Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1901-03-28
THURSDAY, MARCH %, 1901.
COUNTY JUDGESHIP.

should delight to honor We know
him, and know him well. He was for
n time n resident of Mineral Point,
and studied law with Judge M. M.
Cothren; was admitted to the bar
March 20, 1876 and In July OF that
year went to Highland and opened a
law Office. In 1873 he removed to
Dodgeville, where he has resided ever
since. He has been district attorney
of this county for two terms, and In
1897 was elected county Judge, the
position which he now holds. He Is
not only lawyer Of ability, but a
man OF unimpeachable integrity. In
the pursuit Of the study Of law, In the
practice OF his profession, and In the
discharge OF his duties ~ a public Of
fetal, he has ever been painstaking
and conscientious, and has won for
himself the confidence and respect,
not only OF his friends and neighbors
Mt home, but is recognized throughout
the state as n lawyer OF ability and as
a man of great worth. He Is 10y no
means n partisan in the narrow sense
of the term, but has, In more than one
instance, been known to set aside his
political predictions and prejudices
when the public good demanded that
he should do 80. 1t IL to be regretted
that u partisan fight Is being made
against him. Conceding every claim
made for his opponent, Mr.. Smoker,
in regard to ability and fitness, no
one will have the hardwood to say
that the public good will be advanced
by the defeat OF Judge jerks, and the
election Of Mr.. Smoker 10 the office
OF county Judge. The most active OF
Mr.. Smokers supporters do not
make this claim. They ask for his
election on partisan grounds and be-
cause he 10 Republican. But II APP
pears TO The Democrat that the plea
Ia II weak one, and very inopportune,
as the pre-eminent ability and fitness
OF Judge jerks for the position for
which his friends, without regard TO
party, have again named him, makes
plain the purpose OF the opposition
SO plain that he who runs may read.
Are Democrats the only ones who are
to refuse to support party candidates
when the public service Is net to be
improved by party success?
This contest will recall to the mem
DRY OF the voters Of this county that
Notwithstanding the fact that George
IL. Whitman WAS the nominee OF the
Republican convention for county
Judge In 1897, and that J. i. Smoker,
the present Republican candidate for
that position, WAS candidate for the
nomination In the convention that
nominated Mr.. Whitman, he Mr..
Smelker) did not then believe that the
nomination OF Mr., Whitman bound
him TO vote for the Republican caudi-
date. II there was any man In Iowa
county bound by the action of that
convention, IL was Mr.. Smoker. He
had submitted his candidacy TO the
convention that nominated Mr.. Whit
man. Partisanship did not control
Mr.. Smoker then; why should he
claim that Republicans are obligated
TO vote for him now? The fact that
Mr. Whitman was young and not as
experienced as Mr.. Smoker, Is no
answer; for the Republican oonven-
tion decided that MIR. Whitman was
qualified to be the Republican candi-
date, and II the Republicans arc to
be bound by the action of u conven-
tion, Smoker was bound to accept
the decision of that convention. He
did not accept 1t, but gave all his in
fluenco to the election of Judge jerks
who was then, rs now, the nou-parti-
san candidates; and who, in the opin-
ion OF Mr. Smelker, was good enough
for him to support, Notwithstanding
the action of the Republican conven-
ton. Ii MIR. Smoker had the right,
as n citizen and Republican, TO dis
regard the action OF n partisan con
vention in 1897, why should he claim
that Republicans are bound by it in
1901? win any one claim that the
Republican friends OF George IL.
Whitman are bound by the nomiua.
tion OF Mr.. SmelkerY
The position MIR. Smoker is placed
in by his action forcibly illustrates
the wisdom OF keeping judicial elect.
ions out of partisan politics. The
people of this county and state have
time aud again decided that they
would not be controlled by partisan
feeling in the selection of men for
judicial positions, and that feeling is
80 we'll known that In the primary
election law submitted to the legis-