The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1898-08-11

II. Snyder, Z. K. Buckalew. E. H.
Little, c. w. Miller, Chas. G. Bark.
ley, w. H. Rhawn, VIM. Bryson,
R. Buckingham, A. L. Fritz, John
c. Yocum, H. V. White, L. E.
Waller, J. B. Robson, Robt. R.
Little, 7. J. Vanderslice, c. B. Jack
son, Frank P. Billmeyer, John M.
Clark, F. Stewart, A. K. Oswald.
! We, the undersigned members of
the Bar of Montour County, join in
the foregoing request Of the MEN,
bers of the bar of Columbia County.
Edward H. Baldy, William J.
Baldy, Joshua w. Comfy, B. K.
Rhodes, WIN. c. Johnston, Frank
C.. Angle, Geo. D. Butler, Henry
Vincent, H. M. Hinckley, Jno. c.
Montgomery, L. K. Mowrer, 1. x.
Grier, James Scarlet, Edward S.
Gearhart.
Judge Elwell accepted in the fol-
lowing language:
To the Bar of the 10th Judicial
District.
GENTLEMEN,
In complying with your unani-
nous request, that I will conseut
to be candidate for reelection to
the office of President Jndge, can
not refrain from expressing the
qualification which this token of
confidence and regard has inspired.
If it shall please the people to ratify
your choice, it will be my pleasure
to serve them to the best of my
ability.
Your obj. Servant.
Bloomsbury, May IS, 1882.
WILLIAM ELWELL.
He was again nominated by both
parties, and elected. He never an
nounced his name as a candidate
for office, and never asked a man to
vote for him i'll his life.
Judge Elwell was nominated for
Congress in 1866. The district
consisted Of Bradford, Wyoming,
Columbia, Sullivan and Montour.
Ulysses Mercur vas the Republican
candidate and had beaten Piollet in
1864 by over a thousand majority.
Letters from every county were
received by Judge Elwell urging
him to accept the nomination, but
he had no congressional aspirations,
and he declined untilso much pres
sure was brought to bear that he
reluctantly consented He was
asked to give up an Office that would
continue for six years, and probably
all his life, to accept nomination
in strong Republican district, for
a two year term, if elected, and he
said that he did not want to relin-
quish position that he liked and
was fitted for, for one that he did
not want, and which would keep
him from home half the time. But
yielding to strong solicitations he
at last consented, and was defeated,
much to his own satisfaction. The
extent of his canvass consisted in
making three speeches in Bradford
county, because the party leaders
demanded it. He did not make a
single speech within his judicial
district, and the allegation that he
Solicited votes" is absolutely false.
Again, it is said that Judge FL
we'll was a candidate for the
Supreme bench, and when he did
not succeed che and his friends bit
their tongues in their disappoint-
ment." This too is false, and the
man who wrote it knows that it is
false.
That he was frequently mention
ed by the papers Of the state as fiji
person for that position, is true
Having indulged somewhat in the
habit of keeping scrap book, we
could fill this sheet with extracts
from newspapers concerning his
fitness for that Office, and letters by
the score can be produced showing
that he was urged to allow his
name to come before the state con-
vention whenever there was Su,
preme Judge to be elected. But he
uniformly declined, and his reasons
were that he would be away from
home most of the time, living in
hotels that the additional pay
would not compensate for the addi,
tional expense and labor, and he
was entirely satisfied with the posi-
ton he was holding. In 1872, he
received a paper signed by all the
members of the Wyoming county
bar and others, asking him to be a
candidate. This was accompanied
by letter from w. E. Little Esq,
saying
"a careful review of the field
convinces ME that there is a reason.
able certainty of your election il
nominated, and a certainty of nomi