The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1895-12-13

two. Even the title descended. Senator
Wi liam Allen was long known as 1.-THE
Old Roman" and when he retired the
title was at once bestowed on Judge Thur
man.
Served - . Supreme Judge.
In 1851 he was elected to the supreme
bench of the state and served thereon till
1855, the last year as chief justice. This
led to his removal in 1853 to Columbus.
His opinions-to be found in the first five
volumes Of "Ohio State Reports"-are
models of clear statement and logical ad
hererce to elementary law. In no other
department is his greatness SO generally
recognized as in this The senator, the
politician, the candidate for vice president
may be harshly criticised, but Judge"
Thurman always commands respect. Sen
ator Roscoe Conklings was once address
ing the senate in an impassioned manner,
and seemed to direct his remarks to SEN
ator Thurman. At length the latter got
irritated.
Does the senator from New York" he
roared. expect me to answer him every
time he turns to me?"
For a moment Mr.. Conkling hesitated,
end everybody expected a terrific explo-
zion. Then. with an air of exquisite court
esy, he replied:
when speak of the law l turn to the
| senator from Ohio as the >Mussulman
| turns, towards Mecca. / turn to him as
| do to the English common law. as the
worlds most copious fountain of human
| jurisprudence"
The usually decorous senate broke into
. storm Of applause, and the Thurman
| eye moistened little 1t is ever a pleas
ure to be complimented, but to be com
plimented as a lawyer by Roscoe Conkling
that was praise indeed. The two states
men were the best of friends and greatly
enjoyed each others socity-when "ofl
duty"
Defeated For Governor. Elected Senator
| In 1867 Judge Thurman was nominated
| by the Democrats of Ohio for governor
against the popular general and ex-con
| gresham. Rutherford B. Hayes Th'
result was simply astounding. The Re
publican majority for some years previous
had been over 10000, yet after super
heated campaign the vote in an ''off year
was much larger than ever before, Gen
eral Hayes majority was less than ,OC
and the legislature elected was Demo
cratic on joint ballot.
Judge Thurman barely missed the gov
ernorship, and as soon as the legislatur
convened he received the far higher homo
of the senatorship. His earnest opponent
Hon. James G. Blaine, has given him thi
high compliment:
"His rank in the senate was establishes
from the day he took his seat and wa
never lowered during the period of his sci
vice. He was an admirably discipline
debater, was fair in his method of state
ment. logical in his argument, honest il
his conclusions"
Was . Presidential Possibility.
, Early in 1879 the name of Thurman b.
, came prominent in connection with tn
presidency, but he was d pronounce
hard money man." and it was not hi
year in Ohio. In 1880 he received the vot
OF Ohio and some votes from other state
In the Democratic convention to nomina,
for the presidency, and in 1884 he agai
received some votes. His campaign
1885 for the vice presidency is fresh in ii
public memory.
His domestic life was singularly hapr
. and Mrs. Thurman lived nearly as long
her husband.