The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1904-10-19
HERRICK NAILS CAMPAIGN LIES
DIGNIFIED REPLY TO CHANCES
THAT HE MISUSED OFFICE.

In a speech at a reception given in his
honor at the Reform Club last night, Judge
Herrck for the first time since his nomina-
ton made a direct reply to the charge OF
his adversaries that he has been political
Judge" and that he has soied his judicial
ermine by allowing political considerations
TO influence him on the bench.
The Judges speech was extremely i'm
Jrn--ive delivered as it was while he was
:, rrou nded 10y men who had been his politi-
cal triand for wears. Judge Herrick denied
cate .orcally each and every specific act
cited against him as showing his unftness.
H. sud it was true that he had taken an
int, Re- in politics all his life.
Il N not ashamed of it,, said the Judge.
But a. 10 the charge that he had allowed
political motives to influence his decisions
Judge Herricli, in a voice which showed
some emotion, said that the charge was
ab-oll. ely false.
The members of the club standing about
him appauded loudly when the Judge,
after saying that he had never made n
political speech or served on political
COMMITTEES since he became IA Judge, de-
clared in manner which was as impressive
~ his other utterance.
Il have made it rule Of my life never
TO do anything | was ashamed to have all
the world see and know. | have made
errors. but that is the rule have tried to
follow"
There was a rather slim attendance at
the handshaking part of the reception,
hut Judge Herrick's speech was delivered
before gather ing that filed the two par
lors. 1t was expected that Judge Parker
would drop into the club at some time in
the evening. following the Dime" given
in his honor b. Lawrence Godkin, but
even tie chance of n visit from the Pr esiden-
tial candidate did not bring t! y crowd that
Lad been expected.
Judge Herrick was received by conf
mi;tee composed of President John G.
Agar, Louis Windmuer Everett y Abbot,
Bert liza son and Louis Sturcke They
escorted him UP to 4 room on the second
floor of the new clubhouse at East Thirty
fifth street, which hal .oeen tastefully
decorated with boughs OF autumn foliage,
The Judge stood in front of "a mass of this
foliage. which furnished an artistic back
ground.
Among those who heard him We're John
c. Sheehan. August Belmont and Perry
Belmont. John Whalen and President Fornes
the Aldermen
1t was 10 o clock before the speechmaking
was begun The members stood around
Judge Herrick in the central parlor and
President Agar introduced him in a short
speech in WHICH he said
The people are Inundated by the gov
ernmental conditions which exist and they
look to you, id large part irrespective
OF party, to bring them back to the degrees
of honesty and simplicity which have al
ways been their ideals"
Judge Herrick delivered his speech in
low but determined tones He said:
what Judge Herrick Said.
GENTLEMEN OF THE REFORM CLUB: I
thank you most cordially for the honor
graduate and thank you for the valu able
work you are doing in this campaign. /
shall not enter into any disou ssion Of the
canvass. To talk tariff reform to you is like
bringing Goals to Newcastle. With the
other issues Of the canvass you are per-
fectly familiar. but do desire to say few
words to you personal to myself.
have been a member Of this club almost
since lite formation. To many of the older
members am we'll known; to many of its
more recent members I am not. There
are several charges brought against me
In this campaign. believe have answered
all OF them except two, and they are in
relation to my alleged participation in
politics while occupying judicial position.
Those who believe that l have been an
intriguing, wire pulling, scrambling, fight
ing politician while on the bench are justi-
fed in not voting for me for the high Office
to which have been nominated.
What / am about to say is neither an
apology nor defence, simply plain state
ment of facts, known to many Of the gen.
tlernen present perhaps unknown to many
others Some Of you who are here present
are perhaps responsible for my taking the
part ! did in politics in the early years OF
my service upon the bench W.. 80.
recolect tho. . vas from time to time in
consultation with you about political affairs.
believe you will say that there was moth
ing unbeconing in a Judge in those con-
ferences and consultations,
JUDGE DOES NOT FORFEIT HIS RIGHTS.
do not believe that when a man becomes
either a clergyman or Judge he also be-
comes a politically emasculated man or
forfets any of his rights or duties as an
American citizen. ! fully agree that he
should not bring his politics into the pulpit
or upon the bench, bit to say that he can
not otherwise talk politics or advise about
public matters is to hold that our American
political system il 80 low and degraded
that respectable men cannot engage in il,
and if We have arrived at that state it is
tine that we change our form Of govern
ment
have never been a delegate to any poiti-
cal convention since ] was elected a Judge.
have never attended any Democratic
con, onton since / was elected a Judge
but one, the national convention at Chicago
N So when | WIS solicited to attend by
letter, and kilograms from four of the
most eminent Democrats of the State of
New York, two now dead; Their char
a,cter and standing forbid the thought
That they were asking me to participate in
ANYTHING unbecoming the judicial office.
My participation there was simply an
advisory one. | never entered the door
Of the convention. ! have never served
nron any political committee since my
nomination for the Office Of Judge.
NEVER cAMPAIGSED WHILE on THE BENCH.
wasat that time member Of the Demo-
cratic State committee. My successor was
not elected, ] think, for two years. In the
meantime my seat in that committee was
occupied 10y a proxy, never by me. / have
1GDGunfp1 ii m.