Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1913-08-13
MAKES PERSONAL STATEMENT
McKibbin Addresses Voters on Sub
ject of His Disqualification
TO THE VOTERS OF VERNON COUNTY:

TO THE VOTERS OF VERNON COUNTY:
Simultaneous with the publication of
this letter, the press will herald the APP
pointment of Mr.. j. Henry Bennett of
| Viroqua, as your district attorney to
| fill the unexpired term occasioned by
the revocation Of my license to practice
law within this state, thereby causing
vacancy which must be filled by APP
pointment.
The year of 1912 was a year Of driv-
ing sharp political bargains throughout
the entire country, and | am sorry to
say that Vernon county did not escape
the effect of the poisonous fangs of cor
rupt political workers. To avert the
possibility of the above statement car
rying with it a double meaning, | want
to say that this did not apply to any
single individual or to aspirants for any
one particular Office, for the records Of
the system of conducting their cam
paign is before the people and they are
amply qualified to Judge for themselves.
On the 18th day Of June, 1910, / was
admitted tC practice in the circuit
courts of the sixth judicial circuit, and
from that date until my qualifications
to act as an attorney within this state
were attacked, was in good faith &C.
lively engaged in the practice of law
within the state. If this is a judicial
error, then am not responsible for
that error and no man or collection of
men will, unless they possess only the
diseased and disordered fragments of a
normal mind, utter one word of person
al censure or ridicule against me. The
records show that the proceedings were
~. go
any wise effect me personally. The
motive which actuated the institution
of these proceedings looking to the re-
vocation OF my license TO practice law,
and thereby preventing me from hold
ing the Office of district attorney, to
which Office ! was elected by an UMPIRE
cedented majority, is mere matter of
conjecture. Those members of the Yer
non County Bar Association, who were
the prime movers in the prosecution,
maintain that it was for the express
purpose of maintaining the dignity Of
the profession; others say that other
motives actuated them. My personal
views in the matter need not be express
ed, except that If il was for the pur-
profession, then ! sincerely hope that
standard of dignity has been maintained
and that all impurities of the Vernon
County Bar have been eliminated.
My failure to pass the bar exannina-
tion last month. does not say that do
not possess sufficient knowledge of law
to practice within the state, for | be-
lieve that am safe in saying that hard
" fifty percent of the actual practicing
lawyers within the state could take and
naan rha hass a-rat,,t n of c,, of fha
of Wisconsin. Six years since had 10
in passing. but the actual
practice does not enhance q persons
chances Of passing after years of dead
ing with questions which never come
up in such examinations.
If II was expected that just because
have lest the Office. / would leave the
city of Viroqua, | will destroy that ex-
peetation on the part of some b; say
ing positively, that | shall remain in
the city of Viroqua and shall main
tain an office in this city until | shall
have perfected my admission to the bar
and am again qualified to practice law.
when | shall again be candidate for
the same Office. | harbor no i'll feeling
toward any individual il they conscien-
tio9sly believe that they have acted for
the best interests of tins people, nor do
have any thought of seyenge upon
any individual. but this fVht has Great
ed within me grim determination -
overcome all existing obstacles a dI
come out triumphant in the end.
may be absent from the city a !
greater portion If the time, but if i am
il will be for the purpose of preparing
myself for the time when | hope toll
perfect my admission to practice Laws
again within the state of Wisconsin.
Thanking you for the many past ia
vors and for your words of sympathy,
I am, Very sincerely yours.
GEORGE w. McKiBBIN.
Viroqua. August IL. 1913.