The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1922-05-19
TO DEMOCRATIC VOTERS
Notice of Withdrawal AS Candi-
date For Circuit Judge.

Lexington, Missouri, May 10, 1922.
On April l4th, after comforting
with numerous voters of Lafayette
County who urged me to make the
race. I announced as a Democratic
candidate for Judge of the Fifteenth
Judicial Circuit, composed of Lafay-
cite and Saline Counties since the
year 1892.
Saline County has for the past
t~wenty-four years furnished the
Judge of the Circuit Court as well
rs the Judge of the Criminal Court
a~ggregating nearly one-half a centu-
ry, therefore, it was the sentiment of
Lafayette County people that they
should have the privilege Of nominal
ing the candidate for Circuit Judge
this time without contest from Saline
County.
During all these t%wenty-four years
Lafayette County gave the two dis
tinguished Judges from Saline County
he same loyal support and appreci-
alton that those Judges received
from their home County, and this
without contest for the nomination
from Lafayette County.
The Circuit Judge is a state officer,
paid from the State Treasurer, and
is in no sense a county officer, being
nominated and elected by the voters
of the whole Judicial Circuit, no one
county owns the office. For many
years in the judicial Circuit compos-
ed of the two Counties of Johnson
and Cass, Johnson County, with a
few hundred Democratic majority o.
yer Cass County in the Primary cleo
ton, rotated with Cass County in
the nomination of a candidate for
Circuit Judge (there being no sepa-
rate Criminal Judge.)
The public records before the vot-
ers of this circuit show that Lafay-
cite County exceeds Saline County in
the following respects: (1) in total
population; (2) in aggregate number
Of voters; (3) in the average number
per year of the cases on the court
dockets, in the civil, criminal and ju-
venile branches of the court; az
since 1921 the Circuit Court of this
circuit has had jurisdiction of civil,
criminal and juvenile cases, hence, at
the next election a Circuit Judge only
is to be elected.
The records further show that I
had been endorsed by the lawyers Of
my County as a suitable and quail
fed candidate for the Office of Cir
cult Judge, which endorsements were
published in the newspapers in both
Counties prior to the time the Saline
lawyers met IN May LIST and endors-
ed their candidate.
1t is assumed that the Saline
County voters who know my politi-
cal standing for the past 80 years,
which, too, is a matter of record, will
concede hat if nominated / would
receive the full Democratic vote poll
ed in the district at the November
election. | know l would receive the
whole vote cast in Lafayette County,
and take it for granted that Saline
County Democrats would also sup
port the regular ticket, whether the
candidate for Circuit Judge was a
Lafayette OF Saline man. In this con-
n%ection l will state that quite a num-
Der of Republicans have volunteered
to me their support at the November
election in case l am nominated.
Therefore, in view of the forego.
ing facts, it is only a natural and
fair conclusion of the voters of La.
fayette County, which l assert to be
the case, that the voters of Saline
County should, after having helC
without contest for twenty-foul
years the two offices of Circuit anC
Criminal Judge, be generous and dem.
ocratic enough to waive their severa,
hundred majority over the democrat.
ic vote of Lafayette County and IL
the next August primary election con.
cede to Lafayette County the nominee
for Circuit Judge without contest.
However, since my announcement
the Honorable R. M. Reynolds, whom
know to be an eminent lawyer, q
good citizen, and active Democrat
and whom l will heartily support
when nominated, has become a can.
didate.
The lawyers and newspapers of Sa.
line County have given Mr.. Reynolds
UNANIMOUS endorsements, thereby re.
fusing to concede to Lafayette County
the political right claimed. Hence,
l assume the voters of Saline County
will take the same view of the pro-
position and will support the candi-
date from their W county.
Therefore, in view of the situation,
have concluded not to waste the
time, work and expense necessary IN