Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-07-21
LARGE FIELD OF CANDIDATES
AMONG TIE REPUBLICANS FOR
VACANCY CAUSED BY BISHOPS
DEMISE.
GOVERNOR CANNOT
MAKE APPOINTMENT
OLD STYLE cAUcUsEs, COUNTRY
AND STATE CONVENTIONS ARE
TO BE HELD IN STATE-BYERS
EXPECTED TO GIVE RULING

Oes Moines, July 20.-Politicians
expect the warmest sort Of fight over
the nomination of a Republican candi-
date for Judge of the supreme court
to fill the vacancy caused by the death
of Judge Bishop.
There will be a large field of candi-
dates. About thirty names have been
suggested to Governor Cummins for
appointment, and since he will not ap-
point and the parties will hold nomin-
ating conventions to select party con.
didates, it is supposed that a majority
of them will be in the race.
In addition there will be a large
number ow others probably who will
20 into the race.
Among the new names heard men,
toned yesterday in connection with
the nomination were Congressman B.,
P. Birdsall of Wright county, Judge
w. r. Green of Audubon and Judge
II. NJ. Towner of Corning.
1t is understood that w. H. Berry
of %Indianola already has announced
his candidacy for the nomination at
the convention. w. H. McHenry Of the
Polk county bench will be in the race,
also, it is thought, and there may be
a contest among three and possibly all
of tn local judges for the Polk county
delegation. Judge Green will be a can
iidate for the nomination without
doubt. He has been fourteen years OF
the bench. Judge q. A. Church of JEFF
ferson certainly will be a candidate.
Judge M. A. Roberts of Ottumwa is
also a candidate for the j%udgeship.
Governor Cannot Appoint.
Governor Cummins has decided that
The political parties must nominate
candidates for supreme judge to fill
the vacancy caused by the death Of
Justice Charles A. Bishop and pending
the nominations he will not make an
appointment.
The question was referred to At
torney General Byers yesterday and
1t is understood thf1 a formal opinion
In agreement with the view taken by
The governor would be forthcoming.
Secretary of State Hayward agrees
with the opinion of the executive
with regard to the situation.
Governor Cummins will notify the
chairmen of the state central commit
tees of the parties of the decision in
regard to the mater and they will pro.
coed accordingly.
Not Primary Conventions.
1t is improbable that the commit.
tees will the former con.
vention which met pursuant to the
primary election. 1t is supposed that
they will call a new convention and
the counties will select delegates in
the usual way. This will include the
precinct caucuses to select delegates
to the county convention and the Sc
lection of delegates in the state con
vention by the county conventions.
The delegates to the conventions
will be selected in the old way and
without the Intervention of any 81
the provisions Of the primary law.
Under the primary law the count!
conventions were all held the same
day. They may be held at different
times for the selection of delegates tt
coming state conventions.
District Convention, Too.
If the state convention should nom
mate for supreme Judge a presen'
member of a district bench, then pre-
cinct caucuses would select delegate!
to county conventions of the ~countie.
within the judicial districts and tn,
county conventions would select dele
gates to a district judicial convention
to nominate a successor to the dis
trict judge so elevated.
Friends and lawyers who have beef
recommended for appointment hav,
understood that the governor woul,
not appoint to fill the vacancy If i
were possible, under the law, to ge
nominees on the ballot this fall S
that the people could elect a judge
This information has been given t
those who have conferred with tn
governor about the matter. That til
governor had that decision in viev
If it were possible to reach 1t, was IL
dictated plainly by statements give
publicity. It was not a surprise, there
fore, when the announcement wa
made yesterday that he would not a.
point but that the parties would b
asked to present candidates to go O
the official ballot.
Campmeetinq at Birmingham.