The Climax-Madisonian. (Richmond, Madison County, Ky.) 1914-1917, 1915-06-09
SHACKELFORD
Shells The Woods at Win
chester.


M. Benton, made at that place. He was
introduced by Squire Conkright. The
house was crowded TO suffocation and
round after round of applause greeted
the speaker as he appeared on the ros-
trum. For over two hours he held the
audience and delivered sledge hammer
blows at his antagonist. Judge Shack
elford said in part:
This is the first time in my life ever
undertook to make a speech for myself
and am somewhat embarrassed as to
how 10 proceed
Il was born, raised and have lived all
of my life in Richmond. was educat-
ed at Central University, taking the
Bachelor of Arts degree from that insti-
tuition in 1887 at the age of II years.
Taking ost-graduate course, | receiv-
ed the degree of Master of Arts the next
year. From that day TO this l have
made my own way. l taught school for
Two years, one of which was in the uni
versity and studied law, taking a short
course in 1890 at the University of Vir-
ginia, under the celebrated John B.
Minor. l was admitted 10 the bar in
January, 1891, and have practiced my
profession in the courts of Madison coun-
ty continuously up to the time / was
elected County Judge.
my honorable opponent in a message
to the people of Clark county,, which he
delivered here May "a, was disposed to
speak with much contempt of my activ-
tiles as practitioner. | am sorry my
methods have not won his ap-
proval. 1 never heard any complaint
from Judge Morton or Judge Scott, but
then never had the inexcusable effront
cry to declare myself candidate for
Circuit Judge while those gentlemen
were On the bench.
How He Practiced Law.
81 say frankly that did not practice
law to suit our present Circuit Judge.
but to please and care for the business
of my clients. l always felt that my
services were worth more to my clients
to keep them out of trouble than to get
them out of trouble. A large part of
my practice was Office practice and
never criminal practice if could help it.
Record as County Judge.
81 have been County Judge of Madison
county since January, 1910. and believe
the people of that county will attest that
l have given them good service, anyhow
they renominated me by oil majority
over one of our best and most popular
citizens and my personal friend, who
never once during the whole campaign
bit me or himself either, for that matter.
THE first thing l did was to elimin-
ate politics from the fiscal affairs of the
county and during my administration
the County Judges office has been
business office and not political ma
chine. As result, about S95, 10000 of
Madison county debts have been paid
and the tax rate reduced cents on the
$4,000.
Pledges Himself to Be Judge.
''The County Judge of Madison coun-
ty don't know whether man is big or
little, rich or poor, black or white, Dem
ocrat or Republican, and give you my
solemn assurance that if you elect me
your Circit Judge, L will be your Circuit
Judge.
81 know, from the experience l have
had at the bar and on the bench, that
am qualified to discharge the duties of
this office, notwithstanding my honora-
Bile opponent told you that | was an in
competent ignoramus. l am not such
an ignoramus as to believe or say that
am the only man in the district who is
competent to preside over your Circuit
Court and l don't believe that Judge
Scott believed it or said it, although
Judge Benton stated that Judge Scott
willed him this office and five machine
politicians in Frankfort unanimously
agreed that he was the only man who
had done enough for their crowd to re-
eeive the appointment. There will be
no strings tied to me for politicians or
or personal friends or good
clever bootleggers, who always have
some river fish in the skillet, to pull.
81 will be your Circuit Judge, and
NOBODY ELSE. will have no part
ners or pets, nor deputies. l will owe
no debts which have to be paid from the
bench. There is not now nor ever will
be anybody l am afraid of, and no obli-
cations which cannot be, discharged in
my personal capacity.
81 will be the CIRCUIT JUDGE. /
am running for Circuit Judge, gentle
men. | am not a candidate for Com
monwealth's Attorney. You have here
tofore chosen and will choose again a.
most excellent gentleman TO attend to
the duties of that Office don't want
to be foreman of the grand jury or coun-
ty detective or Circuit Clerk or jaller or
keeper of the County Infirmary, and
am not running anybody for any OF those
places. don't want to be and won't be
attorney for any litigant having business
in my court. Inever expect TO sit on a
petit jury nor poll jury to find out il
anybody on it is going to vote for me.
81 just want to be Circuit Judge, gen
tlemen, but l don't want anybody to
vote for me with the expectation that |
am going to pay off any political obliga-
tions with judicial favors.
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