The Democratic advocate., 1907-08-16
JUDGE THOMAS UNANIMOUSLY
NOMINATED.
Grand Address Delivered by Francis
Neal Parke-Res solutions, DO.

The Democratic Judicial Convention to
nominate a chief judge for the Fifth Judicial
| Circuit was held at Elicott City on Wednes
| day. The convention Was called to order by
| Jacob j. Werner. nt the Howard County Cen
| trail Committee, who introduced William 5.
Powell, who stated the object of the conven.
| tion. James w. Owens. of Annapolis was
made chairman, with James Clark, Ellicolt
| City, Secretary.
The committee on Resolutions presented the
| following resolution TO the convention which
was unanimously adopted:
Resolred, That the Democratic patty of
| The Fifth Judicial Circuit of Maryland present
| to the voters of the Fifth Judicial Circuit of
| Maryland the Honorable William Fl. Thomas
| as the candidate of the Democratic party for
| Chief Judge, believing that his high personal
| character, his unblemished integrity. his fair
ness and openness of mind, his legal learning
and judicial temperament, united with his
| experience upon the bench, designate him as
possessing all the qualities which will recon-
| mend him to the voters of this judicial circuit
| as the one best qualified to fill the office for
which he is nominated
Mr.. Francis Neal Parke, of the Westmin-
ster Bar, in forcible speech placed Judge
Thomas in nomination, which was seconded
| by Edward M. Hammond, of Elicott City.
| Mr.. Parke, in his eloquent address. said i:
'Mr. Chairman and Gentlemen: We are
gathered here as the representatives OF great
and historic party to fulfill grave and high
responsibility. A Judge is to be elected this
November who shall not only sit in judgment
over the property, the lives and the liberty of
the people of Anne Arundel, Howard and
Carroll counties, but who shall also partici-
pate as a member of the Court of Appeals in
| voicing and formulating the laws of this Com
monwealth.
The trust committed by the suffrages of the
Fifth Judicial Circuit of Maryland to its Chief
Judge is wide in scope and weighty with obli-
cations. 1t is co extensive with all the multi.
form interests and affairs of life, and it seeks
to give certainty and security to rights and
speedy and efficient redress for wrongs; and
the perfect fufillment of this trust requires the
Judge to give authentic form to the highest
public morality of which we are capable as
citizens
Exalted must be the character, wide the
information, broad the sympathies and self
contained the temperament of the man who
shall discharge this trust acceptably And it
is rare good fortune when party can present
to the people candidate who offers no ele.
ment Of uncertainty, but who has exemplitied
in judicial station and service those qualities
which make for the clean, the orderly and the
intelligent administration of justice.
The Democratic party has such a candidate
to present. For the past six years the Bar
and the people of this judicial circuit have
witnessed the law clearly expounded, wisely
applied, and evenly, impartaly and firmly
executed and enforced by judge who unites
the highest moral qualities with distinguishing
legal ability and knowledge. And they have
seen this judge preside with decision, but with
patience; with careful and courteous consid.
Grafton for the rights of litigants and of coun-
sell and with scrupulous fidelity to those ira.
ditions of the Bench which assure dignity and
decorum in the procedure of justice.
And it is i'll recognition of this faithful, dill
gent and conscientious service. of this proved
capacity. and of this tried integrity of the
Honorable William Fl. Thomas; aud in obedi.
ence to the sound principle that stability and
efficiency in courts Of law are best maintained
and conserved by the election of approved
good judges that | have been charged with
the commission of presenting to this conven-
ton, as the unanimous choice of the Demo
cratic party for the dignity of Chief Judge of
the Fifth Judicial Circuit of Maryland, the
name of the Honorable William Ii. Thomas,
who has borne himself so worthily as associate
Judge that he cannot fail to adorn the position
for which now have the honor of nominating
him.
Other speeches eulogistic of the character
and ability of Judge Thomas were made by
members of the bar and delegations from the
three counties embraced in the judicial circuit.
Judge Thomas received the nomination unan
imously.