Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1916-10-25
LAWYERS WANT
AN ATTORNEY IN
PROBATE COURT
Appoint Committee to Learn
Whether Candidates Will
Withdraw in Favor of Pro-
feSSionaI Man.

Attorneys will not permit the stand
ard set FOR the probate court by the
late julius Staab and Judge John Ba-
ron Burg to deteriOratC without an eff
fort to prevent it. They took action
10 keep up the standard Of the court
last night at a meeting held at the
Commercial club. Nearly every attor-
ney in Albuquerque was there or rep
resented
The attorneys plan is, first to as
certain whether tho candidates nomi-
mated by the republicans and demo-
Gratis both of whom are laymen, Will
withdraw in favor of the movement
to retain lawyer in the probate
court and, II they consent, to have
both parties name lawyers as Candi-
dates or for both parties to agree
Upon one man
No personal attack was made at
last nights meeting upon either the
republican or democratic candidate
The lawyers were influenced not by
any feeling against either Of the can
didates but by the opinion that the
probate judgeship was a job for an
attorney
Neither were the lawyers actuatcd
Of their number on the bench. They
will not insist upon any particular
candidate or candidates. If he is a
competent attorney that will satisfy
them,
Committee Non-partsan.
John f. Simms presided at last
nights meeting and Pearce c. Rodey
was secretary Mr. Simms was au-
thorizcd by resolution offered by H.
b. Jamison and seconded by Laurence
f. Lee. to appoint a committee to
wait upon the republican and demo-
cratic central committees in an effort
to place "A lawyer in the probate court
The partisan character of the
attorneys efforts is indicated in the
makeup OF the committee, which
consists Of three republicans and three
Members of the commit
tee are NJ. r. Hickey Col. j. w. Dob
son, Pearce c. Rodey, Senator Isaac
I}arth, City Attorney w, A. Kcloher
and George G. Taylor The last three
are democrats.
This committee viii meet at 9:15
o'clock this morning in Mr.. Taylor's
office in the Cromwell building, Sec
end street and Gold avenue At this
p
for the committees conference with
the republican and demociStiC cen
trail committees. The attorneys COM
mittce viii ask tho central committees
whether their candidates viii resign
in favor of attorneys. The confer
ences probably will be held today.
Poor Estates Might suffer.
Attorneys pointed out i'm defense of
1 l..k a .l,t. 1. 4
questions must be decided at times by
the probate Judge, OF course there
Is opportunity to appeal to the dis
trict court, but that costs money
That would mean but little to rich
estates but to poor estates II would
mean more. Also. attorneys said the
district courts business is heavy and
an increase in the way Of appeals
from the probate court would over
crowd the docket and handicap the
court.
The attorneys are not making any
attack upon the present candidates as
10 their character or intelligence.
They feel, however, that the probate
court, which in Bernalillo county han |
dies many rich estates requires a
technical knowledge which no ono eX-
,ept a professional man possesses.
The attorneys efforts are directed |
only toward placing a trained man in |
he office. They are not supporting !
any candidacy. Privately, it was said |
however. that Thomas r. D. Maddi- |
son, district clerk. a member Of the |
3crnalillo County Bar association, |
would be qualified in the event that |
10th parties agreed upon one candi- |
late, because of the fact that he has |
sept free from mingling in partisan
politics.
Backing No Candidate.
In the event that both parties de-
'ide to put up Candidatos-if the pres
mt ones withdraw, of course-there
would he a greater number of posi-
lilities Assistant United States At
orney II. 6 Coors, Judge John Baron
Burg John W. Wilson and Thomas n.
Nilkerson have been mentioned.
However, the attorneys instructed
heir committee only TO ascertain
whether the judgeship might be filled
ny a lawyer There We're no instrue
ions to recommend any candidates.
Henry hauIS BAGGAGE and