The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1905-03-10

Republican Candidate for Circuit Judge.
In accepting the republican. nomina
ton for circuit judge, Judge L B Des
Voignes addressed the judicial conven-
ton at Lawtou as follows:
+ Mr.. Chairman and Gentleman of the
Conventions:
( Six years ago the legislature ofsthis
state created the Both judicial district,
comprising Cass aud Van Buren, coun-
ties. BY that enactment we were legally
bound as members OF the same judicial
household-for how long no man can
now foretell. Six years ago we assem-
bled for the first time under this same
roof to place in nomination a candidate
for circuit judge. The conditions con-
fronting both counties were directly
analogous; Van Buren, was entitled to
the nomination under her old alignment
with Kalamazoo; Cass was entitled to it
under her old alignment with Berrien.
! You all know the result of that con-
vention's deliberations: how after earn
est session, on the 58th ballot Judge
! Smith, Cass county's chosen candidate,
withdrew, and Judge Heckert, Van
Buren's choice, was unanimously nomi
mated. Personally never thought i'll of
! Van Buren, for insisting on the nomina
! ton of that staunch old soldier, good
lawyer and lifelong republican. Cass
county supported him Loyalty and his
defeat can i'm no sense be charged at our
door.
We come to this convention and pre-
sent to you CaSs county's choice, JAS. II.
! Kinnane. lie is Cass county's choice
and mine; and have not in my heart
seen clearly and do not now feel quite
/ certain that it is my duty under the
circumstances to take this nomination,
notwithstanding the fact that we have
been in session two days and that Mr..
| Kinnane, whose interests are of the
greatest Importance, and the entire del
egation have urged me to recede from
my position, believing firmly that bis
nomination is impossible. The position
of circuit Judge is the highest honor that
/ the judicial circuit can confer upon any
of It's citizens. 1t is one of great import
ance to the people, for upon its admins
tration in large measure rests the en-
| joyment of property rights and personal
liberty. The Judge of any court should
! have high ideals, he should have a clear
legal mind, he should be good lawyer,
he should be practical rather than tech
meal, he should be student of human
character ard reader, so far as may be,
of human nature, that he may sift out
the chatf from the wheat and as near as
possible discern wherein is the truth,
and without prejudice and mistaken
zeal see to it that justice does not mis-
carry. These necessary qualifications
were in large measure, we believe, hap
! PLY blended in the character and person
atty of the candidate whose nomination
we urged unsuccessfully upon you.
! am not insensible of the high honor
you confer upon me. | do not forget
that the position 10 near lawyers
heart, and | do thank you. | did not
seek this nomination. The people of my
county have already honored me more
! than | deserve-circuit court commits
sioner, prosecuting attorney, and last fall
they called me to continue in their ser
vice as Judge of probate for the third
consecutive term. While my plans had
not fully crystalized, it was my belief
that should retire when this term was
completed and take up the thread of
active practice where left ii nine years
ago. You have willed otherwise and |
yield to your judgment.
Delegates from Van Buren,, from the
early eighties it was my good fortune to
reside within four miles of the border
line of your county, and during the
many years | have observed your un-
swerving fidelity to the principles of the
grand old party of Lincoln, Garfield and
Mckinley, and while over there in Cass
county we oftimes fail outside the breast
works, over here you have stood as did
the Union troops at Appomattox, irwin
chile and masters of the situation. Up
on you rests in large measure the res
possibility for this nomination, and we
shall look to you to see to it that your
action is ratified at the polls April 3.
| have not studied very closely the
peculiar conditions that exist In your
county, but in a general way | know
that your special legislation along the
line of local option has been adhered to
for many years and has become an issue
in your county, townships and homes.
The law is upon your statute books, and
as long as it is part of your jurispru-
dence it should be sacredly recognized
by any circuit Judge who may preside 10
your circuit.
Finally, gentlemen, il elected | prom
Use to give you my best effort to sustain
the high standard that has always char
acterized the bench of Van Buren, coun-
ty, and to use the homely expression OF
our great chief executive, my aim will be
"to give a square deal, no more, no less"