The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-11-16

Nominated for Judge.
The district was overwhelmingly
| Republican and no Democratic lawyer
| cared for the empty honor of the nom
| nation. Thompson informed the
| Democratic leaders that he would ac-
| cept the nomination for district judge
and was accordingly nominated. Inc
Republicans laughed at the presump-
ton of the young man who had just
! come into the district. They had no
idea he would make a showing He
was unacquainted with the people in
the district and was also unfamiliar
with western political methods.
Great was the surprise when this
Dung man from eastern Kansas began
an active campaign. He used the
newspapers freely-someth1ng un-
known in the west; he had circulars
printed and scattered them broadcast
over the district; he boldly attacked
what he called the ring rule of
CLIQUE of Republican lawyers and poll
ticians; he drove from enc county to
another, as there are no railroads, and
visited nearly every voter in the nine
counties.
At last the Republican managers
began to take notice, but it was too
late. They held meetings, they sent
out campaign material; they did every
thing in their power to cOunteract the
effects of the campaign made by the
tenderfoot attorney. Their efforts
were fruitless. When the reports came
in it was found he was elected by
a majority of nearly 200.
He took his place on the bench I'M
der most unpropitious circumstances
He faced the hostile bar who had dis
approved of his campaign methods, and
a stormy career was predicted FOR MIN
by his friends.
From the first, however, the young
Judge adopted a course demonstrating
his courage and ability. Friends and
enemies were treated alike. He ex-
pounded the law as he found it, and
never attempted to pervert justice TO
serve political ends.
The result was when his term ex-
pired he was reelected judge by an
overwhelming majority, losing ONLY
one township in his district of nine
counties. He had formed a reputation
for the dispatch of business The
dockets were cleared up and lawyers
and court officers who were tardy in
attendance were ruthlessly fined by
the young judge.
Once Fined Himself.
1t is told that on one occasion his
automobile broke down on the way to
court. He arrived two hours late.
Fine the judge $40 for being tardy,
he gravely directed the astonished
clerk, and promptly paid the fine.
He drove through the sand hills
day and night to reach court ap-
pointments no matter what the condi-
lions, and never was late again.
The older politicians in Kansas were
NOT inclined to take Judge Thompson
seriously when he entered the race for
the Democratic nomination for United
States senator. They argued he was
new in politics. was not known
throughout the state, and was no
match for the older political heads.
He had never been given place in
the inner circle of politicians and had
never been consulted when there was
a slate to be made. Now he began an
active campaign He visited every one
of the los counties; he shook hands
with as many of the local Democratic
leaders and as many voters as he could
reach. He wrote thousands of letters
to Democrats, telling them about his
candidacy and why he aspired for the
high office of United States senator.
All the time he took care that the
C urt work of his district was not neg
lected. When the hour for court ar (
rived in any one of his nine counties
in southwestern Kansas, he was al
ways on hand to hear the bailin call, |
"Oh, yes, oh. yes, the honorable dis |
trict court for and in the county of
is now in session.
Judge Thompson was not surprised
when the result of the senatorial |
found that he had won over such old
time politicians as ex-senator Hugh |
Farrelley, ex-Supreme Judge s. H. AL |
len and T. L. Bond. Perhaps he was |
the only man who was not surprised.
Snubbed by Ring Leaders.
There were signs of an incipient re- |
volt among the Democrats early in
the campaign following his nomina- /
ton. He was snubbed and ignored a !
thousand times, but he kept on his |
way unSwervingly. He was told that |
he was not needed in the campaign, |
that he would be better off if he staid
at home However, he began a sys-
tematic canvass of the state. He made