The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1893-08-17
Hon. William J. READ for Chief Judge.


in these columns by request of the
author:
10 -, tdi tor OF the NetS:
Will you kindly reprint the fol-
lowing extracts from communica-
ton which appeared in the columns
of the Cumberland DAILY NeWs
under date of Feb. %, 1882.
Then, as now, the people were
casting about tor some one to decor
ate with the judicial ermine, and
the gentleman named in the letter
of date above mentioned is still
with us in the enjoyment of the
highest degree of public confidence,
with a mind more fully matured
and developed by experience and
application to the practice of the
learned profession to which he has
devoted his life. 1t will be observed
that much reference is made to MI.
Reads youth at that time-an OBJ
lection, if any, winch c mot apply
on the present occasion.
As candidate for this high office
would suggest publicly what |
have heard mentioned privately Il
number of times, that William
Johns Read, of this city, would in
every respect be acceptable and fit.
Mr.. Read was born, educated and
raised here; is of fine presence and
dignified address, with a character
for integrity and uprightness I'M
questioned, possessing high sense
of honor and tone, with an intellect
solid, clear, methodical and DIS
eliminating, and quite capable of
solving any judicial problem. He
was prepared and disciplined for
the bar in the Office of Judge Pearre
when that gentleman was in a full
and lucrative practice, but for a
while afflicted and seriously disabled
thus casting upon the student severe
and heavy professional labor, such
as come to a practitioner of years
standing. Under such auspices he
came to the bar in 1864, a good
lawyer and experienced practitioner.
Since then he has enjoyed gener-
Gus and quiet practice, sufficient to
develon and widen susceptible ca
pacity, but on the other hand. it
has not been such miscellaneous
and contradictory one as too often
detracts and unsettles the legal
mind, instead of giving it depth,
width and balance. Mr.. Read is
thirty-eight years of age-in judi
cial sense, young, but not too young
about the same age as His Honor
Judge Alvey was when he was
elected in 1867. 1t was never even
suggested at any time that he was
too young for the market in this
connection, not unfitly, that all, or
nearly all, the best Maryland judges
went upon the bench early in life.
The same rule obtains in other jur-
isdictions. The living Judge J. S.
Black, went on the bench forty
years ago. at the age of thirty-three;
and Judge Gibson, of the same
State, the greatest State Judge in
this country, took his seat in early
life. Judge Marshall became chief
Justice of the United States in mid
life, and served thirty-five years.
Associate Justice Strong, profound
and learned, who wrote more ele-
mentarv law than any other judge
of any age. represented New En-
gland on the supreme bench fol
more than third of a century, be
ginning his brilliant career iii his
thirties. know Mr.. Read S native
modesty would cause HIM to shrink
from such exalted references, but
propriety and good taste will not bc
offended by recalling such historic
facts. 1t can be said truthfully O
him, without disparagement to any
other gentleman Of that bar, thai
he would at once blend the dignit,
of the lawyer with the gravity o
the Judge, and he would always b.
mindful of the fact that the bar il
an important and co-or3inat,
branch of the machinery of justic,
In its workings for the good of thu
people.
Mr.. Read, though a staunch Re
publican, is not professional poll
tician. has never coveted nor ac
ceDted office away from tie line o
his profession. He was elected
States Attorney in 1871 by a ma
ioritv Of about 500 when the Demo
cratic party was nearly that mucf
in the ascendency. In 1878 he was
called to the mayoralty of this city
by a very large majority. 1t Ii
needless to say how ably and ac
ceptably he served the public II
these two trusts. In 1917 he Wa:
tlatterlv nominated for State Sen.
ator, but devotion to his profession
was stronger than his inclination