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

rity is such that he never would bring
his party or the people Of his state
into disrepute, and his abilities are
of such a nature that firmly believe
! he would rank with the best members
of the senate. Judge Webb is not
and never has been corporation law
yer, has never been identified with
any combine, trust or obnoxious
moneyed interest, and with the popu-
lar suspicious and prejudices that are
rife, l would select him above all
other men to enter with clean hands
and public confidence upon the duties
of United States senator. He would
in my honest Judgment be the best
man for the party and the best man
for the state. He is sound in reason
ing; impartial in Judgment; has good
business sagacity, is no respectOr OF
persons, and has fine personal attain
ments. These facts are known to
those who know him. Because of this
and the fact that he is so far free from
all alliances that he would be able to
cement together all conflicting inter
ests, / have hope that he will be the
second choice of enough Of the mem
bers Of the legislature, along with
those who are supporting him from
the first, to secure him the republican
nomination and the election. If the
republican members unite on him, as
L have hope they will, Judge Webb
would accept.
NOT SEEKING THE OFFICE.
'"The judge is not seeking this high
honor, and will not turn his hand over
to get it, He is contented to remain
on the bench of his circuit, where |,
and he himself, must feel he will be
able to stay the balance of his life.
He desires no change. yet [ am aware
of the fact that he regards seat in
the United States senate as exalted a
position as any to which an American
citizen may aspire. When | first
| broached the subject to him he posi-
lively refused to enter the turmoil
engendered by a senatorial contest.
But when | pointed out to him the
possibility of the republican members
uniting on him and in so doing wiping
out all differences arising from many
sided and perhaps bitter contest, he
| at last promised to accept, if the NOM
ination should come to him under
those circumstances. He emphati-
cally stipulated, however, that he was
to do no work in the campaign, and
no money was to be used in his behalf.
Il do not want the office, said he,
4 am seeking no political preferment
of any kind. But if a majority of the
republican members of the legislature
find they can unite on me more readily
than upon anyone else, and volunta-
rily tender me this endorsement, |
shall not stand in the way
THAT is his position. Of course,
we, his friends, are not barred from
using our honest efforts in his behalf.
There are naturally some few eX-
penses in such a movement, such as
travelling expenses, but they are not
large, and Judge Webb is not spend
ing a cent, nor will he spend any
money.
ELIGIBILITY OF JUDGES.
"The thought Of Judge Webb in
connection with the SenatOrShip first
occurred to me when the movement
began to formulate to place him on
the bench of the Supreme court to
succeed the late Justice Newman, and
he refused to permit his name to be
considered when he might have had
the appointment. remembered that
a United States senator was to be
elected next winter and [ thought
that the incest thing the state could
do in recognition of his worth would
be TO elevate him to that position.
[ thought little more of the subject,
however, until this summer, when l
noticed, in an editorial in The Senti
mel discussing the SenatOrShip, the
statement that he is good man, but
not eligible On Aug. q, in letter
from The Sentinels Washington cor
respondent, / noticed a discussion of
section 10, Article VII, of the state
constitution under which it was con-
tended Judge Webb would be debarred
from accepting the position because
of his judicial office, if elected by the
legislature. These things revived my
desire to see Judge Webb elected, and
| made an inquiry into. the law, with
the result that [ found, as / believe
beyond question, that Judge Webb is
fully eligible to election by the legis-
lature. / think that point may be
regarded as settled, and [ do not be-
lieve it can be successfully raised
against his election or acceptance.
Il wish to say that my desire to see
Judge Webb elected to the senate is
based wholly upon my concern for the
welfare of the party and the state. I
am seeking no prefernent for myself.
There is not a political office that I
want.
"As to Judge Webb's strength in
this canvass, he will have a consider
able number of votes on the first bal
| lot in the republican caucus, and /
| have good reason to hope he is the