Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1898-01-13
JUDGE JACKSON VICTOR.
He Wins in the Caucus by Small Ma
iority.

On last Wednesday night Judge Robert
G. Jackson was nominated by the Demo
cratic caucus for the Fifteenth judicial cir
cult by vote of 81 to IS.
Judge Jackson was fought because he
voted for Palmer and Buckner. No one
said he was not a good man; not a word
was spoken against his character, and his
ability as lawyer and his fitness for the
bench were not brought in question.
What saved him from defeat was a letter
from him to his local representatives from
which it appeared that he felt that he had
made mistake in voting for Palmer and
Buckner and that hereafter he would sup
port the nominees of the regular party
organization. This may not be the idea
Judge Jackson intended to convey, but
his friends argued that he was penitent of
his conduct In the Presidential election.
In other words, the statement was made
that Judge Jackson thought the ornaniza
ton which supported Palmer and Bucknel
was the one around which the party would
rally, but that he found ont he was mis-
taken and admitted his error.
When nominations were declared in
order DR.. S, R. Savers, of Wythe, placed
in nomination the present incumbent,
Robert c. Jackson. After giving brief
sketch of the life of Judge Jackson, DIR.
Sayers explained that Carroll, Wythe,
Pulaski, Bland, Giles and TazewelI COM
posed the Fifteeth judicial circuit, and
that majority of the lawyers of those
counties endorsed Judge jackson.
Senator Alexander st. Clair then
placed in nomination Mr.. j. W. Hicks, of
Tazewell. He pointed out that the county
was one of the largest in the State. 1t
had been in existence for more than Il
hundred years but had never had the cir
cult judgship, which, since the close of the
war, with short exception, had been in
Wythe county. 1t was said that Judge
Jackson voted for Judge Williams when
the later ran for Congress last fall, but at
the same time he scratched the head of
the ticket, William Jennings Bryan, the
fundamental embodiment of Democratic
principles as represented in the Chicago
platform. No man was fit to be circuit
judge who voted for gold and silver at the
same time. Senator st. Clair then read
telegram wherein it was stated that Judge
Jackson, when asked whether he would
support the Democratic tlcketin the future
replied thar he would give no such
pledge and would not sacrifice his man
hood for all the judgeships in the State.
The speaker also submitted number of
petitions in favor of Mr.. Hicks, signed by
534 Democrats in Tazewell, PIG in Pulaski
and 3o6 in Giles.
Mr. John NJ Gwinn, of Smvth then
placed in nomination Mr.. Robert G.
French, Of Bland county, who, he said,
was gentleman of the highest character.
Bland county had always given small
Democratic majority, and this was largely
due to the influence of Mr.. French. Mr..
Gwinn also presented numerously signed
petitions in favor of his candidate.
Mr. w. r. Duke, of Albemarle, in a
brief speech then placed in nomination
Mr.. John ]. A. Powell, of Wythe, a gal
liant veteran soldier and an original free
silver man.
After a lengthy and spirited discussion
voting was then proceeded with, 1t only
took one ballot, which stood as follows:
Jackson, 45; Hicks, II; French, "a;
Powell, s. While the vote was. being
counted the members began to change,
most of the Hicks men changing to French
and the Powell people to Jackson.
Secretary w. H. Mann finally announced
the result of the ballot as follows: Total
vote cast 90; necessary for nomination,
so; Jackson 81; French, a.; Hicks, l;
Powell, 8.