Evening Republican, Volume 23, Number 93, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 April 1920 — THE JUDICIAL SITUATION AS NEWTON COUNTY SEES IT [ARTICLE]

THE JUDICIAL SITUATION AS NEWTON COUNTY SEES IT

The race for the Republican nomination for Judge of the Thirtieth Judicial Circuit, comprising the counties of Newton and Jasper, promises to become interesting in view of the fact that there are six candidates in the field. , Jasper county has five candidates. Those seeking the nomination from that county are George A. Williams, Moses Leopold,. Abraham Halleck, J. A. Dunlap and Emmet M. Laßue, all good lawyers and legally competent to fill the place if nominated. The sixth candidate is R. R. Cummings of Newton county. Mr. Cummings did not make the announcement of his candidacy until last week, in the belief that the Jasper county candidates would get together and center on one man, and in that event —Jasper being the larger of the two counties —there .would be little chance for a Newton county man to win. On the other hand Mr. Cummings points out the fact that in the past sixty years, or since the organization of Newton county, there has one Judge elected from this county. The first Judge to serve this circuit was. Charles H. Test of Indianapolis, his term running from 1860 to 187 Q. Following Judge Test came David R. Vinton of Lafayette, from 1870 to 1873; Edwin P. Hammond, Rensselaer, from 1873 to 1883; Peter H. Ward, Newton county, from 1883 to 1890; Edwin <P. Hammond, Rensselaer, 1890 to 1892; Ulric Z. Wiley, Fowler, 1892 to 1896; Simon P. Thompson, Rensselaer, 1896 to 1902; Charles W. Hanley, Rensselaer, three terms, from 1902 to 1920. From this showing it would appear that Newton county has a strong claim for the place, the tice of which must be recognized by all, and Mr. Cummings has received much encouragement to enter the race. , _ . . As all the candidates stand fairly equal as to qualifications the claim of Newton county will doubtless be given due consideration by the voters. Mr. Cummings has entered on an active campaign and is asking the support of his friends. —Newton county Enterprise.