Cresco plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1913-1945, 1914-07-24
Seth Thomas.

for the supreme court at the recen
primary election and standing in thir,
place on the non partisan ticket on tn
basis of the vote cast for the sever
candidates who contested for the nomi
nation, is Al years of age and has bee,
in active practice o. law five years
The Chronicle repeats the statemen
that Mr.. Thomas is in his 41st year be
cause it has been stated in news
papers of more or less prominence tina
he is "boy"-that he stands con
victed of the objectionable crime OF
being young man. 1t has also beer
stated that as practitioner his expert
ence has been limited and the conclu
sion duly entered that his elevation tc
the Supreme bench is inadvisable be-
cause of his youth and inexperience.
While these comments on the candi-
dacy of Mr.. Thomas may moth ground
ed on unworthy motives they misrep-
resent him and lead to differences
which are far from just.
That the age of IL is not a bar to
that fullness and soundness of mind
which should surround judicial officer
of high rank, is witnessed in the case
of Judge Deemer, one of the most emf.
nent jurists which Iowa has produced,
who became member of the supreme
court at the age of 36 years, when he
was five years the junior of Mr..
thomas at the present time Judge
Deemer was chosen from the district
bench where he had served q number
of years, and to which he was elected
when he was % years of age. He had
been admitted to the bar six years be-
fore his elevation to the bench and
after an experience not generally diff.
ferent from that of other young men
yet in their twenties setting out in the
law. A part of this time bis residence
was unsettled. He had been citizen
of Red Oak about five years when he
was given the opportunity to begin the
career which has made him 80 widely
honored.
Judge Ladd, another If the foremost
members of the supreme court, gradu.
ate in the law in 1881 and six years
later was elected to the district bench,
where he served in q distinguished
manner until he was advanced to the
appellate court in 1896. Mr.. Ladd was
80 years of age when he was first made
a judge, ut an age nine years younger
than Mr.. Thomas at the present time.
Judge Weaver, also of the Iowa 81.
preme court, while a member of the
bar, was not an active and practicing
attorney for many years prior to his
election to the district bench in 1886
He was the editor of an Iowa Falls
previous to his election to
the legislature in the early sos. While
q member of the house he was appoint.
ed chairman of the board of managers
in the impeachment trial of John !.
Brown. In this capacity he displayed
qualities of fitness for judicial dutie
on the strength of which be was cleo
ted to the district bench Of the Eleventh
district where he remained until his id.
to the higher court.
Senator Kenyon was . member Of
The district bench of this district at a
much earlier age than Mr.. Thomas and
was elected to the United States sem
ate at the age Of az.
In two instances members of the su-
preme court of Iowa were elected to
the bench at an earlier age than Mr.
Thomas and in each instance thay had
been engaged in the practice of the
law but one year more. The ability of
Judges Deemer and Ladd was, more.
over, as marked in the district court 90
it has later been manifested on the SUI
preme bench. Quite as high an order
of talent is demanded in one case as in
the other. Both were ''boys"- both
were guilty of the crime of being
young men. In the third instance, one
of our most distinguished jurists was
clothed with the judicial function after
he had practically abandoned the law
as professio to engage in other lines
of usefulness, with little or no expert.
ence as practicing attorney. If
these members of the supreme court |
have failed, or if their history does not |
reveal opportunity for men who in
spite of youth may find . career of |
great usefulness on the bench. We
would be inclined to despair of Mr..
Thomas on account of his youth and in.
~
Resides bis practice in the lower
courts since his admission 10 the bar,
Mr.. Thomas has had practice in the
higher courts far exceeding that of
most men of like term of service in
their profession. The records Of the
Iowa supreme court show his appear
ance on appeal in thirty-one import