The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1896-04-29
PAW PAW, MICH. APRIL 20, 1896.
For Member of Congress.

cans for months past that, when the
proper time should arrive, this county
would announce a "favorite son"
whose name should be presented to
the fourth district congressional con-
vention as our candidate for the re-
publican nomination for member OF
congress. The proper time has arrived,
and the action Of the county conven-
ton on Wednesday last, in unquali-
fedly endorsing Judge Benjamin F..
Heckert as a candidate for this dis
tinguished honor, fairly opens the
campaign so tar as our candidate is
concerned, and the NoRTHERNER is
gratifed that Van Buren, will enter
the convention with candidate who
is the peer of any man in the district.
Probably no man in this county Is
personally known to so many people
in the county as Judge Heckert, and
they all know him as man of brains,
a man Of professional ability of the
highest order, man of firm convic-
tons and the courage to express them.
He also enjoys a wide acquaintance
throughout the district. Just at the
maturity of his manhood, being 56
years old, Of wide experience in pub
lie affairs, tried and true republican
and one of the finest orators in this
part of the state, the Judge would
make an ideal candidate and an ideal
congressman.
Mr.. Heckert served honorably in
the Union army, having enlisted
shortly after President Lincoln's first
call for volunteers, in Co. &C." 10th
Ohio Inft. He re-enlisted at the ex-
piration of three months, and left the
service first lieutenant.
After the war he attended the law
department of the Michigan univer-
sity and graduated there. He was
admitted to the bar at Detroit in
May, 1869, before the judges OF the
supreme court.
He began his legal practice at
South Haven and has been a resident
of this county ever since, except a few
months spent in the west, and is a
leading and successful attorney.
In 1870 he was elected circuit
court commissioner and in 1873 was
appointed prosecuting attorney by
Judge Comstock. He was elected
10 this office for three successive
terms and made a most enviable rec
ord. He is now serving his second
term as Judge of probate, and the
county never had better official in
that capacity.
Judge Heckert has never filled "a
position of public trust that he did
not honor. He has worked faithfully
for republican success and is a per-
sistent and successful campaign speak
er, whenever election year rolls round
He would make brilliant and lively
canvass should he be his party's con-
gressional nominee.
He is protectionist TO the core,
and American to the backbone. He
has frequently and openly denounced
the weak and cowardly foreign pol
icy of the national government and
believes the honor of the flag should
at all times be maintained. In re-
gard to the currency, as on all other
public questions, the Judge has defin-
ed his position and belief in no un-
certain manner. He is true blue
bimetallist and stands squarely upon
the silver resolution adopted at the
Van Buren, County convention. AS a
man of the people, who has risen to
positions of honor through his own
efforts, studious lawyer, public
spirited citizen, his name will be pre-
sented to the congressional conven-
ton.
The NoRTHERNER believes that
Van Buren, County has special claims
on the nomination, aside from the ex-
cellence Of her candidate. This
county has never wavered in its fealty
to the republican party and, year in
and year out, can be relied upon for
better and safer republican majorities
than any county in Michigan. We
have seldom asked anything at the
hands of the party, but have been
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