Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1893-03-09
RECOMMENDS JUDGE WEBB.
Good Words from One Who Has
Known Him rIany Years.

Known Him nany Years.
EDITOR GAzETTE:-Permit me
the use of your columns to notice
the approaching election Of the
Supreme Court in this state. But
little need be said touching the
qualifications of Judge Webb for
that office, first because his emil
nent fitness for the place is well
known throughout the state by the
bar ofthe state and all others having
occasion to know of those occupy
ing high judicial positions and es-
pecially in the northern portion Of
the state, where he has so long
presided as judge of the Seventh
Judicial circuit with distinguished
ability, and with entire satisfaction
to the public; and second because
his abilities as a jurist and his
qualifications for the position to
which he aspires, have not and will
not be denied by any body COM
petent to judge regarding the same.
During Judge Webb's career upon
the bench of the Circuit Court, he
has constantly had to deal with
questions seldom litigated in the
central and southern parts of the
state, and which by reason of their
great Importance and difficult So
luton, induced the concession by
all parts of the state that the va
cancy caused by the voluntary re-
tirement of Judge Lyon should be
filed by a person familiar with
such questions, viz: Questions
arising out of the great mining and
lumber interests of northern Wis
consin, and incidentally to great
er extent than elsewhere, the law
as applied to streams used in float
ing logs to mill or market. Judge
Webb's determination Of such
questions has been satisfactory, and
it is not too much to say that his
long experience at the bar and on
the bench in locality where success
was only attainable by close exam
nation of the law, and an acquaint-
ance with business which only
personal observation gives, are
advantages in which he is eXcelled
by none. Successful as a Circuit
Judge by reason Of his impartiality
and earnest and painstaking effort
to administer the law, why should
there be any hesitation in giving
him our support? Those who
know him best, and therefore best
qualified to Judge, are satisfed,a and
this ought to be satisfactory to
those not having equal means Of
judging for themselves. But the
Milwaukee Journal, having no
fault to find with Judge Webb on
account Of his abilities as a iurist
or his qualifications for the office,
attacks the methods by which he
has been presented to the people,
unfairly and uncandidly, as | be-
lieve, in substance that the Marsh
field and Milwaukee conventions
were caused by the enemies Of
Judge Newman, "solely because he
decided the treasury cases in favor
Of the state" What folly Dem
ocrats and republicans composed
those conventions. What evidence
is there that any persons in either
convention disagree with Judge
Newman? None whatever, while
the Journal knows that persons
we're prominent in both conven-
tons who were and are in accord
with Judge Newman. Before the
treasury cases were begun Gf | am
not mistaken as to time) the Jour
nal addressed a large number of
prominent lawyers for their opin-
ions as to the liability of the Ex-
treasurers, under existing laws, for
interest received on money of the
state. Many Of the persons so
addressed, replied that in their
opinion the state was entitled to
such interest, and the Journal
knows that many of the persons SO
addressed, and SO replying, were
in both of said conventions, and
active in their support of Judge
Webb, and the writer knows that
many more such have signed his
nomination papers. Do these men
desire to defeat Judge Newman for
making decision which is in &C
cordance with their own Opinions
as expressed by them, and as pub
lished by the Milwaukee Journal?
The idea is absurd. Hon. Neal
Brown was one of the signers to
the call for the Marshfeld conven-
ton, and Hon. w. G. Silverthorn