The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-07-12
CANDIDATES FOR JUDGESH|PS TALK AT
 LEAGUE MEETING
Twenty-0ne Aspirants for Judicial Honors Tell Women Why They Should Be
 Elected

Judges day" was observed yes terday by the League of Women Voters in meeting at the Hillman hotel, at which q candidates for ju- dicial offices made short addresses. The women present allowed the can didates to do the talking and asked few questions, on account of the limited time. Mrs. Charles J. Sharpe presided.
 She called upon the judges in or~ der from those seeking judgeship No. l to thsse seeking judgeship No. 10.
 As Judge A. Latady was absent, Judge William M. Walker the only other aspirant for judge No. l, brief ly outlined his qualifications and stated that he advocated the crea- tion of a court of domestic relations as recently suggested by Judge Hugh A. Locke.
 Judgeship No. When he was called upon to speak E. N. Hammill, declared that his op- ponent Judge William E. Fort. in- eumbent, had declared in favor of the abolition of the presumption of in- nocence. He read from a newspa- Der clipping purporting to be an ac- count of Judge Forts speech before | the civic forum.
 Judge Fort. who maintained that l he had been misquoted, said that he had copy of his speech as deliv- cred before the Civic Association as well as the statements of leading citizens who were present at the meeting that he did not make such a l declaration. He declared, however ] that he was in favor of an equal strike for both the defense and the prosecution.
 w. T. Stewart candidate to suc- ] ceed Judge Romaine Boyd, proposed to clean up the docket. He main tained that the dockets are now heavily clogged. Judge Boyd in re- ply stated that the dockets are in better shape than in 2S years despite the fact that the number of judges has not been increased since 1907 He referred to his record during his five and a half years as city ar- torney and his near on to six years as judge. He said that he had not missed a day in court and had had l lew ICNOl odl6.
 Bessemer Candidates
 B. c. Jones and Judge J. c. B. Gwin, incumbent. presented their qualifi- cations for the office of judge No. 5, Bessemer division.
 The five candidates for the place now held by Judge J. c. Smith were next on the list H. M. Abercrom- bic stated that he was the only can didate for judge No. ', who war born in Jefferson county.
 Geeorge M. Edmonds, who had pre- viously addressed the league, was introduced but did not speak. s. J Stiggens who said that he was a self made man, advocated the setting of a docket on Friday which is not now done.
 Judge J. Q. Smith said that he stood on his record, which includes seven years prosecuting attorney, service as attorney general, to which post he was elected by the people, and IS months as circuit judge.
 Willard Drake, seeking to succeed Judge R. V. Evans, advocated more speed in the trying of cases and sug- gested a plan whereby cases would be tried in the order set without be- ing passed for resetting. After re- ferring to his qualifications Judge Evans said that he had worked eacf |, court day from 930 o'clock to o'clock and had often taken cases home with him for study.
 Best in Twenty Years Tn the absence of Horace c. Afford f, Judge Dan A. Greene was the only candidate to speak for Judge No. 9 In seeking re-electeion he said thaa' he had never known a judge to bt turned down who had the support of i the bar. He also declared that the dockets are in better shape than in over 20 years
 | Judge Edgar Allen and Roger W l Snyder presented their qualifications | for Judge No. 10, while Judge J. B | Aird, incumbent. pointed out that only three cases tried by him had been reversed. He also stated that he had aided Judge Hugh A Locke by disposing of about TOO cases in 1 chancery court. | w. L. Waldrop and J. P. stiles resented briefly their claims for the office of probate judge. while J. C l Arnold mentioned his record in the Il legislature and declared his oppo- i nents were members of the court house ring
 l1n rA