Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1898-11-17

want a man who has not been iden-
titled with any faction. Judge Webb
is such a man. The people have con
fidence in his ability, and they know
he is incOrruptible, He is thoroughly
qualified, and if elected by, the state
of Wisconsin to the United States
senate he could sit with any men sent
by any state as their equal. He would
be an honor to the state, and hun
dreds Of men know him just that way.
Wherever he is known, dozens want
him elected. If elected, he would be-
long to no faction: the friends of La
Toilette would receive no fayors the
friends Of his opponents would not,
and vice versa.
Judge Webb's position is, that if
there is deadlock and the repub-
lican members feel IB is the best man
to unite on under the circumstances,
he will take the office. When I first
approached him on the subject he said
to me: ''It will be time enough for
me seriously to consider the matter
when it is presented to me. But if
there is any position which would
tempt me to leave the one l now hold,
which is cOngenial to me, and which I
have reason to believe l may hold as
long as | am able to do the work, it is
a seat in the United States senate.
Quite recently he said:
"'Itthe plans Of my friends succeed,
| will feel that no undue elatiOn, and
if they fail, I will not be disap-
pointed
FIVE OR SI& AT WORK.
There are a nunber of republican
members Of the legislature who have
told US, just as Senator RiOrdon did
at the outset, and as he has announced
in The Sentinel, that Judge Webb is
their first choice. With large num-
Der he is the second choice. There
is no one man who knows, therefore.
just how strong the movement is.
That it is not confined to any section Of
the state I am positive, for letters
are being constantly received from
prominent citizens in all districts,
urging him to run. His frst-ballot
vote may not be large, but he will be
the second choice Of a great number,
and the second choice of the largest
number is likely to win"
SUPPORT OF THE BAR.
Said leading lawyer Of Grand
Rapids, Judge Webb's home city:
"Judge Webb has the hearty support
of the Wood county bar, and [ think
of the bar throughout the circuit.
He would be an honor to the state
and to the senate. The judge is fond
of politics, and lias done active work
for friends since being on the bench,
but never for himself, and he is doing
nothing now"
JUDGE WEBB's CAREER.
Judge Charles NJ. Webb is a self
made man. He was born in TOwanda,
Pa, Dec. 30, 1888, and at the age of
II left school to enter printing office
at Troy, Pa. Later he worked as
printer at WellsbOro, Pa, and in 1850
entered the military academy at West
Point, which he left year and a half
later. He returned to the printers
trade, but in 1855 began studying law,
being admitted to the bar in 1857
The same fall he came to Wisconsin,
a short time each in Wau-
keSha county and in Madison, settling
in Grand Rapids in April, 1858. His
professional success began at once,
and continued until his accession to
the Circuit bench by appointment in
1883 to succeed Judge Park Of Stevens
Point. He resigned the office OF dis
trict attorney in 1861 to enter the
army as the first lieutenant Of Co. G,
Twelfth Wisconsin volunteers. He
returned to practice, and when the
Western district of Wisconsin was
created in 1870 he was made United
States attorney for that district,
serving four years. He has twice
been elected to the state senate, once
in 1868 and again in 1882, though he
resigned in 1883 to accept the Circuit
judgeship, to which he has subse-
quently been three times elected. He
has three married daughters, all liv-
ing in Grand Rapids, and himself
possesses a comfortable residence in
that city.