Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1895-08-01
JUDGE WEBB IN OUR EXCHANGES.
His Defamation Locally and Generally
Endorsed
DECLINES A GREAT HONOR.

GRAND RapldS, OF the appointment
rendered him by Gov. Upham of
the vacancy on the supreme bench
of Wisconsin is the first occasion
in the States history of the refusal
of so high an office. The decision
Of Judge Webb, announcing after
celebrating as to his action for
several weeks, was great surprise
to the Governor, and to the state
generally. His letter to the Gov
ernor states that his declination of
the office is due to considerations
of a personal and private character
important only to myself and those
who hold my first and greatest
obligations"
Judge Webb's reply, while SUIT
fciently explicit SO far as the re-
Suits concerned, is believed not to
tell the whole story, as he was two
years ago a candidate for the
office, and his friends were then
active in his behalf. His unsolic-
tied appointment by Gov. Upham
was intended as a political move,
and it was expected that while
securing an able addition to the
Supreme bench of the state, it
would heal the differences between
Governor Upham and Judge
Webb, who are residents of the
same county.
The report that Judge Webb's
declination is based upon the re-
fusal of the Governor to appoint
Judge Gardner, of Grand Rapids,
as his successor on the Circuit
bench is believed to be without
foundation. 1t is believed by we'll
posted men, however, that Judge
Webb's i'll health, added to his
Discrimination to accept an appoint
ment at the present time which
would take him away from his
present congenial occupation on
the Circuit bench, were his ruling
motives in declining.
MADISON, Wis, July 24-Gov.
Upham said today that he would
not offer the vacant place on the
Supreme bench to anyone else
until he was sure that he would
take it. He is inclined to take
Webb's declination simply as COM
ing from private business relations,
but said that it put the one who
offered such a gift in a rather poor
light Judge Hastings, of Green
Bay, is clearly in the lead for the
place.-Tomah Journal.
WEBB IS A BIG MAN.
Superior Leader: The world
is we'll lost" exclaimed Marc
Antony as he "madly threw it
away" for the smiles and favors OF
Cleopatra.
The justiceship Of the supreme
court is great office and it was
"well lost" when Judge Webb de-
clineG it in order to save his own
personal dignity and integrity O
spirit as we'll as to save the splen-
did position that had been rendered
to him from being "huckstered of
as the price of delegates to the
next state convention" as Crane
Rapids correspondent explained.
He amply proved himself to be
a big man when he returned with
reserved but kindly dignity this
high office for which two years
before he had been an active can.
didate and to appropriately reach
which would have been indeed the
browning glory of his long anc
honorable public career. 1t is &
thing hitherto unheard of in the
history Of Wisconsin.
He is admirably fitted for a
justice of the supreme court anc
therefore was admirably fitted tc
decline when the position was
brought to him as a mere mess O
pottage, as swill to induce him tc
rally his strong personal following
in an attempt to again force upor
the people for governor man it is
now clearly appearing they do no
want.
The Leader rejoices in his lofty
sense of propriety and his sturdy
strength of character. Judge
Webb will stand higher than ever
in the public estimation, if that is
possible, when the facts in the case
become fully known and the rea
character of the two men shall BE-
more clearly understood. No one
but big man could decline sc
great position.
Some day, when the circum
stances shall be clean, The Leader
would like to see Judge Webb {
Ijusticc of the supreme court OF
| governor of the state.
Marinette Eagle: The declin
alton Of Judge Webb of his ap
pointment to the Supreme Court
comes as a surprise to many of his
friends who had hoped that he