Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-06-12
MANY WILLING
To SERVE
STATE
IN EVENT OF JUDGE LEWIS RE-
SIGNING THERE ARE MANY
WHO WOULD BE WILLING TO
SERVE.

In event Justice Hal T. Lewis resigns
from the supreme court there. will be an
interesting race on for the position which
will be Sade vacant by his resignation.
Judge John S. Gambler, of DeKalb; Judge
Howard Van Epps, OF Fulton; Col. B. +.
Abbott, of Fulton; Judge w. r. Ham
mond, of Fulton; Judge John w. Bennett,
of Glynn: Judge Roberts, of Dodge;
Judge George F. Gober. of Cobb; Cop. r.
T. Fouche. of Floyd, and numerous 9TH
ers may enter the race TO succeed Justice
Lewis.
1t 1t understood that several of the can
didates have already begun a campaign
for the position. The next state conven-
ton will have to decide how the successor
to Justice Lewis shall be named. as 1t
is understood that his resignation viii not
go into effect until Ocober LIST. the day
of the next general election. The con-
stitution of the state says that in event
of a vacancy on the supreme court the
governor shall have the power to appoint
until the next general election, and from
what can be learned Justice Lewis will
not resign. so to speak. until october l.
This, of course, takes the matter out of
the hands of the governor and puts 1t
up to the next convention.
When the state Democratic committee
met here on March 20 the following rule
regarding vacancies was adopted:
Rule No. II Resolved, That in case
a vacancy occurring in the office Of judge
or solicitor general in any of the circuits
the chairman of the state committee shall
call for a nominating primary to I'LL said
vacancy in ample time before an election
for said vacancy shall be had"
According to the construction placed
on this rule by prominent politicians and
others 1t is believed that it applies to
vacancies in the supreme court or any
other statehouse offices and that under
that rule the election Of successor to
Justice Lewis will be determined by
primary. If a primary Is held 1t will be
ordered for the same day in all OF the
counties in the state.
There are some who contend that the
matter will go into the state convention.
and that the convention will undertake
the nomination of Justice Lewis success
sor. There is considerable interest being
manifested in the race today and new
candidates are cropping out in all Sec
lions of Georgia.
Judge Spencer r. Atkinson, chairman
of the railroad commission, who has serv-
ed several years as a supreme court JUS
tice, is being urged to become a candidate
for the place. but 1t Is not thought likely
that he will run. Judge William H. Fell
ton, of Bib. is also being urged to run,
but nothing definite has been heard from
him.
him Judge A. w. Fife, of Barlow, was in
Atlanta this morning and he stated that
he would not be candidate.
1t is a source of general regret that
Justice Lewis has found 1t necessary to
resign. He was generally regarded as one
of the ablest lawyers in the state and one
OF the finest Justices on the bench, FL
health, however, caused him TO determine
to resign. He is expected to return from
Atlantic City, N. j., some time soon. He
has been at the famous resort for sever
al weeks.