The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-09-05

The Republican circuit court conven-
tion at steubenville yesterday was a
very harmonious one for convention
that was made up Of Representatives
from fourteen counties Of the state.
,Steubenrille people had kept up their
custom Of making it pleasant for all
visitors. and their hospitality on this
occasion When their townsman. Hon.
John M. Cook. was candidate for the
judgeship3 knew no bounds. Every
thing that could be was done for the
comfort and entertainment OF the dele
gates and friends and every one of the
fourteen counties was fully represented.
The legal fraternity predominated. Of
course. as people seem to concsde to
that profession q sort Of superior ju6g-
ment in the selection OF Judges Of the
courts, but the opera house was filed
with citizens, ladies' and gentlemen,
forming very attractive audience
when it came time to call the conver-
tion to order. 1t had been noised about
That Hon James N. Rees. of Belmont
county. and Judge J. =. Truett. Of
Guernsey, would not have their names
presented to the convention because Of
the apparent certainty OF Mr.. Cooks
nomination. But something out OF the
ordinary was expected from the mass
OF the best legal talent from such an
array of counties and the audience was
not disappointed. In fact they got
more than they expected In the ad-
dress OF the chairman, Hon. James
Kennedy, of Youngstown.
1t was about L. o'clock when Hon. ].
C. Heinlein called the convention to or
der and Rev. ]. S. Reager offered
was presented. Mr.. Kennedy is a
finely proportioned, well-built man.
with O very strong voice and he has
perfect control OF It. delivering each
sentence with force and effect. he
opened with 4 tribute TO the judiciary.
by easy steps reached q criticism
couched In elegant but strong language,
of the encroachmeIts upon the func-
tons OF juries. and he held the practice
OF Judges In Pennsylvania as being es-
pecially alarming upon this score. His
impressive manner held the closest at
tention OF the splendid audience as he
declared .the provisions OF the consti-
tuition guaranteeing trials by jury Is
pEuCllCdilS dnHuiieu ny tIllS prdCllCe.
Here he referred to the. speech of
ing OF the state bar association at Put
in-Bay. though he did not name him.
Ut will be remembered that Judge
Laubie has personal grievance
against President Mckinley, growing
out.o OF the fact that they We're both To-
Gated In the same congressional district
and Mckinley's success embittered the
Judge through the disappointment in
his congressional ambition, and he
never got over it, Continuing his
speech, Mr.. Kennedy said:
But In view OF the very astounding
expression In that most extraordinary
speech recently delivered at Put-in-B Bay
in which speech the orator arra!gned
our President and that administration
which has brought so much OF prosper
ity to our country. so much Of dignity
to our people and honor to our flag.
with unfaithfulness to the constitution.
and-oh. consistency, consistency This
professed lover OF our fundamental law
In the same breath called that clause of
the constitution which guarantees to
every citizen the right OF trinl by Jury,
as It has been Interpreted by that gall
axytof grand old jurists. including
Rnney, BARLEY, Hitchcock and such
men as these, when the greatest INV
yersE OF Ohio were upon the bench--a
relic; OF misplaced confidence and bar
rier TO speedy Justice.
In view of the fact that such revo-
lutionary legal heresy Is entertained by
Judge now upon the bench in Ohio. II
becomes important that we, In making
nominations for these high offices
should strive to choose men who viii
not seek to be both Judge and jury. In
this connecticut cannot refrain from
expressing my great admiration for one
who sat upon the c!rcult bench In this
Seventh district. who Is now dead. 1
allude to Hamilton B. Woodbury., n
man, OF eminent legal attachments. n
great and patient worker. kind md
courteous 10 all. we nll remember with
what palnstnking care he labored to
perform the duties OF his Office, and
with what profound respect he treated
the verdict OF juries, even though they
differed In their conclusions OF fact
from him.. Always recognizing that Il
was the jury's conclusion which the
law seeks and not his. He regarded
thsajury In Its true light and as all
should regard II: an Intelligent, co.or-i
dinate and independent branch OF the
court. having Its own function to per.
form. and he accorded II the right TO
think with Its own mind and not with
his. and 10 hear with ita own ears and
not with HIS; he recognized In that In
dependent branch OF the court some
thing more than mere butt for cruel
criticism and Judicial dispersion.
He was no egotist, assuming the
role OF fufniiibiiity. who thought that
he could drnw safer conclusions OF fact.
By reading. the evidence from record
that was full OF stenographic blundrrs