The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1900-06-07
Clerk of Courts Office.

Inasmuch aB certain articles have ap-
peared In some of the papers Of the
county relating to the candidates for the
office Of Clerk of Courts, deem 1t prop
er to make some reply.
The burden Of Mr.. Browns claim to
the Office seems to be his desire for re-
ward for party services.
For whatever political work Mr..
Brown may have performed he has been
well repaid by the gift of the postmas-
tership at Hartland, one of the impor
tant towns of the county, and he Is still
enjoying the emoluments OF that Office.
While being n successful lawyer"
and popular postmaster of Hartland, ="
may give Mr.. Brown certain prestige,
1t does not seem to be a strong argu-
ment In favor Of his beiug further honor
ed, by being elected to the office of Clerk
of Courts, thereby not beneftting him.
self but certainly forcing hardship upon
the present clerk.
Mr.. Brown claims to be perfectly
familiar with the routine official duties
of this office; but 1t is plain to those
who know the important duties, that
assisting Mr.. Webb for a few months
1bu phsslbk AiilouEn OulJ VIC VI
court as deputy nearly ten years ago, is
no adequate preparation for this work.
| was obliged to spend several years
of very hard work before | dared to
claim that was perfectly familiar with
these duties. AS expressed In a letter to
me from prominent citizen of this
county, The county cannot afford to
educate too many men for this position
for it takes too long to do it,
Relative to my own work | quote
from letter to me written by another
leading citizen as follows 81 have been
quite we'll acquainted with the business
around the Court House for the last
thirty years and without fear of contra
diction will say that the office of Clerk
of Courts has never been better, or more
satisfactorily, filled than it has been for
the last nine years"
Mr. Brown claims that he should have
been appointed at the time of Mr.. Webbs
resignation. II it be true that he should
have been appointed because of the sup.
port he received from the bar, not the
unanimous support however, then it is
equally true that | should receive the
nomination at this time since | have the
support of large majority of the at
torneys of the county.
Mr.. Browns reference to me as a
kennebec county attorney is misleading.
giving the impression that l was resi-
dent of kennebec county when appoint
ed to the office of Clerk of Courts in this
county. never settled in the practice
of law In Kennebec county, but on being
admitted to the bar went at once to
Fairfield in this county, where | prac.
ticed law four and one half years before
being appointed Clerk of Courts.
Mr.. Brown further claims the Office
upon the ground that he was once
candidate for the same. Ii this be a
good argument then it follows that the
only thing necessary In order to secure
any office, is for a person to be once a
candidate then the nomination would
follow as matter of right.
Mr.. Browns article further states 10
reference to his expected appointment
at the time of Mr.. Webb's resignation,
ut was reasonable to suppose that the
Office would be continued under that
system inaugurated by Mr.. Webb" He
therefore comedies that the people would
have been satisfied to have had Mr..
Webb continue even though he had al
ready held the office for sixteen years
Owing to the changes and improve
ments made by me in the conduct of the
office it requires the entire time of two
persons to perform the work, the income
for which averages several hundred
dollars less than the recent newspaper
reports have set it and during the past
year has dropped again to much lower
figure.
When Mr.. Browns candidacy was first
announced | wrote to the ATTORNEYS, the
county officers and many leading citizens
that when in the opinion of those best
qualified to Judge the needs of the office
required a change, | would step aside
without further contest. The replies,
coming from large majority of the at.
tOrneys and county officers and from
scores of citizens, were n substance:
1--WE are satisfied with your work, we
want you to stay, there is no reason for
a change"
believe the convention of June 18th
will endorse these sentiments.
N. w. BRANERD.