Omaha daily bee., 1902-07-16
JUDGES EASILY RENOMINATED
judicial Convention at Council Bluffs Works
with CELEBRITY.
ALL ITS BUSINESS OVER IN HALF AN HOUR
Remarkable Unanimity shown by
Delegates who Honor Present Oc-
cupants Of District Bench by
Vote of Confidence.

Judges A. B. Thornell Of Sidney, W.. r.
Green of Audubon and o. d. Wheeler OF
Council Bluffs we're accorded denominations
by the republican convention OF the Fiji
teenth judicial district OF Iowa yesterday
morning. The three judges, whose terms
expire January 1, 1903, had no opposition
and were nominated by the secretary being
instructed to cast the full vote Of the con-
vention for them.
The convention was called together at
1880 a m. by d. o. Stuart of Harlan, chair
man Of the republican judicial committee,
who named Edward w. Mills Of Montgom-
cry county as temporary chairman and A.
p. Clark of Page county temporary secre-
tary. Chairman Mills said 1t was too warm
to make a speech, especially as the time
was drawing close for dinner. The nam
ing Of the usual committees was dispensed
with, and on motion It was decided that the
delegates present be entitled to cast the
full vote to which their counties. were en-
titled. The temporary organization was
made permanent.
On motion of A. E. Cook OF Malvern the
secretary was instructed to cast the full
vote of the convention for Judges Thornell,
Green and Wheeler and committees were
appointed to bring the nominees before the
convention.
While the committees were absent on this
errand Congressman Walter /. Smith was
called upon for a speech. He. said he felt
like the chairman-that the convention did
not want to listen to any extended remarks
and therefore would not make q speech. He
praised the state legislature for increasing
the salaries of the judges Of the district to
what he considered an adequate and rea>
sonable compensation, II being the first
time In the history of Iowa that judges OF
the district court had been accorded a COM
| pensation commensurate with their respon-
sibilities and duties He said that during
the ten years he had been on the district
bench he had refrained from discussing the
question; but now that he was on 1t he wac
glad to be able to do so. His statement
that he had always refrained from discuss
ing the salary question while on the bench
was due to the fact that he might be told
that II he did not like the pay he could re-
sign, as there we're many eminent lawyers
ready to accept the ONCE, caused consider
able amusement
Resolutions of Convention.
AT the aclose of Congressman's Smiths
remarks, and while the convention was
waiting for the nominees, Delegate Mitchell
Of Sidney introduced the following resolu-
\ ttone, which were aoopteu.
I Whereas, The tw~enty,ninth. general as.
eembly of the state of Iowa increased the
salary OF the district judges to $500, be-
ginning January J, 1908, and 81.
Judges of'the district court Of Iowa will ex.
pirs January / 1908. with the exception Of
four Judges, whose terms of ONCE Will not
Whersas, Under the constitution of the
BE- 'ii increased or diminished during their
term Of once, II would present a seeming
iSaustise to 0 the four tT IG1Fgi J wnSss term I 1865 e.
to receive the salary as now exists, to-wit.'
the sum Of 81, 500 and no more;
convention that 1t would look with, favor
upon any legal and proper method whereby
the compensation Of the four judges afors-
said would be Increased to a salary of $500,
beginning january ]. 1908; and
Resolved Ihat me eohvenu9m wou ~ m M
cordance with the law of the state of Iowa
In obtaining such end.
the Fifteenth judicial district be and is
hereby empowered to I'LL any vacancies &C.
of the Judges now holding ONCE or any of
them In the Fifteenth judicial. district OF
"a hne hs srese OF em Dow. shI with full sni1 authority to
fill any vacancy caused by resignation as
aforesaid, and place the name OF the per-
son selected by said committee upon the
republican ticket for the Fifteenth judicial
district of Iowa, to be voted for at the next
general election holden in and for the state
Judge Macy Of this district is one of the
four judges whose terms do not expire until
January /, 1905, and Mr.. Mitchell said that
while Offering the resolution, he had not
spoken to or consulted with Judge Macy.
He offered, however, as a suggestion that
In the event OF Judge Macy, which action
he stated would be approved. he was sure,
the committee acting under the resolu-
tion could place his name on the ticket
and he would undoubtedly be reelected.
By this method. he suggested, Judge Macy,
as well as the other judges in the state.
could receive tie same compensation as
the others.
Several lawyers in discussing the reso-
luton and Delegate Mitchell's suggestion
gave It as their opinion that the statute
in the case applies to the judicial term
and not to the Incumbent.
The nominees were then introduced to
the convention and each In thanking It
for the denomination made a few remarks,
which were enthusiastically applauded.'
Judge Green took the occasion to sug-
gest that the law ought to be changed in
respect to the right Of the Judge to in
struct a jury. AS 1t is, he said, a Judge 10
not permitted to comment on the evidence
and this he thinks is wrong. He believes
that a Judge should be allowed to give to
the jury the benent Of his knowledge and
should be more than umpire.
With the naming Of the members Of the
judicial COMMITTEES from the several coun-
ties the convention was brought to a
close. It having lasted less than an hour.
These were named as members Of the
judicial committee: Audubon. @. W. Co.'S
mon; Cas-, B. w. Wood; Fremont, r. @.
Campbell; Harrison, H. H. Rodefer; Mills,
Edward Mills; Pottawattamie, ID. r. Stuart;
Page. A. b. Clark; Shelby, d. o. Stuart.
The committee met and organized by Sc
iecting H. H. Rodefer chairman and A. b.
Clark secretary.
Davis aalla paiut- a.