The Wichita daily eagle., 1896-07-19
ELECTION OF JUDGES.

1
selection The Bar, fraternal but con
tentious, is not often in error. II:
anxiety for impartiality, even-handed
justice and legal learning dominates
and browns any inclination towards
| connivnce for the nomination of unfair
one-sided or prejudiced individuals
When the Bar has nominated its can
| didates in the various parties, the popu-
lace has, according TO its party beliefs
| and practices, voted for this man OF
that, and. as this party or that dominat
ed in number Of votes, one man or the
other has been elected The Bar hav-
ing nominated both or all is usually
from a professional view satisfied,
whatever the result.
But agitation which has successfully
battered against our balloting system,
our police regulations, our laws and
our legislatures and all our government
tai imperfections, has at last come 10
the Judiciary, and, after a moments
pause, Il pause of traditional awe, agi-
tation has struck the door of the su-
preme court of the United States. The
declaration against our most august
branch of government by a national
convention surely means a new popu-
lar interest in judicial selections.
The Judge" on the ballot is liable 10
no longer be elected because his party
is ascendant but his personality is
rather the more likely TO be sifted,
weighed and examined and he, want
Ing, may lose when his party wins, or,
excelling, win when his party loses.
1t was knowledge of the stimulated
popular interest in judicial canvasSes
which led a few weeks ago To the nomi-
nation OF John G. Pollock for appellate
judge of this division.
Pollock was selected from among his
compeers because of q personality,
which, in being pleased, has lost moth
ing in strict honor, unbending integrity,
and uncompromising probity. As Il
lawyer, both Bar and laity near his
home know, John Pollock has never
stopped to the vicious tricks which,
no honest practitioner cOuntenanceS
and honorable men condemn. As a
lawyer he first gets his heart as an ally
and afterwards his mind Like Lin
coin he Is only weak in cases where he
is wrong, and strong only when right
rings his voice with sincerity and fires
the glance of his eye with honor. All
this the Bar of southern Kansas has
known. Among the people Of south
ern Kansas who are yet 10 meet john
Pollock personally, the sentiment must
surely grow to the conviction that this
young man who aspires to the judiciary
is their warm champion. Not for the
particular purposes of eleyaing him.
self into a plush lined snap, but be-
cause he feels with them the slings
and arrows of outrageous fortune, with
a mutual fellow-sufrering intensity,
which too many judges do not feel.
John Pollock is young. He has not
doubts the truths Of the Declaration of
Independence or surrenders, as an idle
dream, the national precept that all
men are created free and equal. He
knows the farmers, the merchants, the
traders, the agents Of every commercial
affair in southern Kansas, he knows
their vexationS and troubles which SO
often lead them into litigation; he
knows what portion of those vexations
are due 10 commercial discrimination;
what portion are due 10 unjust laws.
And so feeling, with depth and candOr,
John Poilock's decisions upon the
bench would always temper the rigor
of extreme technicality with the soft
hand OF exact equity. He is young
man and his personality has not riTeIl-
ed TO its full, but everyone who knows
him knows that that personality has
the sun full upon it and it is reddening
to full yisor-without flaw or taint
Either as a legislator or a judge he
would be true to the people. This year
he is running for judge and II the peo-
pie may come 10 know him personally
he will be elected. His life is divided
between Ohio, Iowa and Kansas. lie
was born November the 9Th. 1879, on a
farm in Belmont county, Ohio He at
tended common school, entered Frank
lin college, Ohio. IN September, 1873;
H. a II, &
June, 1852; then he studied law CT ST
Clairsville, Ohio. Commencing his
practice al Newton, Iowa. in the spring
OF 1854. In 1855 he moved To Mis-
souri and engaged in railroad work IN
with general practice. Jan
uary the 1st, 1sSS. he moved 10 Win
field, Kansas, with Colonel T. ". MaDs-
field and formed law department -
the st. Louis and San Francisco rail-
road in Kansas as assistants To John
o. Day. general attorney: continued
this Law department until the ST. Louis /.
and San Francisco Railroad company /
was absorbed by The A. T. and :. r. .
Railroad company, when TIE Iaw de- (
partnsents q the two roads were crsl- !
solidzted at ToE.ekz- Since then he I
has engaged IN general practice IN fssi- /
aral state and territorial court lie j. /
-sse seoior member q tSe law frIa o. 4
Pollok 4 Love. This firm represents /
many important interests. anen= uaeza
IL II. Psyson & Co. Portland. &e-,
Water c,asEany. wil1eld e&s /
company. Cowley County National
bank First National and Farmers Ma
.i9naI f01ks. Arkansas CsEy, Jo.1nson /