The San Francisco call., 1897-12-07

mate shat the President ouc ht to appoint
the greatest of living lawyers 10 the place.
| Judge Mckenna's warmest friends do not
make such a claim in his behalf.
The following opinions give a fair i'd ca
! OF the feeling of the ma jority of the law
yers of San Francisco:
NJ. NJ. Estee-I have known Judge Nc
Kenna ever since he began the practice OF the
/ case against him at Suisun many years ago
| when he was just starting. l thought him TO
De SOUND and capable practitioner and
! iound him hard to beat. He WAS yigllant ana
and industrious. / have known him well
since and have been before him often in the
Cnlted states circuit Court In addition to
tnls nave known hlm politically and socially.
| with this experience say that believe him
| 10 De, nrst pure man, and second, Il very
good lawyer, with judicial mind far above
lne average. He Will never dishonor the
place II he is appointed, but his mind
Will expand as the responsi bilites of the
position he occupies are enlarged. 1 do
not mean to be understood as saying
that Mckenna has not made and will
NOT make mistakes as a Judge. All judges
make errors l cannot understand wnat
prompts his Judicial brethren TO take action
against him, because it cannot be denied lhat
ne has fulfilled all his obliga tions well, as a
Judge, as Congressman for three terms ana
now as Attorney General. No one can point
| 10 MS failures. He is man of strong sense
ana lawyer of good average ability. The bar
OIL the country has long ago learned that ju-
olclaI gen1uses are dangerous men.
Lyman 1. MOwry-I have practiced great
deal In the Federal courts and before Judge
Mchehna- have always found him tqual 20
the occasion, though l nave often lost the
cases he heard. He is in every way honest and
able, and do not believe the man lives who
can prove him an Ignorant or a corrupt Judge.
| NJ. II. Hvde-My business has been very
| largely in the FEDERAL cour s. and l have had
occasion 10 test Judge Mckeuna thoroughly Y.
| He Is clear-headed and honest lawyer and
| good Judge.
Charles L. Patton-McKenna has clean
record, and feel sure from what have seen
OF him and heard of his reputation that he
! VIII make good and upright JUICE II ne is
appointed TO the position on the Supreme
! bench.
John f. Richards-The opposition de.
| Veloped to JUICE Mex ma on this coast is not
| only an ou rage upon faithful and competent
| man and officer, Tut IL is act OF 1O.ly rs
Wen. Inc sooner the people OF thls coast
learn TO appreciate their own people the
quicker the rest ot the country vii have
/ respect for our people in public places. feel
sure that Judge Mckenna vii. make good
| Judge, as he Is u man OF good sense and fine
| honor
Ex-Superior Judge william L. Price,
late of San DiegoI know Judge McKenna's
record very well, and have the highest DOS
| sible opinion OF his abilities and general
| worth as man and judicial officer. He IS a
| man OF fine mind ana prime pie. He is most
persevering and Industrious III his work. He
| Is never satisfied with case until he has
| thoroughly exhausted the subject OF his ln-
| qulry. While there are greater lawyers in the
| country l think you viii find that tney made
their regulations after they attained
! high positions rather than before their pro-
motion. II is shame that he has been al
tackled. l think it SHOWS g great many dogs
in search OF a few bones
Colonel j. f. SMITH can sreak from a
| good. fair experience before Judge Mckenna,
| and take pleasure in saying that he Is as
honest and competent a Judge as | know. He
has always appeared TO me as abl., honest
| an clear headed in all he does. Above all
| else, he will patiently listen 10 any lawyer,
| and does not assume at the outset that Is
so wise that no one can give him any in
! formation.
Hon. y. L. Carpenter-He is honest, able
| enough for the place, and he ought to be and
! will be confirmed II the President appoints
! him. regret 10 see this hight against a good
! man.
Horace G. Platt-I have seen great deal
! OF McKenna on the bench, and / have good
| opinion of his abilities. He will prove an
| honor 10 the bench and the State and l am
! 81 ad TO see that he Will be the man. do not
| h nix the opposition will be able to cut any
! fg ure and | am glad 1t Will not
!. j. LennOn-McKenna is a good man.
have watched him very closely and have bee II
iDteres led in his work. That he is a thor
| oughIy honorable man noDo1y will deny. 1t
! is well known TO lawyers tnst he is competent.
| We never heard otherwise during ali tie
years OF his incumbency and the kick comes
II. r.. wiIey-I have watched his record
| since 1876, and I am sure he IS an able and
| compe lent man. This is not my opinion only
but that OF many good lawyers have mel.
| The fight against one of our brethren Is a
! disgrace and il vii hurt the coast
| H.
McKenua is a n able man. l base my opinion
on his general reputation at the bar and on
the reading of some of his decisions. 1 have
never appeared before him in many causes
| but It seems 10 me he Will be isirly good ana
possibly great Judge on the Federal bench
Edgar ID. PeixottO-The coast is entitled
! to the place and teel sure tnat McKenna is
as good a man as is likely to be appointed
lie he's a good record a Congress sman and
as Judge. Il Is disgrace that he has been
attacked by people west OF the Rocky Noun
! tains.
Senator Eugene Bert-He is not the
greatest jurist in the United States, and l say
! this with all respect to his ability. am for
| McKenna, however, because ne is n bic and
4 conscientious lawyer. / think he Will do for
! the place, and believe when l say this much
! have paid him a compliment Brilliant men
make bad Judges McKenna has all analyIi-
cal mind and he will make good Judge.
Hall McAllister-Judge Mckenna is well
| fitted to discharge the duties of the position.
Garret w. McEnerney-AlI that care to
say is that McKenna is qualified to fill the
place
william f. Booth-I am of the opinion
that Judge Mckenna is good man for the
place He is certainly as well fitted 10 hold
the position as others who hold it, and l CAM
see but that he VIII act in an honest and care
ful way in all his work.
James NJ. Allen do lot care TO express
myself in the matter am good friend Of
Judge McKenna, and anything | might say
| would be thought TO be from friendly stand-
| point, and not an opinion emanating
| from desire to be fair in my views so far as
d. Mckenna is concerned as a member of the
! judiciary.
George n. WiIIiams-Judge McKenna is
| the man Tor the place. l had occasion to OBJ
| serve him on the bench when he first entered
| on the discharge of his duties. His position
| was trying, foil owing as he did Judge Sawyer,
| whose standing as juror was exceedingly
! high. Mr.. McKenna shows remarkable apti-
| tude for a judicial position. ii he succeeds
! Judge Field he VIII undoubtedly acquit him
/ self creditably and be useful member to the
! court.
| George r. Wells-California is becoming
| notorious for the JEALOUSY which exists among
! its people. very unseemly tendency exists
| to Jump upon any man proposed for q high
| office. l consider Judge Mckenna d very COM
! petent and capable gentleman. ] do not
| think he is a great man Stephen J. Field.
| Such men are fficult to find, but he is learn
! ing fast, and is a conscientious upright man.
| He is good lawyer, and in time may make
! great one.
Charles r. Wilson, think the marked
| tendency OF Californians to interfere with the
| advancement of their fellow-citizens should
be severely deprecated. It is apparently de-
cided row that Judge McKenna is to receive
/ the appointment, and l consider the actions
| of those who are opposing him to be in bad
/ taste. We're Judge McKenna dishonest or in
! competent, the interference of the bar would
be iustifable and proper, but he is neither OF
these. l believe he would make an honest