The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1904-04-08
ABLE LETTER FROM
JUDGE RUSSELL
Answers Criticisms Of Those
Who Oppose Him.
PRESENTS CANDIDACY PLAINLY

Offers Best Years of His Life To His
State and Gives Good Reasons for
His Candidacy for Chief Justice Of
Georgia's Supreme Court.
To the Voters of Georgia:
Having complied with the rules and
requirements of the Democratic State
Executive Committee, and the short
time intervening until the Primary
rendering it impossible for me to meet
all Of the people in person, | hereby
formally announce to you my candt
dacy for Chief Justice of the Supreme
Court.
The principal criticism of my pro.
posed candidacy seems to have been
directed to the fact that l would be a
candidate in the primary for Chief JUS.
tice, instead of Associate Justice,
and that such candidacy was In
the first place, contrary to precedent,
and in the second place that no Chief
Justice should be opposed. These OBJ.
jections have been pressed by numer
GUS lawyers and few newspapers; as
to whether my honorable opponent EN-.
dorses these criticisms 1 am not III
formed, and in the absence of this in.
formation, what shall say will be in
answer to these.
While in making legal decisions the
doctrine Of stare decisis should ge0
orally prevail, still l boldly avow my
the people (and not any special class,
calling or profession, of assumed supe-
riority) shall elect the Chief Justice
and five associate Justices Of the SUI
prema Court.
With that provision am in full ac-
cord. Nor have l any sympathy with
the doctrine, proclaimed by many
members Of the bar, that the incum.
bent of the office of Chief Justice
should never be opposed. Such fai-
acy is in direct conflict with the whole
theory of Democratic government, and
any attempt on the part Of any dis
tinctive profession or segment of the
Democratic party to PREJUDICE the
claims of fellow democrats in advance
Of the election, and in a method con-
trary to party usage, is subversive OF
party unity, and only promotive OF
class distinction.
In republic there is no office with
in the gift of the people that is above
or beyond their conscientious Judge
ment, no title can be obtained that
is not conferred by their grace.
Developments since my candidacy
was first mentioned leave me the only
advocate Of this doctrine now before
the people, and with the utmost conf.
dence I place myself unGinchingly up
on it. Whatever the result Of my
candidacy, I will hold up before the
youths CT this state the lamp OF hope
to inspire and guide their honest and
honorable ambitions years after my
body is Wondering IN the dust
The doctrine Of some Of my oppo-
nents would prevent any young man
from aspiring to the office of Chief
Justice. Ny belief is that no Office
that in the selection of officers
people are, and justly should be,
mucn less concerned with the question
of precedent" than with the determt
nation OF what is the best interest OF
the State. It is known to every law.
yer that there Is no authority or com
pensation appertalning to the office q
Chief Justice which differs in any re
spect IRON the duties of an associate
justice, save the preservation OF order
and the calling Of the docket. AS to who
should first enter the Court Room, OF
Who ebosfId Arc4 IOu or fret ba eao%