Gilpin observer., 1912-10-17
ABOUT OUR CANDIDACY
FOR COUNTY JUDGE.

AS a trout fisherman would express
it, we have finally gotten a raise
out of our esteemed contemporary,
The Register-Call anent the qualifi-
cations of the editor of The Obser-
for county judge. The Register says
an attorney should fill that office,
which any citizen of common intelli-
gence knows is not required by law.
In the history of this county, there
have been two or three instances
where the position of county Judge
has been filled by layman, and
from what We have always under
stood, in a satisfactory manner. At
the present time, and for years past,
in various other counties of the
state, men have served as county
judges who have never been admitted
to the bar. Some of these during
their tenure of office, read law and
passed the bar examination.
Judge Palm, who is now editing a
newspaper in Grand county, filled the
office of county judge in Douglas
county for nearly eighteen years. He
was not lawyer, but evidently gave
entire satisfaction or he would not
have held the position for so long a
time.
Judge Theron Stevens, who until a
few years ago was district Judge Of
the Seventh Judicial District, was a
blacksmith by trade His friends in
duced him to run for county Judge
and he was elected. He studied law
and then advanced from the county
court to the district bench.
Eagle county, in this state, has
woman for county judge and she is
satisfactory to the people of that
county.
So it will be seen that the conten-
ton that lawyer should be elected
county Judge is merely offered to de-
ceive the voters.
The reason that the law does
to serve as county Judge is twofold.
The first is that the duties of a
county judge are not such as would
require one learned in the law"
second, an attorney who has a prac-
tice Of any extent by virtue of his
ability as a lawyer cannot be induced
to fill the county jadgship for the
reason that in a county Of this class,
the salary, through fees. being en-
tirely too light. This is the chief rea
son why Judge Matthews, who is now
county Judge declines to serve longer
in that office. He can make far more
money practicing his profession.
In view OF what has just been
stated in regard to the salary of
Gilpin, the argument the Register
advances in behalf of the Republi-
can nominee, whom that paper truth
fully states has practiced law for
many years, cannot appeal very
strongly to one who will stop for a
moment to reason that a lawyer s
ability must be questioned who as
pires to the office of county judge
after having followed the practice of
law for SO long a period. The busi-
ness Of lawyer who has successful
practiced law for many years would
bring him more money in one or
two months than the office Of
county Judge of Gilpin county
would pay him in a year.
The duties of the Judge Of Gi,pin
county are confined mainly to work
Of a clerical nature. Trial cases
are few and far apart. These cases
consist Of divorce suits, lunacy
cases. Juvenile matters; occasionally
suit Of attachment. In these cases a
jury is summoned to hear the evi-
dence and determine upon the mer-
its of the case. From what We have
observed of county court cases in
reporting them for papers, about the
only purpose the dignified judge
serves is that Of a mediator who
prevents the opposing counsel from
chnching at various intervals, when
the aforesaid counsel would convert
the temple of justice into prize
ring.
Coming to the qualifications OF
the Democratic nominee for prop
erly discharging the duties Of county
Judge: AS Is a well known fact.
the work Of one editing a newspaper
is such that requires constant study
and great deal OF this study is
directed to legal points. As an in
stance. In the past week, your humt z
amendment that is to be voted on