The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1908-08-28

county has it been the practice for the
probate judges to appoint commissioners
on claims. The judges have heard, ex-
amined and passed upon them personally
and without any additional expense to
the estates. Only in very rare instances
has probate Judge in this county, prior
to Judge Anderson, appointed commits
sionerS on claims. Again Judge Ander
son Is the first probate judge who has
assumed to defend people charged with
crimes when his law partner was the
prosecuting attorney or the assistant
prosecuting attorney.
The present probate Judge has done
this in two instances that have come to
the public notice.
The people VS.. Geo. Billings, charged
with burglary, and the people w. Fred
Mills, charged with the abandonment of
his wife and child. See records of the
circuit court of Van Buren, county, May
term, 1908. And this is in direct viola
ton Ut the laws of this state.
Judge Anderson states in his commun-
lcation that "a man can be better pro-
bate Judge by remaining in general prac-
tice. 1t compels him to keep up his
study of the law and keeps his mind
alert and his energies awake as nothing
else could do"
WE'LL If tins be true, the present in
cumbent's mind must have been kept
alert and his energies awake. One hun
dred twenty circuit court cases in 80
years together with number of cases
In the supreme court and general law
business will do that and do it we'll
How the defense of local option cases,
other general criminal cases, law and
chancery cases, including a number of
divorce cases, has any tendency to aid
one in passing upon the matters present
ed in probate court | must confess is
hey ond my comprehension.
Should this doctrine be applied to our
circuit judges and the justices of the
supreme court, | fear we should have a
condition of affairs not pleasant to con-
template.
No, no, it is merely an attempted ex-
cuse. Oh, alerLness aud energy OF mind,
thou art jewels upon which TO hang an
excuse for neglect Of public official
duties.
1t occurs to me that proper attend
ance upon official matters of the office
is amply sufficient to keep the Judges
mind alert TOR his judicial duties.
Another bit" OF history:
Query. How long should a man be
kept in office?
/. David Anderson, circuit
court commissioner, years
2. David Anderson, prose.
cutting attorney, years
3. David Anderson, judge
of probate. years
Total, II years
FUTURE INTENTIONS.
David Anderson, another term as
judge of probate, then to succeed Judge |
Des Voignes at the end of his first term |
and be circuit Judge for six years or
more.
This statement is no buncombe; it is |
not done to catch your votes The mat.
ter is an open secret. The slogan is not
Judge Des Voignes place. The tocsin
of war is to be Ivan Buren, county is
entitled to the circuit Judge this time"
Come, take me.
Judge Anderson states that while |
was prosecuting attorney | did civil bust
ness True. had partner, Harry l..
Mcneil. By working nights while others
slept aided him in some civil matters
But never neglec; ed the duty | owed
10 the public to do civil business. The
salary was 81 900 per year. When Judge
A nderson was prosecuting attorney, he,
900, did quite large civil business and
ne had no partner.
He mentions the fact that he has aft
lavits to prove that in 1904 l tried to
enlist the services Of young attorney
Ind offered him partnership should l {