Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1919-12-11

kota, which position he resigned after
few months service and resumed his
law practice at Grand Rapids, and
again entered the State Senate for a
second term His elevation to the
Circuit Bench in 1888, as successor to
the late Judge G.. l.. Park, followed.
He was successively elected and re-
elected to this high Office without op.
position, serving without a break to
the time of his death-nearly twenty
eight years. He was the choice of the
Bar of the State for Justice of the
Wisconsin Supreme Court in the cleo
tion of 1898. He was, however, de-
feated by the late Justice Newman who
was carried to victory by his very
popular decision as Circuit Judge in
the Treasury Cases." Subsequently
he twice refused appointment to the
Wisconsin Supreme Court. He was
once prominent Republican candi-
date for Congress, and later and in
1898 and again in 1905 was a very
prominent Republican candidate for
United States Senator.
AS a trial lawyer and counsellor he
ranked high. He took a great inter
est in remedial legislation and it was
largely due to his labors, while a mem
Der of the State Senate, that our pres
ent legislation on re-assessment of
taxes was enacted; thereby correcting
the disastrous effects to central and
northern Wisconsin of the decisions in
Marsh VS.. Supervisors, AZ Wis, and !
other similar cases.
But it was as Judge that he took |
highest rank. He had a great and !
legal mind. He boasted little memory
Of decisions by title, volume or page,
but fully comprehended the nature of t
our Government and had a most thoro /.
understanding of the fundamental /
principles of our jurisprudence. No
judge more effectively applied these
principles, fact upon which rests
much of his judicial renown. He was
partisan in politics and of strong
likes and VIOLENT dislikes of both men
and measures, and his prejudices were
sometimes considered violent and un-
reasonable. He was reared to full
manhood in an era when strong men
almost necessarily were intensely
partisan. Yet upon the Bench he was
free from all such influences and con-
siderations. Neither had he that pride
of personal opinion or that undue re-
gard for passing popular whims which
sometimes warps judicial tempera-
ment. 1t was once said by the United
States Supreme Court that
Judges sometimes surrender,
with reluctance, a favOrite opin-
ion even when it meets condem-
nation at every turn, and find it
we'll nigh impossible to change it
at all when it happens to harmon
ize with the popular voice or is
gilded by the rays of successful
experiment"
Judge Webb was not of this class.
He possessed the rare faculty of un-
erringly distinguishing truth from
falsehood, and was not hampered by
the legal phraseology of books. He
gave expression to the law in his own
words and made every case tried be-
fore him one of individual, living, Vi
tai interest He conducted his court
with freedom and ease and at the
same time with due dignity. AS
Judge he approached the ideal as near
as can be expected of the human.
So great was his reputation as a
jurist, early in his judicial career es-
tablished, that many important caus-
es were by mutual consent of the in
terested parties transferred to his cir
cult for trial by him, and it is to be
regretted that during the later years
of his life, particularly, he was too
seriously taxed in this respect.
His circuit at one time comprised
practically the whole of the Wiscon-
sin River Valley north of Adams coun-