Barre evening telegram. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-19??, 1900-05-10
JONATHAN ROSS.
Hon. Walter r. Smith Of It. Johns
buy Speaks of the Merit OF HIS
Former Associate In Business.

Ousy cptuhb ~ tuc McIlt VI 11lA
Former Associate In Business.
Prominent among the sons OF Yer
mont, to whom the people will natural
" turn for Il worthy successor to the
lamented Senator Morrill,, is Hon.
Jonathan Ross of st. Johnsbury.
Wisely selected by His Excellcncy
the Governor to occupy temporarily
that responsible position, he has al
ready received unusual recognition.
AS II faithful public servant for nearly
thirty years, his life and labors have
been constantly in review. They
speak the facts, and the facts are Il
sufficient testimonial to his worth and
ability. Past achievements are the
safest guarantee of Il future career; ii
pralscworthy, the earnest of future
success.
Judge Ross was born in Waterford,
VT. April 30, 1896, OF Scotch-English
parcntage of no common mental and
physical vigor, which he richly in
heritcd. On the farm rescued from
the wilderness by his grandfather in
the pioneer days Of this part OF the
state, he lived to manhood, learning
the lessons of frugality and industry,
so severely taught the early farmer
BY working hard summers, attending
district school winters, with a few
terms ut st. Johnsbury academy, he
prepared himself tor college. He en-
tered Dartmouth in the fall of lS47,
graduating in the class of 1851. Col
lege life with him was no idle pastime
He paid his way largely by teaching,
and so learned the value of both time
and money. After graduation he
taught to obtain needed funds, and
read law ut the same time. Admitted
to the bar in January, 1856, he soon
after commenced the practice OF his
profession in st. Johnsbury, and so
continued, with acknowledged ability,
until called to the supreme court bench
in 1870. During this period he was
treasurer of the Passumpsic Savings
bank in St. Johnsbury for ten years !;
states attorney in ls62-63, represented
the town of st. Johnsbury in the legis-
lature three terms; was county senator
in 1870, and for several years an eff
cient member of the state board of ed
ucation. From 1870 to the time he re-
ceivcd the unsolicited call from His
Excellcncy the Governor he has been
member OF the Supreme Court of the
state and for the last ten years chief
Judge. During all this time, the long
est service OF any judge in this state
by three years, he has enjoyed the re-
spect and confidence of his associates
and has received every two years a
reelection without dissent by the rep
rcsentatives of the people, who have
had every opportunity to judge Of his
fitness and ability. If any endorse
mcnt of his labors were necessary, this
would seem to be an endorsement, par
excellence.
TO the common duties of the citizen
Judge Ross has always been loyal. In
all the relations of lite he has set a
worthy example. Amid the cngross-
ing cares of business, he has ever
taken deep and helpful interest in all
the affairs OF his town and church. In
the erection of buildings for schools
and courts he has had a guiding hand.
The significance of these facts, how
ever, is not merely historical. They
have a broader meaning. They show
that for nearly fifty years Judge Ross
has kept in touch, in one way or
another, with the life of the people.
Into all their varied interests, cduca-
lional, financial and judicial, his life
has led him. lie knows their weak
side, for who could be tricr of causes
for thirty years and not know? lie
can appreciate, too, their struggles
and ambitions, for his own success
came by no miracle OF feat of legerde-
main. 1t was Il growth through years
of patient, personal effort. When
asked, some time since, to what he at
tributed his success, he truthtully re-
piled, ut is simply hard work, guided
by u conscientious endeavor to under
stand and faithfully discharge present
duty, without reference to the effect
upon my personal prospects in the
future 1t goes without saying, that
to be true representative OF the peo-
pie, one must know them thoroughly
and know their needs. Judge Ross is
not wanting in that peculiar power
which comes from thorough knowl'
edge of men.
There is deeper significance still
in the life ofJudge Ross for the past
thirty years and more. Webster was
asked how long he was in preparing
his reply to Hayne. He answered
forty years. 1t must be confessed that
no great or lasting work is done with
out preparation. Webster was right
Preparation is power.
1t is the broad and abiding principles
of law and of government and tho
thorough knowledge of men and
affairs, which he has quietly stored w
during the years OF hard and continu
Gus labor on the bench, and for the
people, which eminently qualify Judge
Ross to occupy the place filled in SC
distinguished manner by th'
..Father OF the Senate" 1t was hi
excellent natural ability, enlarged anC
fortified by this previous preparation
which enabled Judge Ross, when tn
call came, to enter at once upon tn
consideration and discussion o
national questions requiring the deep
MANY would have waited for time
and perhaps without criticism, for tn
lead of the more experienced. 1t wa