The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-03-23
Hon. J. a. Lockhart for Associate
Justice.

To the Editor: | beg to submit,
through the columns of your paper lew
remarks on the candidacy of the Hon.
Jas A. Lockhart. of Arson county, Tor
the nomination of the Democratic party
for Associate Justice of the Supreme
Court The people of the Pee Dee sec
ton are asking for the nomination OF
Mr.. Lockhart for several reasons.
In the first place, they believe MIN 10
be emnently fitted for the position In
character he is without fault. With be-
coming dignity of person and manner,
he is yet kind and genial. He is free
from prejudice against any class or IN
terest. and an equal stranger to dema-
goguery or sycophancy. In ability and
learning he has few peers among the
lawyers of North Carolina. He is won
derfully endowed with that rare gift OF
nature which is vulgarly called morse
sense" He is widely read not only IN
law, but in general literature. and
writes the English language with great
clearness and accuracy. Those VINO see
and hear him at the bar are impressed
with his deep knowledge of the funda-
mental principles of the law, and his
familiarity with the statutes and adju-
dications of our State. He has the judi
cial temperament. To these gifts and
attachments he adds the power OF
speech. As an advocate he is unsur-
passed by any lawyer in this section of
the State.
In addition to those of fitness, his
nomination is urged on grounds of party
service. Mr.. Lockhart belongs to no
hyphenated Democracy. His Democracy
needs no adjectives of explanation or
apology. He is no Democrat from policy
or choice. He was born a Democrat
and had he been born a thousand years
ago he would have been one then. He
has a Democratic nature and the prin
ciples and doctrines of that great
party so harmonic with that nature
that he has ever been a forceful teach
er and expounder of those principles and
doctrines He has been great force in
the party in this part of the State; in
deed it may safely be said that in party
service he stands first among those who
are aspirants to the position from the
western section of the State. While
this is an office which should not be filled
by persons whose sole claim to it rests
on that ground, still, character and abil-
ity being, equal, party service ought to
count fol! something. Mr.. Lockhart has
never before been before the people of
the State for an office. His party at
home has recognized his merit, and he
has served, in his younger days, in the
State Senate and in the House of Rep
resentatives. In the days when fusionism
was at its height, he was called on to
carry the banner of the true Democracy
in the old Sixth Congressional District,
and against the combined forces of the
Populist and Republican parties was de-
clared elected. He took his seat, but lost
ii as the result of contest by Chas. H.
Martin. mis- Populist opponent. In every
campaign his voice is heard and his adj
vice and opinions sought in party coun
els and on the hustings.
Again, it is urged in Mr.. Lockhart's
behalf that he lives in a section which
in the past has seldom been represent
ed on the State ticket The east and
west have always been pitted against
each other, and the office parceIed out
between these two sections. with the mid
die occasionally recognized. There has