The St. Joseph observer., 1920-10-30

pointmont as supreme court commits
sioner to succeed Reuben r. Roy.
whose term had expired, for a term OF
four years. lie was married October
7, 1890. at New London. Mo, to Miss
Mary L. Watson. His home is in
Paris, Monroe county. Judge Ragland
for nine years was op the circuit
bench.
Judge IIigbcc Too Old for the Bench
one OF the three republican nomi-
nccs, Edward Higbee, home in Kinks
viic, Adair county. is said to be 73
years old. 1t is his second race for
the supreme bench. In 1915 when
he made his initial run Judge Will
Jams defeated him by $4,000. His
high standing and respectability is
beyond question, but, it is said, he has
only practiccd law since 1906, and
then only in and around Kirk sville.
His only public experience was when
he served one term in the Missouri
legislature as a representative from
Schuyler county. lie has had no
Judicial experience in any high or low
capacity. Missouri tax-payers would
have TO spend $4,000 If he is elected
to give him the necessary two years
Of judicial training before he becomes
Of real value to tho commonwealth as
member of the Missouri supreme
court.
When Ncpotism Is Not N"potism
Senator Conway Elder Of St Louis,
another republican nominee for one
Of tho thrc, coming supreme court
vacancies has had no experience as
a jadFc Of n court, either high or
low, TO fit him for the high honor he
seeks. lie is now serving his second
term in the state senate. During the
last session Senator Elder made
hard fight against the workmans COM
pcnsation measure. Here is what the
St Louis Post Dispatch said Wodnes-
day, October 20, 1920, on the career
Of Senator Elder as a state senator
in review Of the careers and official
records Of the six democratic and Ie-
publican nominees for the Missouri
supreme court:
His CSenator Elders) career in
the senate has not attracted partiCu-
lar attention. nor have his official
acts sub iected him to particular Cri'i-
Cism. when the democrats were in
control OF both houses of the legisla-
ture he INTRODUCED nathe senate and
actively urged the passage Of an anti
ncpotiEm bill. but when the Republi-
cans gained control of the House in
1919 he dropped his activities along
that line"
Atkinson Resigned, Blair Did Not
Judge David e. Blair, the third re-
publican supreme court nominee, en-
tered the race for that honor while a
Service Comm ission and was criticlz-
ed by the friends OF his "gop" oppo-
nont because he tightly held on
that that lucrative prestige and friend
gaining position, while the primary
contest was on. No one, however,
substantiatcd that the big powerful
corporations of Missouri specially
favored. financed or assisted the
primary campaign Of Judge Blair.
Two or three weeks after he had
landed the republican nomination
Judge Blair resigned as a member Of
! the Public Service Commission.
It is stlll, however, remembered
that four years ago. John NJ. Atkin-
! son, Missourrs next governor, under
| somewhat similar condition pursued
a different course than the one of
Judge Blair just referred to. Atkin-
son was then not only a member, but.
also, chairman of the same Missouri
! Public Service Commission. He en-
| tered the race for the democratic
nomination for governor and mag
| nanimgusly placed himself on an
! equal footing with his six opponents
| by rcsigning from this well paying
| position the moment he officially an
Inounccd, and, this, regardless Of the
/ fact that the salary Of the place was
( his main source of income and that
he needed this money badly. This
/ stirring, sclf-sacrifice to give his op-
! ponents an equal break in the prim-
| AIRY contest on the part of Atkinson
/ was fayorably commented on then and
! remembered by Democrats when on
August 3, 1920, he made his second
| race 10 land the democratic gubcr-
material nomination. This manly act
OF 1916 assisted Atkinson greatly in
/ pulling down the 1920 nomination. It
will also assist In eiecting Atkinson,
| Missouri's next governor
Records of Democratic Judges Good
The St Louis Post Dispatch indi-
vidually commenting on the supreme
court records of Judges Williams and
/ williamson = week ago announced in
plain easily understood English that:
! Ellis record on the bench has been