The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1895-03-10
VERY DISAPPOINTING.
Republicans aud Lawyers Are Not
Pleased About the Committee on
,Judicfapv

The intense interest being mani I
Tested by the people in the proceedings
of the constitutional convention was |
shown to q marked degree yesterday !
by the comments made on the appoint |
ment of Judge Goodwin to be chair
man Of the committee on judiciary,
and, by virtue of his appointment,
leader of the Republican side on the
floor of the convention. Just as much
as the Craftsmanship of the committee
on ways and means of the House of
makes its holder
leader in that body, does the chair
manship of the judiciary committee OF
the convention exalt the fortunate in
dividual. Therefore both the poHti-
work for the work itself have been
casting their eyes toward him to antici-
pate what sort of a leader he will
make, as well as his views regarding
the judiciary.
There is a feeling Of disappointment
among the politicians Of Republican
persuasion. To them Varian would
have been an ideal leader as compared
with any of the other delegates elected
by their party They recognize that
he is warm tempered and is likely at
any time to make mean remarks that
cut his own side as well as the other.
But then he has forceful qualities
which would make him an antagonist
to be respected in case of a party con-
test on the floor OF the convention.
He has executive ability to marked
degree. Besides that he is good par
Humanitarian and would be useful in
keeping things straight in case the
Democrats should conclude to give the
Republican side a whirl on occasion.
But there is feeling that Judge
Goodwin will not arise to the needs
Of his position. He is not political
leader under such circumstances. He
is not fitted for the rough and tumble
actions Of the debate. He is somewhat
slow In action and speech and Is not
the willy politician that is needed to
bring the forces together and direct
action at a critical moment. He is
more of theorist and writer than a
practical legislator and can think much
better with a pen in his hand than he
can on his feet From a political point
Of view the machine men are rather
sorry that the fntereats of their side
are entrusted to such hands.
outside of that consideration the
bar is rather inclined to resent
the placing of their interests in the
hands Of a man who has not been
identified with them for years. They
feel that it would have been much
preferable to have selected a weaker
man in point of intellect, but better
| grounded in the practices of our courts
and better able to understand the
needs of the new state in the matter
Of judiciary. While not desiring to
dispute the right of Goodwin to his
title, they feel that one terms expert
ence on a Nevada district bench
| tWeny years ago was not just the
| thing to fit man to tell what should
! be done for a new state which will be
many times greater than Nevada. 1t
| is feared that the judge will be for
! low salaries and general stinting of
| the judiciary, below the limits OF
! economy.
An example of the lack of force in
the conduct Of the new chairman was
! exhibited yesterday. When an adjourn
| nent was taken Friday for the purpose
| Of allowing the committees to perfect
| an organization and begin their work
| it was believed the new leader Of the
Republican side would set a good ex-
ample by Immediately calling his COM
| Lnittee together. He was asked to dc
so by at least one Democratic mem
| Der and did not.
No announcement was made at the
convention, and most of the members
Of the committee understood that there
was TO be no meeting yesterday. Later
the chairman decided to call a meet
ing, but a few choice spirits of thu
committee were all that could bt
gathered together at the Walker
house, and no quorum was present. ST
not even an organization was eff
fected.
! Further surprise is expressed at The
additional Republican membership o
the Judiciary committee. It was ex
pected that Kimban, of Ogden, anC
Varian, who are perhaps the two ableS
. Ioxx he Cd 4
J be included on the list. But they Wert
not. They were Sidetracked. Secont
on the list, and the leader of the Re
publican side when Goodwin was alb
: sent, comes Van Horne. The chief dis
| tinction he has gained so far in tn
: convention has been through taking
| seat we'll to the front and looking owe
the Republicans with an air Of owner
ship, as well as speaking on every &C
casion that offered. He has been G
off1cious as to offend several Of til
! country members, who are not used t
his class of lawyers, and he does TO
: have any particular standing with hi
own side.
7 Frank Pierce is the ablest Of tn
: Republican lawyers on the committee
: Alma Eldredge has quite a reputatto
among the country members. How
: ever, in the last legislature, when O
one or two occasions he ventured t
. cross swords with p. L. Williams, h
= showed himself to be rather inclined t
. soar so far from the earth that it wa
: with the utmost difficulty that h
j, managed the descent. He is the mos
= aggressive man among his colleagues
:. but his efforts are not always we
l directed and he often makes a distinc
; failure to impress. With these Reput
licans are Elias Norris, s. H. Hill an
G. W. Symons, whose work has alway
. been very much aside from the jud
| ciary.
:. The Democrats. however. are we
$ represented on the committee. Two (
h the members of the executive con
il mittee of the Democratic caucu
r Thurman and Evans, are among II
s. minority members. Both are hee
s cool lawyers, well versed in parli:
L mentary law and with laurelS won
6 the legislatures of the past as earne
$ Of their ability. They are very until
! in temperament. Evans being marked
o aggressive and with singing wit al
readiness to meet any comeri Thu
I man rather more inclined to VOL
underneath the surface. but neverth
:. less they are the best of friends ar
- work together constantly. They are
II good pair in themselves, but associa
70 ed with them are such lawyers
5 Warrum Of Logan, who has besid
{, won his spurs in the journalistic 1el
+ Nebeker of Rich. and Maloney
/ Ogden, all of whom have proved Their
le selves to be able .debaters; Murdoi
E, Of WaSatch, though not q, lawyer, h
l. had such experience as to make him
ei good addition to the committee. Co
Ie sidering the fact that the Democra
Is were given no voice in the selection
,e the minority representation, they ha'