The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-07-02
Successor of Judge Brown.

To the Editor: A communication
appeared in theNews and Observer a
short time ago from myself and oth-
ers, in regard to the Situation in the
First Judicial! District.
Mr.. Theodore Meekins, of Dare
county, replied to it in behalf of So
licitor Ward and seemingly complain
ed because, as he alleged, there was
''impatience'' manifested throughout
the communication referred to.
AS 1 was the originator of the arti-
Gle in question | wish to state that no
.impatience" or anything else improp-
er was intended and certainly there
was nothing expressed to which Mr..
Ward or his friends could personally
take exceptions.
Mr.. Meekins must bear i'm mind
that the purpose of the communication,
TO which he replied, was to explain
the situation and to correct the pub
lished statement made by some OF
Mr. Wards friends, that 1T was con-
ceded that he was to succeed Judge
Brown. For it was stated by us:
whenever it is ascertained when ana
how Judge Browns successor Is to be
named the county of Gates VIII pre-
sent the name of Hon. l.. l.. Smith FOR
that responsible position. 1t really
seems to the writer that the lmpa-
tience and aggravation" was manifest
ed in the communication signed by
Mr.. Meekins, and apparently because
we denied that it was conceded that
Mr. Ward would succeed Judge
Brown.
Gates county has the right to have
a candidate for judge, and she VIII
support him to the end, for which we
hope Mr.. Meekins will excuse us:
We presented some claims in be-
- for the
GRAFTON of the Democrats of the dis
trict: and Mr.. Meekins in the attempt
TO dodge the issue confounds claims
with qualifications. AS to Mr.. smith
qualification for the position there can
be no question and it may be referred
to the Judges before whom he has ap-
peared, both in the Superior Courts
and in the Supreme Court
But Mr.. Smith has not only quallfl-
cations for the position, but he has
also claims which ought to be con-
sidered.
The Democratic party is not bound
TO accept the claims of any man. put
In Justice to all it may consider the
claims of any one.
For instance the fact that JuC/e
Brown came so near the nomlflalioll
for Supreme Court two years dSo
and the fact that it has been generalIy
understood since then that he would
he a candidate this year to succeed
Judge Montgomery, were claims re-
cognized to such an extent that there
was no other candidate in opposition
70 him.
In the same way the facts as stated
nv us that at the time Judge Brown
was first appointed judge. Mr.. Smith
was endorsed for the same position
practically by all the bar on this side
of the sound and especially by the en-
tire bar of Elizabeth City ana Eden-
ton. and that since that time. IL mas
been generally understood. at least on
the north side of the sound. that ne
would be the candidate to succeed
Judge Brown whenever vacancy oc-
Cured: and his long and faithful ser
vices to the party and to the state
are claims in his behalf when we
present for consideration.
7 wish to present another Whlch
ought to have some weight: During
the Fall term, 1908. of Gates Superior
Court l heard Hon. Geo. w. ward,
solicitor of the First District, volun-
tarily and without being asked for IT
tell Mr. Smith that he (Mr. Smlth)
was the illogical successor OF Judge
Brown and with all apparent earnest
ness and sincerity addressing himself
10 Mr. Smith SAID 1--WE are all for
YOU on this side of the sound, and
your only competitor will be Rodman
and you must let the people know