Jasper County Democrat, Volume 7, Number 30, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 October 1904 — JUDGE GEORGE E. DOWNEY [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

JUDGE GEORGE E. DOWNEY

Judge George E. Downey, of Aurora, nominee for Judge of the Supreme Court, was born at Rising Sun in 1860, being a son of Judge Alexander C. Downey, for many years one of the most able jurists on the supreme and circuit court benches. He graduated

from the public schools in 1876. and entered Depauw University, from which he graduated in 1880. He immediately began the study of law under his father and one year later was admitted to the bar, and after practicing at Rising Sun for six years, moved to Aurora. He was elected mayor of that city in 1894 and reelected in 1898, and in the latter year was chosen president of the Indiana Municipal League, which position he now bolds. In 1902 he was nominated for judge of the Seventh Judicial circuit and was elected. He has proved a painstaking, upright, judge, familiar with the law and Just in Its administration. and the nomination for judge of the Supreme Court came to him as a well-earned mark of confidence on the part of the people. One thought expressed by Mr. Bryan in nearly all of his initial speeches in Indiana should appeal for emulation to all men who love their country, regardless of the fact of their being Democrats or Republicans. It speaks volumes for the patriotism of the man who uttered the sentiment, and shows him in a light that reflects credit upon him and his party alike. "It you ask me, a silver Democrat," he said, “why I can support Judge Parker, a gold Democrat, I will answer that I am more interested in constitutional government and human liberty than l ever was In gold or silver.” And this means that William Jennings Bryan cannot stop to weigh gold and silver in the balance against human liberty. When the latter is at stake everything else must be held in abeyance till people are free and constitutional government restored. All honor to the Great Commoner, the friend of the people! A better political moral code could not have been suggested than that which Mr. Bryan promulgated in his speech in Indianapolis. He says life is too short to husband revenge and principles are too dear to be lost through party bickerings. Here is the sentiment that should challenge the admiration of every man in Indiana. for It Is the utterance of a lover of his country, an earnest defender of the people’s rights, an honest, conscientious. self-respecting man: “Shall I try to defeat Parker because the gold Democrats tried to defeat me? Should Silver Democrats try to do it? To the Republicans who would suggest such a thing I would tell him that I would not stoop so low as to do such a thing We haWe more important work ahead of us than to follow up and punish those who voted against me. Life is too Important, time is too precious to carry a load of revenge.”

JUDGE GEORGE R. DOWNEY.