Omaha daily bee., 1899-10-26
EXPERT OPINION ON REESE
Nebraska Lawyer Shows Need Of Brains and
Honor on Bench.
HoLCoMB's RECORD CONTAINS WEAK SPOTS
Bnrristcrs nnd Lnymen Alike Look
Asknnce ut His Course While
Dignifed Bearing of Reese
Commands Respect.

The following communication from r. J.
Nightingale, an attorney of Loup city, is
indicative of the estimate Of Silas a. Hol
comb held by those who practiced in his court
at the time he presided over the Twelfth
judicial district. Mr.. Nightingale points out
the limited experience of Holcomb in the
practice of law. his abandonment OF his Of
flee for a political career, his attitude toward
the recount and other weak spots which are
generally discussed. The ability and up
rghtness OF Judge Reese are mentioned in
contrast together with his dignihed course
in refusing to stump the state in pursuit of
such Office. The letter is as follows
LOUP CITY, Neb.. oct. 23,-To the Editor
of The Bee: Although l am not regular
subscriber for your newspaper ! trust that
YOU will permit ma through your columns
TO- address my fellow y G'zenS OF tn tas ,ssaed sSaed
in the interests of all people as supreme
judge of this state at the coming election,
Loup city, and practiced in the Twelfth ju-
dicial district during all the time Mr. Hol-
comb presided over that court.
But 1t is not to lawyers | desire to speak,
because all lawyers who are worthy of the
profession desire Just as much as ! DO 10
/ which l mean a judge who stands high IN
character and integrity and also IN that
upon questions of law; | wish to speakk, to
! that large class, whether they be republic
| ans, democrats or populists, who are not
ofliceseekers, but for the most part buSi-
ness men and farmers and who realize the
| great Importance of the Judicial Office 10
the welfare of the community, -,
| The lawyers who live in the Twelfth dis
triCt and large number of the inhabitantS
| generally are fully aware that for about
| ten years | have been earnestly contendlnS
that Offices directly connected with the edu-
cational institutions of the state and with
! the administration of justice ought to he
divorced from partisan politics and the in
cumbents chosen by the people solely with
a view to their special qualifications and
| their integrity. regret that we have not
been making much progress in my own Ju-
dical district or in the state generally dur
| ing these ten years in this direction.
Only Republican Courts Condemned.
| When the populist party sprang into eN-
| istence it severely condemned the idea of
| our courts being part of the polltiCal
| machinery of the state and professed to be
| was in sympathy with my views. l subse-
| quently discovered that in the eyes of
populist politicians, but not In the ewes OF
popuiSt voters, | trust, a partisan court
was only Objectionable when its politics
We're republican. 1t was no taint upon the
judicial ermine if the incumbent of the
and populist ideas that they flowed over
the entire bar practicing In his court ana
thereby gaining for populist doctrines all
the prestige which the sanctitv of the iu.
dicial office can confer upon them. In al
candidates for the office of judge seem to
have been chosen with a view to their cam
pagning qualities and have gone out upon
the stump and INDUCED in elouuence. not
unmixed with vituperation. in advocacy of
their political views. Entertaining the
ideas have so long held with the strength
of conviction. all this has been extrem/y
distastefu to me and MAS been regarded by
me with suppressed Indignation.
In my own judicial district the judicial
Office has been made the reward for DO
litical services and for POLITICAL services
not always of the cleanest and most hon
orable character. The incumbents have
used 1t as a stepping-stone to a higher po-
litical position: One climbs from the seat
OF justice to the governors chair and an
other to a place in congress Usually If
q man is made of the proper material for a
legislative office. OF course there are ex-
ceptional men who possess al-round abil-
ity to fill almost any position. I protest
that the office of Judge ought not to be the
avenue to a political career. and I submit
that a professional politician ought not to
take his seat upon the bench
In the Twelfth judicial district the iu-
dicial ermine has been so dragged in the
mire of political filth that 1t will soon be
accept nomination for Judge upon any
ticket.
, Lnwgfving Deserted for Politics.
When Mr.. Holco NIB was the judge of our
his professional learning carried him, He
was exceedingly fair in his decisions and
possessed ability and legal acumen which
ence in the practice. Before his term had
expired as judge l regret to say he aban-
judge ana devoted himself entirely to a
polit!cai career. For four years he was oc-
cup!ed with the executive duties of the
govTnor's Office and during all of this
period was tho prime mover and active
head Of the populist party, He unques-
political wre-pulling and in the manipua-
: ton of political conventions. This, how
grent an fT a9f of be snk H6r in the e%
disqualities him for the office of supreme
, Judge. With the professional politicians of
achievement to place the prince of populist
politicians upon the supreme bench but
, voters there is a serious shaking of the
head.
However much they may dislike the poll
doubts whether skill in the art of political
wire-pulling and in manipulating conven-
supreme judge to render wise and honest
decisions.
l Contrast of Two Attitudes.
The populst voter really, down at the
2 bottom Of his heart, wants an honest judge
, masses of our farmers the necessity for
special learning as a qualification for that
rba hGh i position l. not adequately realized
, that the companionship of professinal
politicians is not a good school for honesty
/ not conducive TO a clean and healthy con-
d!tion of mind The good, honest, sensible
| NOltls III an parties are making a compare
son in their minds between the attitude OF
Judge Reese, who stands aloof from parti-
> san politics and refuses to indulge in
, heated controversy over political questions
and the attitude of Mr. Holcomb who Is
hombarding every obscure hamlet with his
political gatling gun and trampng over the
; entire state implorlng the electors to vote
: his party ticket, which Is the same thing
, as a polite request to vote for himself. The
best sentiment of the people says that such
conduct on the part of Mr.. Holcomb l.
. degrading to any candidate who aspires Ia
the highest Office in the gift of the people
) and that the conduct of Judge Reese Is al
once modest and dignifed and shows the
profound respect which he has for the judi
cia office
our farmer popuists are also severely
Condomning the governor because he ac.
cepted a free pass from the railroad com.
pantes while the officer and servant of the
People Again they argue in their common,
senssl fashion upon this question and want
TO knew how "A great populist leader, who
: believes in the government ownership OF
railroads a cardinal doctrine of his DO
litical faith, can ever carry out his doctrin,
when he Is himself owned by the railroads
G VIII he arise like Samson, and burst the
I bonds wherewith he Is bound?
what the Lawyers Want.
With my brother lawyers of this stat,
tho important question is to have supreme
| Judge elected In whose integrity they hav,
. | full confidence and IN whose learning anC
= ! ability they have a sure guaranty that tn,
( correct Interpretation. Lawyers perhap!
J al al hap ntha 81.