Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1914-03-17
HON. B. r. MEYERS

HON. B. r. MEYERS
he strengthened by the elevation to
that bench of one who as coun-
seIOr. public prosecutor, Legislator,
and Judge has always observed the
best traditions of the legal profess
sion; and finally, their sincere wish
MS those best able to speak of
Judge Kunkels superior fitness for
the higher cOurt-tO make known
the universal respect and confidence
which led to his unanimous re-
election last year after n decade of
able and impartial service I'm the
Harrisburg courts.
A committee on committees was ap-
pointed with authority to name such
other committees as may be neces-
sary to cooperate with the Dauphin
County Bar Association committees
which have begun a vigorous cam
paign for Judge Kunkel all over the
State.
Mr.. Meyers Presides
There has been seldom in the his
tory of the city so representative a
meeting as that of last evening. Men
from all walks of life and nearly every
occupation were present. The meet
ing started out to be a little neighbor-
hood gathering but it wound up in
nothing short of a mass meeting. The
court room could not have held an
other person when William Jennings
stepped forward and asked for nomi
nations for chairman. B. F. Burns
nominated Hon. B. F. Meyers to pre-
side and Mercer B. Tate as secretary.
They were elected unanimously and
Mr.. Jennings named Mr. Burns and
Francis j. Hall as a committee to es-
cort Mr.. Meyers to the chair.
The room rang with applause as
Mr.. Meyers took the chair and there
were loud calls for a speech.
Some ten years ago. said Mr.. Mey-
ers, 81 was engaged in nonpartisan
iudgeship campaign. l believed then
in a nonpartisan judiciary and / be-
ieve in it now. While at that time
the anti-machine party, as we called
: ourselves, was opposed to Judge Kun
kel, 1 come before you now asking for
your support in his candidacy for the
Supreme Court judgeship, for the rea-
son that Judge Kunkel has made good
on the Dauphin county bench. OF his
legal ability | have no need to say
anything, for it is well known. OF his
integrity I could not say too much.
While l opposed him when he was
first elected, 1 was glad to vote for
him when he ran for reelection last
Fall. l would be sorry to see him
leave the Dauphin county bench, but
ON the other hand, would be glad to
see him elevated to the Supreme
bench, because I believe he is pre-emi-
nently the man for the place.
1t was at this point Mr.. Stackpole
asked permission to present the fore
going resolutions, which were unani-
mously adopted and placed on the
minutes.
He said the whole inception and
purpose Of the meeting was to give the
laymen of the city an opportunity to
he heard. "The members of the bar"
said he. have put themselves on rec
.1.t i I. -
promoting the candidacy of Judge
kunkel in every possible way. A
great many of his friends among those
who are not members of the bar have
expressed desire to be heard in some
way and it seems to be now is an eX-
cellent opportunity for those who are
here to say what they would like TO
say about Judge kunkel. We are not
here as lawyers; we are simply here as
ordinary, everyday citizens. / think
we ought to say what we have to say
about one whom we respect and honor
as we do Judge Kunkel'
Railroad Endorsement
Milton t. Robinson, who was pres
ent as the official representative of the
Brotherhood of Trainmen, said he
spoke for that large and influential
order when he heartily endorsed all
that had been said in favor of Judge
hunkelS candidacy.
II represent the Brotherhood of
Trainmen," said he, numbering in its
membership thousands of voters in all
parts of the State. | ask that the
name of our organization be spe-
cifically mentioned as supporting
Judge Kunkel. Our members do not
forget his splendidly prepared decision
sustaining the constitutionality of the
Full Crew law, which decision was sus-
tanned by the Supreme Court. / have
been instructed to go from Pittsburgh
TO Philadelphia and from Erie To the
southern boundaries of the State to
speak in behalf of Judge Kunknps
candidacy" (Appiause.)
Ed. S. Herman was the next
speaker. He said in part: "Mr. Rob
inson has spoken for the railroad men.
for the labor unions. [ want to add
a word in behalf of the business in
terests 1t is needless for me to sar
anything concerning Judge Kunkers
legal qualifications They are too well
known to require comment. Judge
Kunkel has made good, he is making
good and. believe if elevated to the
place to which he now aspires he will
make as great reputation as he has
in the Dauphn county courts In
urging a candidate for such an exalted
position as that of the Supreme Court
bench ] think that we will all agree
that fitness must be the first consid-
Grafton, and | am sure that in asking
the people to support Judge Klmkel
we are backing a man who will .add
character and ability to the office
Possibly the greatest tribute that could
be paid him is to fnd as we do here
this evening, dozens of men support
ing him who were his bitterest oppo-
nents when he first ran for Judge"
j. V. W. Reynders, ice-president
of the Pennsylvania Steel Company.
said he desired ito speak a word for
Steelton," and he too emphasized the
fact that Judge Kunkels most ardent
supporters at this time are the very
men, who opposed him most vigor-
ously a decade ago. Mr.. Reynders
thought 1t the duty of the judges
townsfolks to see to it that he be-
comes as well known over the State
as he is at home. He spledged the
support of Steelton.
George w. Straw said he was among
those ten years ago who had done the
best they could to defeat Judge
Kunkel; that he had stumped the
county against him: but the judge had
eonfounded his opponents Of that cleo