Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1914-08-21
COMMUNICATION.

Amid the tumult of the opening
skirmishes for county judge, let US
for a moment carefully and candidly
look over the situation before passing
judgment.
Six candidates are before the pub
lie. In all probability that humber
will be lessened by Withdrawals, and
political experience teaches is that
in the end the voters will select the
leading three Tor possibly two) and
center their support on these
Not only the known legal ability of
Frank S. Ham makes it certain that
he will be one of these candidates,
but the mere fact that every other
serious candidate makes him the
target of opposition emphasizes the
strength of his candidacy and insures
it ultimate prominency.
Mr.. Ham was born forty-t1ree
years ago in Fulton county, and rear
ed there, and never held an office;
and even his defeat for prosecutor
many years ago did not drive away
his good fellowship, nor did he APP
parently bear malice towards those
who were against him. This gracious
and magnamious conduct of Mr.. Ham
has caused many to cheerfully accept
this opportunity of expressing their
approval of Mr.. Hams attitude.
1t is urged by some that Mr.. Ham
should not be a candidate because Mr..
Stahl was nominated for Prosecutor.
Mr.. Ham was a candidate four a
ago, carried the county at an inform
al primary by something like 400
out of 1900 votes, and came within a
vote or two of being nominated at
Defiance. That makes him by every
right of precedent the logical candi-
date to-day. His candidacy was
known countrywide all during the
primary. If the people saw fit to
nominate Mr.. Stahl it should not be
charged against Mr.. Ham. If Ham
were elected judge the partnership
would be dissolved. If not and Stahl
was elected prosecutor his office
would be where the commissioners
have established it. in. the court
house. Stahl has pledged the people
to run the office on the salary. so
Ham cannot receive anything from
tor. The law forbids a partner from
defending. 1t is apparent that not
only would Mr.. Ham gain nothing by
Mr.. StahPs election. but rather loses
an opportunity to draw on the coun-
ty as attorney for the State or from
defendants for defending them.
A few years ago Mr.. Wolf and MI.
Handy both run for Prosecutor from
the same office and made it certain
that the position would remain there.
No criticism was or could rightfully
have been offered. Mr.. Wolf has had
eighteen years of public office at a
good salary, probably S35000.00. If
Ham had six years and Stahl four the
two would total but about half what
Mr.. Wolf had. Had the canvas made
by an attorney in Mr.. VOLTS office
since the primary not have shown it
would have been hopeless, Mr.. VOLTS
office would have a candidate for
prosecutor at the election.
Mr.. Files has been prosecutor six
years. The county judge and court
stenographer are the two best pay
poorest. Mr.. Files would take the
~Judgeship and his daughter be the
stenographer. And that would be
pcTlcCLly tight. NOlillilS tB0 lOdSI
improper in such a natural situation.
No better s~tenographer could be Sc
cured, o more acceptable appoint
ment made.
But all these things show the in
consistency of the argument that is
used against Mr.. Ham. They meas
ure him by a shorter yard stick than
his opponents.
And when all the circumstances
are considered, no fair-minded man
can honestly make the point against
Mr.. Ham that be should be set back
because Mr.. Stahl is q candidate. He
comes before the people with his mis-
takes as do others, but he brings a
record of a long and upright profess
sional life.
The most that can be said is that
in court he is too strenuous in behalf
of his cause. If that strenuousness
and his studious habits and acknow-
lodged ability were brought to the
bench it would insure not only a safe
but a speedy administration of JUS
tice.
Advt,