The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1915-03-04
ANNOUNCEMENT.
To the Voters of the First Judi
cial District of Kentucky,

In making my formal announce
ment as a candidate for the Of
ice OF circuit Judge of this dis
trlet, subject to the action of the
August, 1915, democratic primary
wish TO thank the citizens of
Graves county who voluntarily
petiuoned thhe governor of this
State to appoint me circuit Judge
after the death OF Judge X. j.
Bugg. While appreciate the
complifent of this endorsement, |
realize the fact that yo paid this
high compliment more TO the
ideals and principles for which /
sian6, than TO my personality
and | earnestly hope that my fu.
ture conduct will be such that yoa
Will never regret this honor
shown 10 me.
You know that | do not know
all the law; that there are 9th
er men seeking this high position
at your hands who possess an G.
quail, II not a superior, knowledge
of American and English juris-
prudence TO myself, but for fiji
teen years | have been a student
of and engaged in the practice of
law. For thrice nyears | have
held the humble position of po-
lice Judge of Mayfield, and rs
such hhave presided at the trial
Of from five hundred 10 one
thousand cases each year. This
knowledge and experience can
be Of no disadvantage to me in
discharging the duties of circuit
Judge While a general knowl.
edge Of the law and its proce-
dure is necessary to make a
good judge, il is as equally i'm
portant that man should hhave
the proper conception of the dif-
ference between right and wrong,
and should have an intense desire
TO serve the people in sch way
as TO cause the courts to be re-
spected and to cause each cifi-
zen to know that the court house
is, indeed. temple of Jutice,
where ms rights will not only be
respected, but protected. If a
man has no higher ambition than
20 draw his salary and 10 be
known as a learned Judge, his G.
lection 10 public office is not a
necessity. In the First Judicial
District there is room for Inn
provement and reform. | do not
know that the people OF this dis
trict will decide that | am the
proper person TO institute those
reforms. but truly belivee that
thew are anxious for reform
and. If | receive the nomination
and election. shall make an
honest. earnest, and persistent et
| fort 20 institute reform in the
administration of justice in tins
district.
Your circuit court, while a
necessity, is a very expensive IN
eiitutiOn. II is operated at a
cost OF from $500 to $1,000 per
lhour to the taxpayers This court
should not be operated for show
or display, but for the prompt ani
efficient transaction OF tina
business that must necessarily
come before il. II is wholly UNI
fair to the people that they should
be dragged TO the court house
from timeto time, through wealth
or that is foul as well as fair, TO
testify in ease that is OF no IN
terest TO them. and find that eiih'
or the plaintiff or defendant de-
sires TO continue the case and has
arranged for some witness to be
conveniently absent. When a
witness is absent from the Court
house. without furnishing TO the
court some reason for his alb
sence. he should be promptly at
tached and when brought he,
fore the court, ii he has no Legal
excuse for his absence, he shou d
be fined such a sum as wo'llu
compensate the commonwealth
for the unnecessary cost expend'
ed. which his absence caused. lh'
certainty of the infliction OF tins
penaltv will cause the prompt az
. tendance of witnesses, and VIII
enable the court to transact ia
business in one-half the TIME
now required.
One of the most important
! functions of the circuit Judge II
s the appointment of jury eomm's
sions. who place in the Jury vince
the names of the men who com
pose the grand and petit luries
M. ;ur,, commission should bi