Jasper County Democrat, Volume 4, Number 36, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 December 1901 — THOMPSON NOT A CANDIDATE. [ARTICLE]

THOMPSON NOT A CANDIDATE.

In confirmation of the statement made by The Democrat two wdeks ago, Judge Thompson has penned the following letter to the respective republican chairmen of this judicial circuitt: Hon. John B. Lyons, Chaim.an Republican Committee of Newton County, and Charles W. Hanley.Chairman Republican Committee of Jasper County. Individually, my personal and political friends are asking me to state whether I desire a nomination and election to the office of Judge next November, and I take this occasion to say to you as representatives of the party once for all. that I do not. I thank my friends for their confidence reposed in times past and hope to merit their esteem in the future. A service of six years as Judge of the Thirtieth Circuit is ao honor that I shall always appreciate. In politics I haye been and am a republican. In the discharge of official duties I have forgotten partisanship, kinship and personal friendship. While trying to administer the law as I find it, it has occured to me that the statute should be amended in some particulars. I would suggest briefly that it would be better: 1. If the state should be divided into districts each containing three Circuit Judges with authority to hold court interchangeable in case the Judge of any Circuit should be incompetent because of interest or change of venue. A regular Judge could try each case and receive as compensation such annual salary as might be deemed adequate. 2. The statute should prescribe a uniform method of keeping accounts throughout the state, where causes go to another county on change of venue. 8. In proceedings to make local improvements the Circuit Court should not be required to try the cause De Novo unless the law provide for an exforensic investigation. I thank the good people of this Circmit for their kindness and assistance, and subscribe myself. Your humble servant. S. P. Thompson. Rensselaer. Ind., Dec. 3. 1901.