Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1912-08-21


nomination upon the Republican ticket
)r the office of district attorney, | ex-
pected a clean campaign. | regret to
say that unwarranted attacks have
been made upon me and statements
made by my opponent, which are en-
tlrely without foundation in fact. and
in view of these attacks. it seemed adj
vlSable to investigate his own record.
This was not easy, principally because
my opponent, in his political announce
ment, tells little of himself, his antece-
dents or his achievements. Notwith-
standing the labor of the task, under
took the investigation, and to nv sur
prise learned that he was not only
without record as an attorney, but I
believe as well, without the essential
qualifications for, and entirely without
eligibility to the office of district at
torney o. this county.
From the accompanying affidavit, it
is at once apparent that my opponent
was not. during his short residence in
West Virginia. actually engaged in.
admitted, or even permitted to practice
before the Supreme Court of Appeals of
said state. This in itself is a primary
requisite to his admission to the bar of
this state.
Section 1886, subdivision 2. Revised
Statutes, provided: That any person
who has been admitted to practice in
the SUPREME COURT of any other
state, and vic has become a resident
Of this state, may be admitted to prac-
tiee before the courts of this state, up
on production of his certificate of ad-
mission to practice in such Supreme
Court of such other state and upon sat
isfactory proof of his having been act
uaily engaged in practice of the law
in such other state for at least two
years prior to his application for admis-
sion to courts of record of this state.
My opponent claims to have been adj
mitted to practice in the Circuit Courts
of this state. If it be true, as the ac-
companying affidavit would plainly in
dictate, that he was not admitted to
practice in the Supreme Court of APP
peals of West Virginia, how is il pos
sible for him to have been admitted to
practice in the courts of the state OF
Wisconsin? By what means did he Sc
cure his admission as a practitioner
here? Or is the clerk of the Supreme
Court of Appeals Of West Virginia in
error when he wires me that the re-
cords fail to show the admission of Mr..
McKibbin to practice in that court?
If Mr.. Mckibbin will produce for
public inspection his credentials entit-
ling him to recognition as a lawyer
here, | am willing to accept them. I'm
I'll he does so, there seems no deduction
other than that the clerk of the court
in West Virginia correctly states the
facts in his telegram, and it would
seem that the nomination Of Mr.. Nc
kibbin is futile and cannot be sustain
ed. Our statutes now require that, up
on appeal, the district attorney must
prosecute state and county cases IL the
Supreme Court. II is elementary that
district attorney must be an attorney
at law, duly and regularly entitled and
admitted to practice before the Sup
RENE Court Of this state.
If the officer of the court of West
Virginia, who is charged with know
ledge of the fact, has advised me cor
rectly, Mr.. Mckibbin cannot be a reg
ularly admitted practitioner of the bar
of this state and cannot carry out the
mandates oi the statute.
I Unless Mr.. McKibbin does produce
satisfactory credentials, it would seem
useless to further consider his candi-
dsey. 1t can serve no useful purpose
to vote for person ineligible to hold
the office, if elected.
All my life, have lived in Vernon
county. | am proud of my ancestry,
proud Of their record; neither they nor
! have changed our residence 10 avail
ourselves of political possibilities. My
opponent claims to be a resident of
Vernon county, Wisconsin. | learn that
he has lived in Pennsylvania, Tennessee,
West Virginia, La Crosse and Gays
Mills, Wisconsin. and lastly at Viroqua,
Wisconsin He has shifted his place of
residence in Wisconsin, three times in
two years. | have yet to learn of his
success as an attorney at any place
where he has attempted to establish
himself.
He claims that he voted in the town
of Jefferson in Vernon county. Wiscon-
son on the End day of April, 1912. We
learn that he moved his personal effects
from Gays Mills, Crawford county, to
Viroqua on the 18th day of April, 1912.
Interpreting the law, as it is usually
interpreted by established lawyers who
have remained long enough in one To-
cality or state to learn the laws thereof,
it would seem that my estimabie OPP
ponent did not become a resident of
Vernon county until after election day
in April, 1912 The mere fact that he
may have voted in the town of Jeffer-
son last April does not establish his re-
sidence. He confuses cause with effect.
These are matters worthy of the con-
sideration of the voters of Vernon
county
If my informants are incorrect, | shall
be pleased to have creditable informa-
ton as to the truth. As stated above,
| had hoped that we need not resort to
attacks upon each other in this cam
paign Such attacks are Of Mr. Nc
Kibbin's own seeking, not mine. am
content to rest my prospects with the
good ju igment of the voters of Vernon
county and feel that they know / shall
be duly appreciated of their support.
EDw. j. HAMMER.
STATE OF WISCONSIN
VERNON CoULTY %
E. J Hammer. being first duly sworn on oath
says that on the II day Of August, 1912. in re-
Spouse 10 an inquiry Of this ailant affiant re-
ceived the following letter from Clarence Kellogg,
ing George w. McKibbn not 10 have been adj
mitted 70 practice in said court, to-wit:
Edw. j. Hammer, Attorney,
Viroqua, Wisconsin.
DEAR SIR:
Replying to your inquiry beg to ad-
wise that the name of George w. Me-
Kibbin does not appear on the roll of
attorneys who have been admitted to
practice in this court since June, 1907.
Yours truly,
CLARENCE KELLOGG,
Clerk, Supreme Court.
Madison, Wis, August Is, 1912.
Thu m, tie ITlh dau ~ Anairst 1919 nHlart