The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-07-27


torney Joseph O'Brien, who in a
vigorous and logical speech, placed in
nomination Hon +. w. Gunster, one
Of the present additional law Judges Of
this county. In nominating Judge
Gurster, Mr. oBrien said:
MR.. o'BRlENs SPEECH.
Mr.. Chairman and gentlemen of the
conventional wish In as Driet ana IN us
plain a way as I possibly can to present
10 the consideration of this convention,
the claims of "a man TO a place IN the
judiciary of this county, VINO IS no strang.
er among you. And INSPIRED oy ene slSds s
him, not only in the Democracy, but
among all the people OF TINS county. l am
here to submit to you the clain1s on one
Of the cleanest and ablest jurlsts who has
presided over the court of this county IN
the person of Hon. Frederick w. Gun
stCr.
lection OF a candidate for judicial holoTs
is not a light one. but is on important
one. because / firmly believe that the
nominee of this convention VIII Tor me
next decade pass judgment upon the lifs
the liberty, and the property OF the citl-
zens of this county. And with this I'M
portant thought In mind let the Work
of this convention be dcnc in the exercise
of dispassionate judgment and delibera-
tion. and let us measure fully up to the
important part that this occasion impos-
es upon us.
/ know there prevails among the bar
and among the people or this county a
very strong. and n very decided sentinlent
faVoring noh-partisan judiciary ana
the experience has been that wherever
this system has been adopted. better re-
suits have been accomplished and better
service has been rendered by the judi
ciary In the great metropolis of the
state of Pennsylvania, the city of Phila-
delphia, and elsewhere in the common
wealth where 1t has been adopted, 1t has
satisfaction
has met with the endorsement and np-
proval of the public and the legal pro-
that in this progressive county Of ours.
where the interest of the people demand
the very best service that can possibly
be obtained from our judiciary, the adop-
tion of the system Is imperative. Speak
ing for myself. Mr.. Chairman, | have
long ago reached the conclusion. that the
selection of a Judge rises higher and far
above the question of party politics. Be
cause If there be an official whose hands
should be free. whose will should be un-
trammeled, whose Judgment should he
less. it is the Judge. II is the man chosen
to pass upon questions so vitally affect
ing us ALL
THE ANSWER KNOWN.
And. gentlemen If it shall he the wis
dom of the people of this county to adopt
such system, where snail we turn 70
select our judges? Whom shall we choose?
| or shall we continue in the service, m en-
whose ability and official record have re-
Elected credit upon the people who have
chosen them as public servants. j know
your answer. ] know that in the ex-
ercise of your intelligence and judgment
you will select the one in whom trust was
reposed and who faithfully discharged
that trust. ! know that as representa-
tives of the Democracy of Lackawanna
| you will prefer as your choice, one whose
| ability has been tried and the record of
w hp III T. "A o
his fitness for the exalted office,
And who most completely fufills these
| requirements? If | should ask this con-
| vention what Democrat among all of the
| qualified Democrats in this county best
| represents this standard both in point of
| fitness, and popularity, ] would be an
swered with the name of Fred Gunster.
| If | should ask the bar of Lackawanna,
| men of the same profession in whose
| ranks would be found persons of entirely
| different political opinion. and whose
| judgment I submit, is entitled to great
| consideration in this convention, who,
| among all their membership is best quail
| duty. would be answered with the name
| of Gunster. And more than that, If
should even invade the camp of the foe
and ask who is their choice ! confidently
! assert that would also be answered with
| the name of Gunster.
l know that in the few remarks which
! l. shall make here, ] can add nothing to
the high standing in this county of Judge
Gunster. Tested by every rule he stands
| before you in the full measure of a citi-
zen, lawyer and a jurist and is IN ev-
cry way worthy to be the nominee of Ihis
convention. AS citizen he stands in
| the front rank. His private life has
| been pure and spotless as the snow, Gnd
he has heart rs warm as the summer
sun. His whole life has been spent in
| this community and to the whole COM
| munity 1t is an open book. When law
| yer in the practice of his chosen profess
| sion, he WAS 81 giant in it, and was the
| flower of the bar before which he prac-
ticed. and he enjoyed in a most remarka-
! BILE degree the confidence of the bench,
| the bar and the public. When chosen
to represent the people in the legislature
of this commonwealth his ability was
| recognized and marked, and he has left
upon the books of the law-making de,
| partment OF Pennsylvania a record
worthy of emulation. AS the first prose
| cutting officer of this county he filled the
office with distinguished zeal and ability
and his administration was clean and af-
| icient.
HIS NAME PRESENTED.
Gentlemen. is it necessary in this con-
vention or in this community to refer to
him as a judge? Because it is in this
connection in which, in my opinion, his
name Is pre-emnent. Ten years ago ne
for this high office, and the wisdom OF
your choice was shown not only in MS
election, but in the fact that the Re-
publicans did not oppose him and practi-
cally endorsed his candidacy. And for
ten years he has been upon the bench
under the blaze of public search light
record but the career of public servant
who has cleanly, ably honestly and I'M
partially performed every duty of his
high office. Most of us are familiar with
what ability and dignity he has served
the people in his office, and to those who
are not, we say to them, examine his
record. And an examination of that
record will disclose that during the ter
years of his judicial life, he has been d
faithful, conscientious public official. that
he has stood erect in the performance OF
every duty, that he has never faltered ol
swerved from the path Of reetitude, anC
he has left the impress of his individual
ity, and his honesty upon the legal rec
ordS OF this county.
In his person he unites the highest quail
tiles of an ideal judge. A life long stu
dent of the law, with keen comprehen
sion of its principles, all the advantage:
that come to the lawyer of long, large
and varied practice, the experience of q
term or ten years upon the bench, a mar
profoundly mindful of the great RESPONSE
hility imposed upon him by virtue of hi,
office, his unerring common sense, al
these commend him to the people of thi!
county as man in every way fitted FOL
this office, And better, even, than al
these is his rugged and unyielding hon
esty. For II there is one quality abov,
all others that predominates i'm Judge
Gunster. IL is his honesty of purpose
trait without which no man can make
good Judge, and without which no man |.
entitled to be numbered among the judi
| cary.
And so I say. gentlemen of this con,
Vention, in the prime of his powers
known as a citizen of sterling manhood
known as an able fearless and mpartia
Judge known as one who holds the scale,
evenly, giving equal justice TO ALL know
for his strict adherence to the principles
of justice, always insisting that right n
our courts shall prevail over the wrong
one who not only will honor the judiciary
but one who has s0nally honored II
nominate Frederick w. Gunster in thi,
convention and his election is assured.