THE COLUMBIAN. BLOOMSBURG. PA.
HONEST, ABLE
CANDIDATES
Light on Careers of Which Penn
sylvania Democrats
Are Proud.
He rindn.tnndB tr, framework of the 1 intP tt, i. .,,
OF
Commendation Which Show the Hope of
Anti-Quay Republicans For the Suc
cess of the Champions of Clean
State Government.
Who nnd what nre the Pennsylvania
Bmocrfitic nominees, Stephen Leslie
lestreznt, for Justice of the supreme
ourt; Chnili! J. Keilly, for judge of
the superior court, and William T.
Creasy, for state treasurer?
What docs the public press, par
ticularly the formidable array of news
papers opposed to Quayisin and Repub
lican machine rule, say of them, and
what is the prospect of their support
from Independent voters at the polls?
Can Mestrezat. Reilly and Creasy
jfp tlio state outside of Philadelphia
Sd AtWhenv counties- nnd run tha
Sfrupt machines of the great cities
; prevented from annullng the will of
ae remainder or tne Btnte?
STAND ON THEIK OWN MERITS.
Sketches follow which show that If
fsmltlcsH management had character
lied state trcasuiy rule throughout the
many years of state finance domina
tion by the Quay power, the Demo
cratic candidates, on the merits of
tblr own achievements and high char
acter, and on the strength of what
UUlr candidacy assures for better
hjome rule and reformed state govern
ment, would still stand worthy of the
o8 of all good citizens.
How much greater the reason, In
Ttrw of only the state government
scandals exposed during the last year
r two, ror expecting that Independent
STEPHEN L. MESTREZAT,
votes will enable the Democratic can
didates to overthrow the Republican
machine In November, and thus bright
en the prospects for an honest ma
jority in the state legislature to bo
eUcted next year.
this presentation of Democratic
claims upon the honest judgment of
a people not to be deluded by the
throwing of irrelevant national issue
Hist into their eyes, will include testi
mony from the Republican press as to
' the excellence of the Democratic state
convention's work. There can be no
mistaking the purpose of the anti
Quay Republican newspapers to go as
far as they can for the election of
reality and Creasy. There is of course,
no doubt of the election of the can
didates of the two great parties for
Btipreme Justice, under constitutional
provision.
NEED NOT FEAR PHILADELPHIA.
With this basis of reasonable hope
for routing the machine cohorts in
"the country" we have unprecedented
antagonism to Quayism in Philadel
phia, while In Allegheny resides the
chief of the insurgents, Senator Fllnn
whose profession of support for the
ticket the Quay managers regard as a
joke, and another anti-Quay senator
Mr Magee. Nearly all the princlpai
Philadelphia Republican dally news
papers commend the Democratic can
didates, and most vigorously condemn
the Quay muchine in expressions of
hope for its annihilation.
The utmost confidence in the present
honored management of the Demo
cratic party has been voiced by the
-ntl-Juuy Republican press, particu
'arly in Philadelphia, it was the well
rounded hope of "the country" for
Philadelphia that made Pittston in
vincible In 18S2 and in 1890. Philadel
phia Democrats today are united and
harmonious in consequence of the wise
:w-al leadership as applied to the pres
et county ticket. The Democrats
.here are ns one man, and the Quay
machine Is opposed within the Repub
Ican party by a power greater than
ver before confronted it wi, t.,..
ihould the honest "country" fear thin'
ear for Philadelphia?
Let the rest of the story speak for
tselr.
JUDOE MKSTREZAT'S CAREER.
By an unprecedented majority Judge
Iestrezat wus called to the bench of
he Fourteenth judicial district, and
or more than live years he presided
.ith signal ability over its courts. He
irought to the bench the ripe experi
uce acquired by lio years of tirelesn
ibor In the practice of the- law in ail
8 departments. He was equipped a-)
ew have been to assume and properly
Ischarge the Judicial duties in a dls
rlct of varied Industries, entailing lu
xation covering every branch of the
iw. Ills experience upon the bench
xtends to every sod inn of the state
here he hits been called In the trial
. cases which huve attracted the nt
mtlon of tne .rofHnlon generally in
:i his Judicial i.ctii.m) Jude Mestrezat
k is been fair, feai-Icu and faithful.
He is a student of th constitution.
iroru Its incentlon. tto U t rminrliffiil
profound, painstaking and conscien
tious. Ho is familiar with the bounda
ries of stnte nnd federal Jurisdiction
and acquainted with tho decisions
which arc the '"peaks and promon
tories, the headlands and beacons of
tho law." Knowing neither friend or
foe, blind to every prompting of inter
est, a protector of the rights of all,
Judge Mestrezat has become a com
manding figure In the brilliant gal
axy of Jurists for which the bench of
Pennsylvania Is famed.
STUUOQLE8 OK EARLY LIFE.
Hon. Stephen Leslie Mestrezat Is a
comparatively young man, born Feb.
30, 1S48, in Mapletown, a village of
Greene county, Pa., near the Mononga
hela river. His people were nnd are
still tillers of the soil. Aided alone
by his untiring Industry, Mr. Mestrezat
began his struggle with the obstacles
that usually beset tho pathway of the
young lawyer. He became a student
at WaynoRburg college, and whs grad
uated from that Institution with merit-
cd honors.
Having laid a foundation for a legal
course, so far as a thorough knowledge
of the classics could afford, he enter
ed the law department of Washington
and Lee university, when that famous
institution was under the presidency
of that distinguished southerner, Gen
eral Robert E. Lee. Among Mr. Mes
trezat's preceptors were two of Amer
ica's foremost lawyers, Hon. J. Ran
dolph Tucker and Judge J. W. Hrock-
ennorotigh.
A DETERMINED STUDENT.
Here, among the hills of Virginia,
young Mestrezat spent his hours In
ceaseless toil, familiarizing himself
with those great principles which form
the anatomy of the law. He was grad
uated from this Institution In 1871, at
the head of his class of 22, and the
same year was admitted to the practice
ofthe law In Greene county, Pa. In
1873 he went to Unlontown a compara
tive stranger, and began the practice
of the law at the county seat of Fay
ette. Twenty years later he returned
to his native county as Judge of her
courts, Greene county being at that
time a part of the Fourteenth Judicial
district.
Of Judge Mestrezat's success at the
bar the profession In Pennsylvania is
famlllnr. At the end of the first two
years of his practice he was rewarded
with a larger clientage than Is usual
with a young attorney. His success
had been such that it attracted the at
tention of the late Chief Justice
Charles E. Boyle, then the leader of
the Fayette county bar, and In 1875
he suggested to Mestrezat the forma
tion of a law partnership. The latter
readily assented, and from that time
Mr. Mestrezat became a prominent
figure In the state and federal courts.
The firm of Boyle & Mestrezat contin
ued until President Cleveland appoint
ed 'Mr. Boyle chief justice of the su
preme court of Washington territory.
STANDING IN SUPREME COURT.
The reports of the supreme court of
Pennsylvania show that he was en
gaged in nearly every important cause
taken to that court from Fayette coun
ty during his practice at the bar. Tho
Dawson Bridge company case marked
the close of his career before the su
preme court. This ense attracted the
attention of the profession through
out the state. In the court below Mr.
Mestrezat was defeated, being unable
to make the court see his position on
the legal principles involved. They
had not been passed upon by the su
preme court of the state. A large ver
dict under the Instructions of the
court was given against the bridge
company, Mr. Mestrezat's client. Ho
directed his client to take an appeal to
the. supreme court, where he argued
the many Intricate legal questions In
volved In the case, and secured a re
versal of the Judgment of the court be
low. His position on .the law was
fully vindicated and sustained by the
higher court.
In all the years of his practice no
attorney ever came Into court with his
cases more thoroughly prepared. He
was a ready and forceful speaker, and
was prepared for every defense. Ho
vyas true to his clients, making their
cause his own. Feeling responsibility,
he listened patiently to details, and to
his Industry there were only the limits
or time and strength.
In 1893. when Fayette and Greene
counties comprised the Fourteenth Ju
dicial district, Mr. Mestrezrt was elect
ed Judge by a majority of over 2,000
and on Jan. 1, 1894. he began his Ju
dicial labors, on Jan. 1. 1898, upon
the retirement of Judge Swine. Judce
Mestrezat became president ludca of
me rourteentn judicial district.
HE IS A DEMOCRAT.
Judge Mestrezat Is a Democrat, pos
sessing the Jeffersonian requisites of
ability, honesty and faithfulness to the
constitution. Prior to going on the
bench he was active in the Interest of
the success of his party, though he
never sought a political ofllce. He
comes from a long lino of Democratic,
ancestors, nnd Is in his political faith
to tho manner born. In 1877 he was
elected district attorney of Fayette
county on the Democratic ticket In one
of the most remarkable and fiercely
contested campaigns In the history of
the county, and served a full term of
three years from the first Monday of
January, 1S78. In 1884 and '85 he wns
chairman of the Democratic central
committee of Fayette county. He was
a delegate to the convention that nomi
nated Black for governor In 1886. He
was also a delegate to the Democratic
convention at Chicago in 1892 that
nominated Cleveland for president.
When Robert E. Puttlson was elect
ed governor in 1890 Mr. Mestrezat'u
friends asked that he be appointed at
torney general In the governor's cabi
net. While the appointment did not
come to the western part of the state,
the strong endorsement of his candi
dacy by the press of western Pennsyl
vania was a fitting tribute to his abil
ity as a lawyer. His candidacy re
ceived the (,-idosoment of the Fayette
county bar. Lending lawyers and ju
rists In every section of tho common
wealth also united In asking his ap
pointment. HIS FORCEFUL PERSONALITY.
Jinl;;e Mestrezat was married ubout
12 yc-ii,-3 nfo to Eliza Wlluon Ewlng,
daughter of Hon. John 1C. Ewlng. of
L'niuutov.n, Ms wife dying' two years j
First
and
tel
there
He Is mnst democratic In his mnnner.
His nature Is frank and open. He im
presses you with tho conviction that
lie makes no attempt to brldlo his
tongue or to control his natural feel
ings In his Intercourse with his friends
or acquaintances. This Is becnuso of
his nntural good sense and freedom
from guile. He Is one of the most
approachable of men. There Is an In
nate but quiet dignity, with not tho
slightest suggestion of loftiness in his
manner, for he appears to have little
personal vanity, but a proper apprecia
tion of himself.
In a famous local damage case, In
which he represented a well known
rallrond, he surprised tho attorney for
the plaintiff by the lntitudo which ho
allowed him in examining the witness
es. He allowed them to press the most
surprising amount of damages, and the
court was puzzled to account for tho
singular wnnt of caution displayed to
minimize the amount of loss shown.
He was, however, careful In some nr
parently unimportant Question ns to
I tne locality where tho accident had
I occurred. Tha witness swore with
i Kreat. particularity,
Before the case was given to the
Jury Mr. Mestrezat had tho court visit
the scene of the accldont, when it be
came apparent at a glance that the
ttory of the occurrence Itself was false.
He had allowed the witnesses to swear
too much for their own case.
A characteristic Incident, occurred on
the train upon which he rode from
Philadelphia on the evening of the ad
journment of the convention. At liar
risbttrg it happened that his sleepor
was hitched on to the train contain
ing coaches In which were some of
his home friends who had been "boost
ing his boom" at the capital. The
( judge was invited in to see them, and
I he readily did so.
Among the delegates was one very
old gentleman, who had failed to get
a berth and had promise of passing an
uncomfortable night. The judge said:
"Boys, I guess I will go along with
you and the old gentleman Bhall have
my berth." and ne insisted upon this
nrrangement. landing at home in the
midst of a throng of enthusiastic fol
lowers, who escorted him In triumph
to his hotel.
TRIBUTE TO GREAT DEMOCRATS.
Accepting the nomination from the
notification committee at Williams
port, Judge Mestrezat said:
"If It 6hall be ratified by the poo
ple at the polls In November I shall
not fall to realize the great respon
sibility It imposes, and shall devote
my time and best thought to the per
formance of the duties of the ofllce.
and this responsibility Is doubly em
phasized by the fact that the party,
since the Judiciary system for the state
became elective, has named for the
same position a Woodward, a Black, a
Thompson, a Sharswood, a Trunkey,
a Clark and a McCullum. For bril
liancy of Intellect, for Integrity of pur
pose, ror legal learning and Judicial
fairness, I may be pardoned In 6ayiug
that their superiors have sat upon the
bench of no state In the Union. These
names are indelibly written in the his
lory ot our Jurisprudence, and tho
party which gave to the state the ser
vices of such men need not, In this
respect, fear the record of Its past. It
at least is secure.
REPUBLICAN AND INDEPENDENT
PRAISE
Some of the commendation bestowed
by Philadelphia Republican and Inde
pendent newspapers upon Judge Mes
trezat s nomination follows:
The nomination (Judge Mestre
zat's) is a thoroughly good one, ac
ceptable to all the people In every sec
tion or me commonwealth The can
dldate's career, as outlined In our news
columns, has been as creditable as It
nas been successful, and his reputation
as a fearless, upright and able judge
Is a sufficient guarantee that he will
be a useful and honored member of the
court to which his nomination neces
sarily elevates him." Phlla. Evening
jeiegrapii, nep.
HAD A HOST OF COMPETITORS
"The nomination of Judge Mestrezat
of Fayette county for Justice of tho
supreme court is. of course, equivalent
to an election. What Is known of him
here Is favorable to his reputation on
the bench. His nomination was brought
about after an unsually long and stub
born contest, with a host of competi
tors, out it has been accomplished
without any strife or friction which
has left the Democratic party the worse
for it." Phlla. Eve. Bulletin, Rep.
HE IS WELL QUALIFIED.
"The Democratic nominee (Judge
Mestrezat) is in me prime or lire, and
In the natural course of events can
hope to serve out the 21 years' term to
which he will be elected. He has had
judicial experience that well qualifies
him for the promotion." Phlla. Press,
Rep.
STATE TO BE CONGRATULATED.
"The state Is to be congratulated on
the fact that the nominee (Judge Mes
trezat) has a good reputation to start
with. He has had 25 years' practice In
the law, and has held his present Judi
cial position since 1893, With credit to
himself and honor to his district. Of
his Democracy there Is no question,
and there appears to be none of his
Judicial acumen and personal integ
rity." Phila. Public Ledger, Ind. Rep.
A MOST HONORED JURIST.
"The candidate for the supreme
court, Judge S. L. Mestrezat, is one of
the most honqred of those who sit on
the bench in western Pennsylvania.
He remained away from the convention
city during the sessions, nnd took no
active part In the conduct of his cam
paign." Phila. Times, Ind.
people. The race I open to alt corner
on equal terms. Were I to attempt to
enumerate the nanie3 and describe the
lives of the great men of humblo
origin who have embellished American
history with their achievements In all
departments of human endeavor I
would have to rewrite the greater nnd
most brilliant part of It. Common ob
servation may be epitomized In tho
statement that nenrly all. If not all,
our great stalenien, jurists, scientists
and leaders In finance and trade, be
gan life and acquired early learning
and experience In the school of ndver
slty. In the rude 'Mill Boy of the
Slashes' we soon behold tho polished
orator; In the robust .and muscular
rati splitter the world Is compelled to
admire nnd acknowledge one of tho
greatest statesmen and benefactors of
his race In ancient and modern times
HIS EARLY STRUGGLES.
"So with our candidate. Charles J.
Rellly, the subject of this sketch. We
first find him removing from the city
of his birth In order to engago In com
mercial pursuits. We note with nd
ft - T '.. ' ' We curry A Weto-eiv - : iir . ; Jvof
Ml
r-r. -
f
SKETCH OF CHARLES J. REILLY.
The following narrative of the Inter
esting and honorable career of a con
spicuously self made man, Charles J.
Kellly, candidate for judge of the su
perior court. Is from the forthcoming
publication of tho proceedings of the
Democratic, state convention, compiled
by J. W. Moyer, secretary of tha stato
tommlttee:
"One of the chief glories of our In
stitutions has ever Loon tho fact that,
no matter how high or humble a begin
ning one may have had, they afford nil
persona an equal opportunity to rise
in the stalo of excellence from tho
lowest to the highest position of In
fluence and power in tho lft of the
tliaitl.liS J. KliilL.Li.
miration the difficulties he encounter
ed and overcame; his struggles with
adversity for light and education and
final triumphant admission to the bar
of his adopted county, under the guid
ance and tutorship of its eminent lead
ers; his elevation to honorable and re
sponsible office in the community, and
the record of his faithful and fearless
discharge of his official duties, and
finally we have this shipping clerk for
a lumber firm of his adopted city.
now become an eminent lawyer, nomi
nated without seeking for the high
and honorable position of superior
court Judge, a position of great honor
and dignity. In the prime and fresh
ness of young manhood, he Is unani
mously presented to the people by a
great party for one of the highest and
most honorable offices in the state
"To the thousands of young men In
state and nntlon who are struggling,
aa he struggled for fame, often almost
in despair, his career and achieve
ments will stand at once as a bright
and Inspiring example and Incentive
to devoted and courageous effort and
continued Industry. The keynote of
his success Is probably contained In the
following extract from his speech be
fore the convention which nominated
him on assuming his duties as presld
lng officer, but which wns uttered at a
time when he could have had no
thought whatever of such an event
He said: 'This Is a government of the
people, by the people, for the people,
All men are equal here. The law se
cures equal Justice to all alike In their
private affairs,
TO EMINENCE IN HIS ADOPTED
CITY,
"The olalm of excellence is also rec
ognized, and when a citizen Is In any
way distinguished he Is preferred in
the public service, not as a matter of
privilege, as in our older institutions,
but as a reward of merit. Poverty is
not a bar, and it matters not whether
one Is a rail splitter, as was the im
mortal Lincoln, or a mule driver on the
canal; all have equal opportunities
"Charles J. Rellly was born In the
Twentieth ward of Philadelphia, Sept.
23. 185G. and is the eldest In a family
of 11 children, eight of whom are now
living. He received his education In
the public schools of that city and by
private tuition. In his 18th year he
removed to Wllllamsport, Pa., to take
charge of the shipping department of
the works of J. Bartles & Co. Subse
quently he attended the Wllllamsport
Commercial college, from which Insti
tution he graduated In 1875.
He was then engaged to keep books
for the said firm. While thus employ
ed he conceived the Idea of studying
medicine, but after about a year's ap
plication to the science he changed hii
mind and determined to study law. In
May, 1882. he passed his preliminary
examination, and was registered as a
law student with the law firm of Can
dor & Munson, with whom he remained
six months, when the necessities of
hl3 family required him to earn means
for their pupport. He became book
keeper for George Bubb & Sons, of the
city of his adoption, ana wntio ninng
this position he devoted every spare
moment to his legal studies. Having
saved sufficient to permit him to re
sign his position, he entered the law
office of Hon. John J. Metzger, now
president Judge of the Twenty-ninth
judicial district, where he completed
his studies June 4, 1884, and was ad
mitted to practice In the sevoral courts
of Lycoming county.
"He wns also a member of Chntau-
qua college (C. L. S. C), class of '90.
having studied the four years' course.
A MAJORITY THAT MEANT SOME
THING.
'He has since his admission been
admitted to practice in the circuit and
district courts of the United States
and supreme and superior courts of
Pennsylvania.
"In 18So he was elected chairman of
the Democratic count;' committee of
Lycoming ccMinty, and demonstrating
his ability us an organizer he was
re-elected to the same position In
18SG, also In 18S7 and 1888, and, there
fore, errvsd four years
In November. 18SQ he was elected
distrii't attorney by the largest major
ity ever received in tho county for
any county olllce up to that tinio. In
the discharge of his duties in that of
fice he showod an unflinshlng deter
mination in the cause of justice and a
Coin limed on rage Scvon.j 1
. . ' cy7?v .
' " -t:i.'jj N. -'
Kiiimi'i'" i iwiiiiiito iw,, ,1 ,J
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