The Liberal democrat. [volume] (Liberal, Kan.) 1911-1924, 1912-06-07
JUDGE VIM. H. THOMPSON
FOR UNITED STATES
SENATOR

the United States Senate is growing
in favor gradually every day. Hav-
ing lived in both the east and west
ends of the state nearly all his life,
he has q large favorable acquaintance
all over the state among all political
parties who are urging his candi-
dacy.
That he believes to the fullest ex-
tent in the Progressive Democratic
principles is demonstrated by his
acte speaking louder than words,
in carrying them into actual effect
as an official and servant of the peo-
pie. He took the lead in the fight
against railroad passes for officials,
especially the judiciary, In the cam
paign of 1905, which brought about
the passage of the anti-pass law;
and to practice what he preached, he
refused all offers of free transporta-
ton during his Judgeship campaign,
and Immediately returned all passes
sent him by the railroads after his
election, and had the distinction of
being the only district judge who re-
fused such favors at that time.
AS Judge he faithfully kept his
campaign promise to clean up all
the court dockets In the nine coun-
ties OF his district from cases ac-
cumulated for years, SO that a speedy
trial might be had, putting into prac-
tice the things ne advocated in his
interesting magazine article, Jack
Rabbit Justice" from which he &C.
uuired the title "Jack Rabbit Judge"
He helped to bring about the pas
sage of the parole laws of 1907, and
assumed prominence in the state on
parole questions, accomplishing great
reforms by employing similar meth
DDS as adopted by Judge Lindsey.
-
From experience on the bench the
divorce evil, especially from aban-
dOnment, appealed to him so strong
ly that he aided in securing the en-
actment OF the new desertion law,
which makes it penitentiary Of
Tense for a man to abandon his wife
and children, and compels him to
support them or serve a term In
prison.
He accomplished the greatest good
for western Kansas by his famous
caches" decision preventing fore
closure of the old, cut-thrOat, boom
day, mortgages which plastered most
OF the lands of his district, and had
fallen into the hands Of land grafters
who attempted to enforce them, and
had heretofore been successful. His
righteous stand on this question,
holding that the lands belong to the
settlers who had improved and made
them valuable, and not to the specu-
lators who had little or nothing In
them, has so endeared him to the
people of western Kansas, especially
in the 9Th and 7th districts, that 1t
will be impossible to defeat him in
that section.
His decisions where the rights Of
the masses against the favored few
were involved always have been on
the side of the people, which shows
that his heart is right and that he
can be depended upon as a faithful
representative of the people.
The people of the 7th district also
feel especially kind toward him be-
cause he wrote the platform on which
Congressman Neeley was elected
last winter, and helped carry the
district for him.
He has for years advocated the
election of United States Senators by
direct vote of the people, and did
much to compel the passage of the
present modified oregon plan for that
purpose until a constitutional amend
ment may be had providing therefor.
Having never lost political bat
tie, no one who knows him, in either
political party, doubts his ability to
win the electin, if nominated, no
matter who the republicans may
nominate.