The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1908-08-21
THE NON-PARTISAN JUDGESHIP
Hon. Frank Reeves Writes a Letter to the
Readers of the Echo
Wenatchee, Washington,
90 1nn0

Leavenworth, Washington.
Dear Sir: In the leading editorial
in your issue of the 14th inst. you in
quire why it is that Judge Steiner,
present Superior Judge of Chelan
County, Judge Neal, ex-Judge thereof,
and Ira Thomas, one of Chelan County's
leading lawyers, all democrats, have
each endorsed me in a public manner
for Superior Court Judge, if it is not
for THE purpose of rounding up dem
ocratic voters" am happy to be
able to give an answer.
Judge Neal is a personal friend OF
twelve years standing. have had
an extensive practice in courts over
which he has presided. Since he re-
tired from the bench l have been
associated with him in some very i'm
portant litigation, and have been his
opposing counsel in some cases of less
consequence. Entertaining the opinion
he expressed in the article referred to
it seems but natural that he should
express it. Who knows the fitness of
lawyer for a judicial position better
than competent trial judge before
whom he has had extensive practice2
Judge Steiner's interview in the
Republic was occasioned by the Daily
World of Wenatchee placing him in a
false position, as he himself explained.
The World had garbled a statement he
had made and undertook to make it
appear that Judge Steiner thought Mr..
Grimshaw better qualified for Superior
Court Judge than myself. He did not
think nor say this, and fully explained
his reasons therefor, for which he re-
ceived a pretty fair roast in the World.
Mr.. Thomas public utterances were
occasioned in this manner: The sup
porters of my opponent were persist
emily circulating the report that the
Chelan County Bar was opposed to me,
and were taking particular pains to
mention Mr.. Thomas name in this
connection. When he learned OF this
false report he refused to permit it to
60 unchallenged and therefore volun-
teered to make public statement in
order to show there was no foundation
for it.
None OF these gentlemen either
directly or indirectly referred to politics.
They placed their endorsement solely
and exclusively on the grounds of
qualifications for the office, and iden-
tity with the county's history and in
terests.
At a meeting held in the theater at
Wenatchee last week, at which you
were present, something was said of
circular issued by the Democratic Cen
trail Committee advising democrats to
attend the primaries and an attempt
was there made to make capital out of
that; and assuming that you will have
something to say on the same line I
enclose one OF the circulars and will be
glad to have you print it in full, so
that your readers may judge for them
selves whether or not there is any par
tisanship in it.
In the face of the many public
statements I have made on the ques-
ton OF partisanship in this judicial
campaign it seems strange, indeed,
that any should attempt to make it
appear that partisan work was being
done by me or in my behalf; but such
is the attempt, ostensibly for the pur-
pose Of justifying the partisanship in
jected into the campaign by those
supporting my opponent. In at least
three-fourths OF the public meetings I
have held, prominent republicans have
presided. Does this lay them open to
the charge Of partisanship, when the
meetings at which they presided were
non-partisan affairs2 The support of
my opponent or myself by members of
either party is not what constitutes
partisanship in this campaign. 1t is
the act Of undertaking to whip voters
into line with the party lash, or appeal
ing to them for support on party
grounds that constitutes it.
In all the public speeches l have
made have said, and now reiterate,
that I expect no man to support me
by reason of political affiliations.
II cannot he elected without