The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1910-06-05

DDS that would have for their object
the cessation of such conditions.
II required an application of the
law enforced by strong and determ-
ined hand, to put stop TO such repre-
hensible practices, and bring about
the reign of Deace.
To no man or instrumentality is
Ardmore more thoroughly indebted for
calling halt to this march, this reel
OF crime, than to StillWell II. Russell,
present Judge of the district court.
1t was he who recognizing the la
mentable conditions, recognizing the
necessity of rigid methods placed the
ban of the laws displeasure on the
fellows who had hitherto reigned un-
molested.
IL is to his sense of Justice his ripe
experience with men and with condi-
tons, his fearlessness and his deter
mlnation to bring about in his district
cessation of crime and bloodshed,
more than to any other agency, that
we today are enjoying freedom from
crime, freedom from bloodshed that
has transformed Ardmore into one of
the most law abiding, peaceful cities
of the state.
Without fear or favor he applied tie
law to the condition and when tne
desperate was brought before him he
found that he must pay the penalty of
AIS acts. He found that no longer could
ne avoid the punishment that ne merit
ed and that in Judge Russell's district
he must obey the law or stand the
consequences.
There was nothing of the melo-dra-
matte about the judges dispensation
No grand stand methods of playing to
the galleries, just the stern and strict
demands of justice thoroughly and
lalrly applied, that was all. No as
sumption of buncombe nor advertising
or spectacular nature, it was all
done quietly, judiciOusly, fairly, hon
eStly and with a full sense of respon-
slblllty that he owed to the commun-
lty and to his fellow man One by one
the desperado met his fate. The
yawning gates of the penitentiary that
had waited for years with impatience
opened to receive the evil does. Care
fully, remorselessesly the law was
made to take its course and the gun
toter, the fellow with notches on his
STICK, the man with the blood of his
fellow man upon his hands was placed
Wnere no longer would he be a menace
10 tne community, no longer could he
oHend the peace and dignity of the
commonwealth with impunity.
Judge Russell's work was thorough,
1t was relentless, it was lust what
was needed. A weaker man would
nave hesitated, and in that hesitation
would have lost. A man of less force
OF character would have been swayed
by personal considerations and the
would have been the loser
A man OF less experience might hav
lalled TO recognize the necessities ana
IN consequence the crimson tide woulG
nave Stlll been at its flood.
1t required just such a strong in.
telectual, trained and judicial mind.
Just such quality of determination
Just such sense of responsibility
Just such fearless nature as Judge
Russell possesses to handle the situa.
tlon and 1t is doubtful if in all the
country a man could have been chosen
VINO in quality of heart and mind,
could have so thoroughly filled the
requirements as Judge Stillwell II.
Russell.
Ardmore owes him a debt of graft
tude. The state can boast of no bet
ter Jurist, civilization has been ad-
the security of the home. of
life, of property has been immeasur-
ably strengthened and the reputation
of this community and of the state
made cleaner by Judge Russell's ad-
vent to the bench.
Crime has been practically wiped
out at least such crimes as were gross
iy prevalent at the time of his acces-
ion to the judgeship.
Ardmore today bears a good repu-
tatiOn for peace and dignity. The era
Of the desperate is no more, the hand
Df the law has put stop to lawless-
ness. Punishment inevitably awaits
The evil doer. Civilization is no long
ar dsgraced by bloody outrages, and
H. Russell is the man who
stands as the mentor of peace, of
lecency. of the reign of law and
order, which is a credit to Ardmore.