Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 34, Number 78, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 30 May 1902 — The Future Judge. By An Old School Mate. [ARTICLE]

The Future Judge.

By An Old School Mate.

He was a boy that loved to plod through summer’s mud and water, and during rainy was ab most sure to be jeans” rolled half way to his knees ready for just such a treat. But he never neglected his work whether mental or physical. There was ose thing peculiar about him, when he stepped, his hesl and toes “hit ( th o ground” at the same-time, an unconscious way <sf saying, "That much*Ts stay there until I am ready to move you.” Whether it was the ability to “stand pat” or to deliver a well directed blow when honor or selfdefense was at stake, that won for him the sobriquet of “Buckshot” we are unable to say, but he has always deserved the title. He has always reached the mark he desired, and whb never “on the fence.” Such a disposition was shown in his commencement speech upon “Monopoly or Communism” when he said in clear ringing words, “The people of the United States want Neither.” Our “Buckshot” fell on the right side. See? And his foot was down flat! See? 'Next we see him as Sheriff of the county of his birth, an office that requires tact as well as courage That he possessed both was shown by his arrest of an armed and dangerous lunatic without injury to himself or his deputy.

Meanwhile he was burning "midnight oil” in an attempt to reach another mark, viz; the practice of law. That he succeeded is clearly shown by the court records of his own and adjoining counties. Now we see him striving to attain another "mark” viz; circuit judge; and he will make every “Buckshot” bring the goal nearer and in the end the desired position will be bis. His decisions will be like bis life i. e., straight to the dot. There will be no whipping the d-1 around the post. While he must “deal out justice” yet those deserving mercy need not despair because he is “temperate in all things,<’ and has the good wishes of a host of friends. Among them is, “An old schoolmate.”

MARTIN L. PASS.