The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1907-03-28

county puDllSueu dn diti o'oi '"o'i
names last week, in The Chiffon Times,
recommending the re election OF Hon.
r. D Marshall to the judgeship he has
SO ably filled on the state supreme
bench during the past ten years, ana
belittling the qualifications OF the Hon.
Henry T. Scudder of Marinette, who Is
the opposing candidate for the high posi-
ton in question.
What the article referred to says in
advocacy of Justice Marshall's re-elec-
ton The PILOT heartily endorses, for
Justice Marshall has proven himself an
eminently capable judge. The services
he has rendered his state during his ten
years incumbency on the supreme bench
have been such as to reflect high honor
upon himself and much credit upon the
electors of the state who honored them
selves when they elected him a member
of the states highest tribunal.
But The PILOT emphatically con-
dennis that portion Of the article in view
winch Ttdus dS lOiiO"H'
Henry T Scudder, the opposing candidate for
Justice Of the supreme court, Is a man nifty
seven years Of age, and claims to have been in
active practice in Wisconsin for thirty years,
twenty years of which have been spenta Mari
nette, Wisconsin. II he possessed the qualitca-
lions and ability for supreme judge of the state,
the members Of the bar Of Wisconsin and
very considerable portion Of the people Of the
state, would possess the honor Of his acquaint-
ance and some knowledge of his abilities and
qualifications which would recommend him to
their support, As il IS outside OF Marinette
county, he is an unknown quantity.
The peculiar logic conveyed by the
paragraph just quoted does not appeal
to any person capable Of receiving, per
ceiving and expressing truth, 1t does
not appeal to those capable Of really
logical thinking, rational discrimination
and true discernment Of vital far.reach-
ing truths.
In the first place, if the members of
the bar of Wisconsin do not know the
honorable gentleman named in the para
graph quoted, may it not be that their
unacquaintance with him argues them
selves unknown? In the second place,
it may not be amiss to PROFOUND the
question, Can few lawyers speak for
the entire legal fraternity Of the state
and for "a very considerable portion of
the people of the state"Y
Then again, may it mol be that many
of the leading lawyers of the state do, in
reality, have the honor Of Atty. Scud.
der's acquaintance, while considerable
portion Of his interiors in the profession
merely have an AK to grind in pretend
ing not to know him and in pretending
to state authoritatively that "a consider
able portion OF the people of the state"
do not possess the honor of his acquaint'
ancef
But it 10 unspeakably absurd to con
tend that good, able man who is com.
to high position for the able discharge
Of the duties Of which he firmly believes
himself to be eminently competent
Such asprant for judicial, government
tai, commercial, professional or military
honors iroltid became well known if elect
ed TO the place he aspired to. There
must be a starting point. II n man is to
win fame, there must come time when
he shall be permitted to emerge from
the status Of being unknown to that of
becoming known. The mere fact that a
certain quantity may be unknown does
not prove that II is Of comparatively
little value All the wonderful achieve.
ments in the realm Of electricity during
the past forty years were unknown
quantities fifty years ago. Those things
that are Of the greatest importance are
all comparatively unknown.
In the solution of an alQebraic equa.
ton it is often found that an erstwhile
unknown quantity is quantity Of great
value. So in the promotion of compare
lively unknown men we often find that
such men become exceedingly well
known and deserviugly SO
When William Jennings Bryan, now
Americas greatest statesman, was
nominated for the presidency in 1896
man of pre.eminent greatness emerged
from compartive obscurity and won the
plaudits Of admiring millions of honest
men.
Three months ago Delphine NJ Del
mas, one Of the nations foremost lawy.
ers, was totally unknown to national
fame
Grover Cleveland was comparative
ly unknown quantity until a few weeks
before his nomination TO the governor
ship Of the Empire state
One Of the very ablest state superin.
tendents Of public instruction Wiscon-
sin has ever had was comparatively un.
known before his nomination by The
democratic state convention. The then
editor Of The PILOT. splendid citizen,
opposed the election OF the man referred
to. However, the able and worthy editor
alluded to was great enough to acknowl.
edge his mistake in opposing the election
Of the man In question, when that man
had demonstrated his signal efficiency
az a state superintendent and education.
al leader.
MANY Of those who are really worthy