Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1918-05-01
THE FACTS ABOUT
THE JUDGEsn|P
Members of the Winneshiek County
Bar State Facts Regarding APP
p0intment Of Judge HOuck.
MADE
TUESDAY, APRIL 10.
Before the Appointment Was Made
Members of the Bar Agreed to
Hold Meeting at Calmar
to Make RecOmmen.
datiOns.

L q
to Make RecOmmen-
datiOns.
| On account of certain misrepre-
sentatiOns which have recently ap-
peared in a portion Of the press Of
this District with reference to the
appointment of our fellow member
of the bar. c.. N. Houck, by Goyef-
nor Harding to fill the vacancy
caused by the recent death of Judge
Hobson. and especially with refer
ence to the meeting of attorneys
held at Calmar on Wednesday, April
18th, we the undersigned of. the
bar Of Winneshiek county, Iowa,
make the following statement of
facts:
Two days after the death Of Judge
Hobson a petition was circulated
end signed by the members Of the
bar of Winneshiek County, Iowa,
requesting Governor Harding to
appoint County Attorney Houck to
fill the vacancy caused by the death
of Judge Hobson. The petition was
drawn up, circulated and forward
led to the Governor without any par
ticipatiOn whatever by Mr. HOuck.
hnd his endorsement came spon-
taneously from the bar purely from
a feeling that the appointment was
due our county, and from our APP
preciation of the ability and in
tegrity and in every way fitness for
the place of Mr.. HOuck, with whom
we have been associated MT the bar
of this county for years. Disres-
pect to any one was fartherest from
out thought. We felt that the pres
sing business of the District neces-
STATED the early filing of the va
cancy.
On Monday April 18th, and before
any appointment had been made,
the members Of the bar agreed tc
hold q meeting at Calmar on Wed
Ineaday, April 17th, for the purpose
of making a Recommendation "a
IGOyernOr Harding ~ to whom theJ
preferred TO have appointed to the
place. /, esf
4 On Tuesday, April 10th, Governor
Harding made \the appointment OF
Mr.. HOuck to fill the vacancy.
While, In fact, the purpose had
passed by, because of the making OF
the appointment, the meeting was
held as scheduled. At this meeting
there were attorneys present from
every county in the district except
Ing Howard. whose attorneys de-
cided not to attend. because they
felt the appointment having been
made no purpose could be accom-.
J plished by the meeting.
u Members of the bar from Ala.
makee county in attendance at this
meeting stated that in view of the
appointment having been made
they thought 1t best not to hole
, any meeting and that the attorneys
better disperse without taking an,
action of any kind. Later on al
the request Of a number of the bal
from Fayette county, an informa
meeting Of the members of the bal
, was held in the dining room of the
hotel. At this meeting there were
about twenty-five attorneys present
and practically all Of them par
I lticipated in the discussions. NJ
attempt was made by any one t,
get an endorsement of any candi
date. the sentiment being that tn,
field should remain open to an!
{ one who cared to become a candi
date. The whole situation with re
ference to the procurement Of Mr.
Houck's appointment was gone int
In detail by parties conversant will
, attorneys from the facts. At thi
) Informal meeting, attorneys from
every county In the District wer,
present with the exception of How
lard and Allamakee. Allamakee at
i ltorneys, though in the lobby of tn
, hotel, failed to enter the meeting
The sentiment of this meeting wa
decidedly favorable to Mr.. Houck
In the interest Of justice we stat,
these facts. The people of the dis
: ltrict are entitled to know them W.
, invite most rigid investigation o
Everything done in this matter OF
!. our part. The judgeship is too higl
: place in the esteem Of our peopl
: to permit the clouding OF the issue
3 by falsehood.
Judge H0uckN was born in thi
county forty-six years ago. was ad
mitted to the bar in 1899 and ha
practiced law IA Decorah practical
ly all the time since his admission
and was finishing his third term a
County Attorney at the time o
his appointment. He has had hi
> share OF the important litigation o
> the county and has the confidence
, of every one who knows him. Tn
lpeople Of this district will find hin
gentleman, an honest man,
good lawyer, and one possessing
: the qualifications necessary for Dis
5 trict Judge.
al E. r. Acres.
r. j. Sullivan,
j. A. Nelson,
III. F. Barthell,