San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1897-01-30
TIE Daify tiqGt
SATURDAY, JANUARY 30, 1897.
A CARD FROM JUDGE c. A. KEEL
LER.
To the Light:

For several days the rumor has been
industriously circulated on the streets
that I am a prohibitionist and was
elected judge on the prohibition ticket
in Illinois. This statement is abso-
lutely false in every particular. 1 am
not a prohibitionist, never was a pro-
hibitionist, never ran on a prohibition
ticket, never voted for a candidate on
prohibition ticket, have always OPP
posed sumptuary legislation of every
kind, and cast my vote against prohi-
bitien in this state in 1887. This lie
has been manufactured purely for po-
litical purposes and was first announc-
ed by prominent candidate on one of
the opposition tickets at a conference
held the latter part of last week. The
name of the candidate and some of the
persons present may be given later, if
necessary. The same parties two
years ago charged Mr.. Minor, one Of
my opponents, with being a prohibit
zionist. If the charge was true it did
not interfere in any manner with the
performance of his duties as city at
torney, and he and his new friends
ought to be stopped from now urging
such an objection against one of his
opponents. L never was a candidate
for office but once and that was for
county judge of Jefferson county, uli-
MOS, in 1877. ran on the Democratic
ticket and was elected, although at the
previous election the Democratic tick
ct had been beaten by the Greenback-
ers by majorities ranging from 664 to
1043. When my term of Office expired
l was not a candidate for reelection
as 1 had only consented to make the
race as a matter of duty and because
1 was made to believe I could save my
party from another humiliating de-
feat.
For the purpose of showing I quit
the bench with the friendship and es-
TEEN of the bar. quote the following
from the Mount Vernon News of De-
cember 9Th, 1882, to-wit:
AT the conclusion of business of the
November term of the Probate court
on Wednesday, November 29th, which
was the last day of Judge Keller's
term of office, Hon. Geo. NJ. Haynes
arose and in a few well chosen remarks
presented a copy of the resolutions of
departure of Hon. c. A. Keller from
the bench, which was ably seconded
by Hon. Charles H. Patton. Mr..
Haynes said
Five years ago, may it please the
court, was taken from our profession
the youngest member thereof and
clothed with the judicial robe of his
elevation to the bench a new era in
the county court practice began to
dawn. The wheels were taken out of
the old ruts wherein they had srolled
for years: the majesty of the law as
laid down by Blackstone and the great |
writers was established, and our court |
at once took rank with any court of. |
equal jurisdiction in the state. To you
sir, the bar, whom now represent and |
whose feelings are now by me reflect |
ed, look as through the instrument |
which this improved state of affairs |
has been developed. While it is hardly |
possible for the aggressive man to oc- |
cupy the prominent position you have |
without at times mourning the ill will |
of few, yet we feel free to say that |
whatever feeling may exist, If any, is 1
personal and not official in their caus-
es. And now upon your retirement, |
permit me on behalf of the bar of Mt.
Vernon to welcome you to the practice
of your profession; and we trust you
may feel as much satisfaction in the
activities of life as you have given in
your judicial capacity. And to your
successor we would say, do as well as
he whom you succeed has done and
you will have done well indeed.
The court responded in appropriate
terms. On motion of Hon. Geo. NJ
Haynes the resolutions were ordered
spread of record. The resolutions are
as follows:
Whereas, The Hon. Columbus AKel-
Ter. county judge of Jefferson county,
has now finished the term for which
he was elected and is about to retire
from the duties of his office: and
Whereas, 1t is fitting that we. the
members of the bar of his court, should
express our opinion of our learned
brother and of the manner in which
he has performed the duties of his high
ana responsible station: therefore
Resolved. That in the person of the
Hon. Columbus A. Keller we recog-
nize a man of unfiiching devotion to
duty and unyielding integrity. and as
a Judge we have ever found him pa
tient. painstaking and careful and
strictly IMPARTIAL in all the various and
arduous duties of his judicial life.
Resolved. That we take great pleas
ure on this occasion in testifying to
such real and we'll earned merit. and |
return our thanks for the uniform and
dignif'ed Kindness and courtesy which |
we have without execution received |
from the hands of our learned broth
err. and we wish him the success here '
after which he so we'll deserves"