Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1900-05-10
JONATHAN ROSS.
Hon. Walter II. Smith OF ~. Johns
bury Speaks OF the Merit OF HIS
Former Associate in Business.


D Prominent among the sons OF We
0 mont, to whom the people willnatura
| ~ turn for a worthy successor to tn
: lamented senator Morrill,, is Hon
Jonathan Ross of St. Johnsbury.
Wisely selected by His Excellenc
the Governor to occupy temperate
that responsible position, he has a
ready received unusual recognition
As a faithful public servant for nearl
thirty years, his life and labors hay
been constantly in review. The
speak the facts, and the facts are
i sufficient testimonial TO his worth ant
ability Past achievements are tn
safest guarantee of a future career; j
lpraiseWorthy, the earnest Of futur
4 success.
Judge Ross was born in Waterford
Vt, April 30 1896, Of Scotch-Englisl
IpareHtage OF no common mental ant
physical yigor, which he richly in
herited. On the farm rescued from
the wilderness by his grandfather in
the pioneer days of this part OF the
state, he lived 10 manhood, learning
the lessons Of frugality and industry
50 severely taught the early farmer
By working hard summers, attending
district school winters, with a few
terms at 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 at the same time Admitted
to the bar in January. 1886, 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
eient member of the state board Of ed
ucation From 1870 to the time he re-
ceiyed the unsolicited call from His
EXcellency the Governor, he has been
a 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
reelection without dissent by the rep
Of the people. who have
had every opportunity to Judge of his
fitness and ability. If any endorse
ment 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 engross-
ing cares of business, he has ever
taken a 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, educa- |
tional, financial and judicial, his life |
has led him. He knows their weak |
side, for who could be trier of causes
for thirty years and not know? He |
can appreciate, too. their struggles /
and ambitions, for his own success
came by no miracle or feat of legerde- |
main. 1t was a growth through years
Of patient. personal effort When |
asked. some time since, to what he at
Tibuted his success, he truthtully re- |
piled, 1T is simply hard work. guided /
by 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 saving, that I
10 be a true representative Of the peo-
Pile, 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 a deeper significance still |
in the lite of Judge Ross for the past |
thirty years and more. Webster was |
asked how long he was in preparing
his reply to Ilayne. He answered, |
forty years. II 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 the |
knowledge of men and |
affairs, which he has quietly stored up
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 so /
manner by the /
q Father OF the Senate 1t was his /
excellent natural ability. enlarged and |
fortified by this previous preparation,
which enabled Judge Ross, when the
call came, to enter at once upon the /
and discussion of |
national questions requiring the deep
est thought and wisest Judgment.
Many would have waited for time.
and perhaps without criticism. for the |
lead 0f' the Inora pNpar1pnpa1 II xuos