Dresden enterprise and Sharon tribune. (Dresden, Tenn.) 1907-1997, 1917-07-13
REPLY OF JUDGE JONES TO Mr.. ELKINS

Mr. Elkins one of my competitors for the judicial
nomination. has recently published an article IN Gne
Dresden Enterprise of Weakley county, and also IN the
form of circular insisting that had held the office
for greater length of time than usual The facts are
that was elected Attorney for only two years
in 1894 to fill the uneXpired term OF Hon. Rice A.
pierce who was elected to Congress. Afterwards IN
the failof 1885, elected to the lower house OF
the Legislature from Benton county In 1900 was
defeated for Congress- Dec. &c, 1906, was appoln.
fed TO the Circuit Court bench the resignation OF
Judge R. E. Maiden By appointment served for ~
months was elected then to fill the remaining Two
wears of Judge Maiden,s tern-was then elected Tor
fhe present term On the expiration OF this term,
SeptI1 1913 | will have served as judge for eleven
wears and eight months. Is that long time 1or a
Judge to serve? Let me calmly reclte some puDhc
we'll known history. Judge Swiggart was our Circuit
Judge for sixteen years; John S. Cooper Chancellor
for sixteen years and they were excellent judges Jonn
Somers of Dresden presided over our Chancery courts
for TWENTY-FIVE years; Peter Turney was on the 81
preme Bench of Tennessee for twenty-five years con
tnuouslv and then went to the GoVerors chalr LOT
four wears Levi Woods, of Lexington, was elecCeo
Circuit Judge for twentyfour years, or tnree Terms
Albert G. Hawkins, of Huntingdon was electeo GhaL-
celor for three terms, or twenty-tour years gudge
Thomas J. Fippin, from Fayette county, Whom Juoge
Maiden succeeded was Circuit Judge for thrty-tWo
years Chief Justice NJ M. Neil, of the Supreme Court
retires from the Supreme Court next year. after ser
vice of eight years the Court OF Chancery Appears
and sixteen years on the Supreme Bench, or twenty
four years on the two courts Judge Tyler, OF ClarKs
VILE has been Criminal Judge at ClarksVllle Tor more
than thirty years.
Under the Federal Constitution, judges appoin-
ted for life or good behavior John Marshall served
as Chief Justice of the greatest court IN the world
for thrv-five years. and Stephen j. Field of Cator-
MIA as Associate Justice for thirty years.
Mr. Ekins, in his circular, makes no complaint
of nv administration of the office. take PRIDE IN
saving that there has been as few reversas by the
Appellate Courts of appealed from our court
as any Circuit Court in the state He sought ana was
allowed an endorsement in the Legislature, and atter
two terms there he seeks to displace me before
have served term and half
Mr. Elkins claims that at the expiration OF TINS
term will have collected from the state about thirty
five thousand dollars. This is true, but that amount
represents eleven years and eight months OF hard
work on the bench. It is necessary for me to be
away from home the greater part of my time IN mold
ing the courts in the different counties and the eX-
penses amount to several hundred dollars year Any
LAWYER competent for the bench ought to earn that
sum in professional abors less the expense incident
to the office.
Ny opponent seems to think that because the people
were kind enough to honor him with two terms IN the
State Senate that they it to him to elect MN
Circuit Judge. The public have no interest IN the
personal aspirations of any individual and owe no
an office - j..
NV judicial record is before you for consideration.
I feel that my experience on the bench has made me
more competent than ever to pass upon the many
complicated questions that come before the court.
If YOU believe that have made good as Judge, and
been true to my trust hope that you will give me
your support in the judicial primary.
Respectfully,
JOSEPH E. JONES.