and, at this writing, it is
certain that one Of the two gentle
men already named will be elect
ed. The two mentioned are Judge
Newman of Trempeleau county
and Judge Webb Of Wood county.
Both are gentlemen we'll versed in
law, both Republicans in politics,
and, at present, are circuit judges
Of this state and have always been
regarded as high-minded and
honorable men. Personally, there
is very little to choose between
them and certainly no one sup
p orting either should take oc-
casion to criticize or say anything
against the other. But our people
will be compelled to make a
choice and perhaps may not deter
mine their choice as we have. In
the first place, it was conceded the
next vacancy should be filled from
the northern part of the state and
there were two attempts made up
on the part of the bar in the
northern part of the state to select
some one with whom the balance
of the state would be satisfied.
To both of these conferences Judge
Newman was invited, but he de-
clined to submit his name. After
wards, in order to make the matter
harmonious, meeting of the bar
of the state was called to meet in
Milwaukee, and, at the meeting,
Judge Webb was selected. Judge
Newman obtained call and be-
came a candidate very early, en-
tirely ignoring all conventions and
meetings called for the purpose of
harmonious action. The bar Of
the state who selected Judge Webb
was we'll represented and was COM
posed of gentlemen of all political
parties and the selection has no
political significance. The bar Of
the state is more competent and
better qualified to judge which is
the best man than the people and
the people may safely leave it to
the bar to make the selection
VIII ere the bar is acting harmoni-
ously and with the intention of Sc
Letting the very best man for the
place, and the fact that Judge
Webb was made the unanimous
choice of SO reputable and impor-
tant body of men as the bar of
the state, will make his name
prominent among the people. The
argument made in behalf of Judge
Newman is that he decided the
treasury cases in behalf of the
people. This is really no argu-
ment. In that matter Judge New
man simply performed his duty.
A man who performs his duty
conscientiously should neither be
rewarded nor abused for it. Every
office holder is expected to do his
duty without any further reward
than his salary and the approval
of a good conscience, and it
would be unAmerican and entirely
improper to say to-day that any
man should be rewarded simply
because he did his duty. The
treasury cases have passed into
history. That question will not
come up again in Wisconsin, hav-
ing been finally and fully settled,
so that it is not absolutely neces-
sary that Judge Newman should
be elected in order to preserve the
fruits OF that decision. No one
knows what any other judge
would have done, but it is perfectly
apparent, now that the Supreme
Court has decided the question