The Port Gibson reveille., 1916-07-20
To the People of the Southern
Supreme Court District:


Supreme Court District:
10 Announcing my candidacy fo
the Office of Justice OF the Supreme
Court, from the second distric
(Southern) atthe primary election
August IS, wish to say that / wa'
born in Franklin county, and have
lived ia Pike county tor the pas
twenty.four years, where l pract
ised Law in all the courts oil
Mississippi until / was elected
county prosecuting attorney in
1917; was appointed circuit judge
by Governor Brewer 10 1914, and
was the same year elected circuit
Judge by an overwhelming vote of
the people of the I4th district; and
then, in January 1916, ! was ap.
pointed to the supreme bench by
Governor Bilbo, which high Office
am now filling. In 1907, I
served as special Judge and chan
celIor for several court terms,
under appointment by Governor
Vardaman.
For the past six months my
duties as supreme judge have kept
me very busy, consequently |
have had no time in which to visit
any part of my district, but l shall
try to see as many people in the
thirty counties as is possible 10
the short time now remaining be.
fore the primary election.
AS circuit judge of the I4th dis
trict, ! refer you to the people of
that district as to my record. The
circuit clerks of these courts have
certified that while l was circuit
Judge l reduced the court expenses
fifty per cent; aud when | resigned
aud accepted the promotion to the
supreme bench, the jaiIs doors
were open, all cases having been
tried and disposed of, in all the
counties of my district. When
Governor BiIbo appointed me to
my present position the supreme
court docket was about three years
behind with cases. We have
worked hard and strenuously to
dispose of the cases, and we have
disposed of more than 1000 since
last January; this being more than
three times as many cases as was
ever handled in the same length |
of time by the supreme court in
the past. We expect to continue
10 rapidly reduce the number of |
cases now remaining, so that liti
gants may get their cases heard |
within a reasonable time. At the
same time, we have given full and
careful consideration 20 each case
decided by US. AS to my ecord
on the supreme bench | refer you |
to any lawyer in the State OF
Mississippi, or any other person
familiar with our work.
have no platform promises to
make, except that / will continue
to do my very best to make com
petent and impartial supreme
Judge.
The eastern part OF the Southern
District is already represented on
the supreme bench by Judge
Stevens, and it occurs to me that
the western part of the district
ftom which | come-is entitled to
the other judge.
l have tried conscientiously and
faithfully to perform the duties of
my Office. My record as circuit
judge and as Justice.of the supreme
court is open to investigation, and
upon this | submit my candidacy
to the people, believing that their
sense of fair play will lead them
to not turn me out of my present
position, without cause, but that
they will give me the chance of
serving a full term in the Office to
which | was appointed. II elected
for the full term l pledge you that
l will do my full duty as it is given
me to see it, and the strength to
perform it.
Yours Sincerely,
]. B. dOLDEN,
of McComb City, Pike county.
Card Of Thanks.