The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1899-10-12

His nature is frank and open. He inn
! presses you with the conviction that
ne makes no attempt to bride his
! tongue or to control his natural feel
/ lngs In his intercourse with his friends
! or acquaintances. This Is because of
| his natural good sense and freedom
/ from guile. He is one of the most
approachable of men. There is an in
| nate but quiet dignity, with not the
slightest suggestion of loftiness in his
! manner, for he appears to have little
personal vanity, but proper apprecia-
tion of himself.
In famous local damage case, in
which he represented a well known
railroad, he surprised the attorney for
the plaintiff by the latitude which he
allowed him in examining the witness
es He allowed them to press the most
surprising amount of damages, and the
court was puzzled to account for the
singular want of caution displayed to
minimize the amount of loss shown.
He was. however, careful in some ap-
parently unimportant question as to
the locality where the accident had
occurred. The witness swore with
great particularly.
Before the case was given to the
jury Mr. Mestrezat had the court visit
the scene of the accident, when II be-
came apparent at a glance that the
story of the occurrence itself was false
He had allowed the witnesses to swear
TOO much for their own case.
A characteristic incident occurred on
the train upon which he rode from
Philadelphia on the evening Of the ad-
Journment of the convention. At Har-
risburg 1t happened that his sleeper
was hitched on to the train contain
ing coaches in which were some of
his home friends who had been "boost-
ing his boom" at the capital. The
judge was invited in to see them, and
he readily did so.
Among the delegates was one very
old gentleman, who had failed to get
berth and had promise of passing an
uncomfortable night. The judge said:
Boys. / guess / will go along with
you and the old gentleman shall have
my BERTH" and ne insisted upon this
arrangement, landing at home in the
midst of throng of enthusiastic fol
lowers, who escorted him in triumph
to his hotel
TO GREAT DEMOCRATS.
Accepting the nomination from the
notification committee at Williams
port, Judge Mestrezat said:
"If it shall be ratified by the peo-
pie at the polls in November | shall
not fail to realize the great respon-
sibility 1t imposes, and shall devote
my time and best thought to the per-
formance of the duties of the office,
and this responsibility is doubly en-
phasized by the fact that the party,
since the judiciary system for the state
became elective. has named for the
same position a Woodward, a Black, a |
thompson, a Sharswood, a Turnkey, |
a Clark and a McCullum. For bril- |
liancy of intellect, for integrity of pur- |
pose, for legal learning and judicial
| may be pardoned in saying
hat their superiors have sat upon the
tench OF no state in the Union. These
names are indelibly written in the his
-ory of our Jurisprudence, and the
Darty which gave to the state the SER
vices OF such men need not, in this
respect, fear the record of it's past. 1t
1t least is secure
AND INDEPENDENT
PRAISE
Some of the commentator bestowed
~ Philadelphia Republican and inde-
pendent newspapers upon Judge Mes
rezat's nomination follows:
The nomination Judge Mestre-
ats is a thoroughly good one, ac-
eptable to all the people in every sec
Ion OF the commonwealth The can
Ildate's career. as outlined in our news
columns, has been as creditable as it
las been successful. and his reputation
IS a fearless, upright and able Judge
S a sufficient guarantee that he will
'e useful and honored member of the
ourt to which his nomination neces-
arily elevates him. ."-Phila. Evening
telegraph, Rep.
HAD A HOST OF COMPETITORS.
1.-The nomination of Judge Mestrezat
f Fayette county for justice of the
upreme court is, of course, equivalent
o an election. What Is known of him
ere is favorable to his reputation on
he bench. His nomination was brought
bout after an unusually long and stub
orn contest. with a host of competi-
ors. but it has been accomplished
'ithout any strife or friction which
40 iNit lhO bSiioNiutlS party tHe worse
Or it."-Phila. Eve. Bulletin Rep.
HE is WELL QUALIFIED.
"The Democratic nominee Gudge 1
1estrezat) is in the prime of life, and
4 the natural course Of events CAN
ope to serve out the 21 years term to
'hich he will be elected. He has had
ldieial experience that well qualities
i'm for the promotion" ."-Phila Press,
.ep. !
STATE TO BE CONGRATULATED. {
"The state is to be congratulated on 5
ne fact that the nominee Judge Mes !
'ezaD has a good reputation to start !
18th, He has had 25 years practice in
lie law, and has held his present Judi {
al position since 1898, With credit to
imself and honor to his district. OF
is Democracy there Is no question, s
nd there appears to be none of his
ldicial acumen and personal integ- c
ty.'-Phila. Public Ledger, Ind. Rep. !
A MOST HONORED JURIST. !
"The candidate for the supreme
,urt. Judge 8. l.. Mestrezat, is one of =
le most honQred of those who sit on
le bench in western Pennsylvania. y
g remained away from the convention :
ty during the sessions, and took no :,
tive mart in the conduct of hic oop, Z