The Omaha Sunday
ART III.
IIALF-TCSIE SECTfOrt
PACES 1 TO 8
Always Read
THE OMAHA DEE
Best i". West
VOL. XXXVII-XO. lfi.
OMAHA, SUNDAY MORNING, OCTOBEtt - 6, 1907.
SINGLE COPY FIVE CENTS.
Bee
V
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MANOAH B. REESE PIONEER JURIST AND LEADER AT BAR
Life of a Man Who Has Had Much to Do With Forming the Society of the Great Commonwealth of Which He Has Long Been An Honored and tJseful Citizen.
LIKE a giant oak beaten and buffeted by the inows and
Btorma of many years, yet which stands strong and sound,
rising to majestic height among Its fellows, is the re
publican candidate for supreme Judge, Hon. M. B. Reese,
in th- 'fi.i?6 f!?dS amng the ,a8t f a very few 8tron Pioneers
v-k , peop,e asaln" tne domination of railroads In
Nebraska politics. In times past he has carried the people's banner
Bower 7',k h ha" fa"en b?nea,h the ndous weight of the'
2 01 the corporations. Conslderable,sentlment attaches to the
sfne. . S Ree"e at th'3 Ume' f0r U 19 Ju8t seventeen years
raifro 7 a- befre the PWer,uI on8lauSh'8 of the combined
railroad influences in a republican state convention. At that time
' for tllVT yGar"' r fUH tem aBd hl8 defeat h" reward
for faithfulness to a trust. That the railroads at this time would on-
ol ! hini'8 renmlnat,on KOe8 w,thout yiB.' when The Bee said
Nebr'aka'1 1 pm V" rKeDUcon Party presents to the people of
" "J a ' candidate who has often been tried and never found
anting; a man who laid down the Judicial ermine he had worn fnr
and"?:818 7hen he fir8t nned u.ncomingduLought
"dge Relse bi inSuIT?'. dcllna"8. the nomination of.
convnSWaVhrra e?y con i
x fidence and esteem that eoX to'buT&r Sen " a' Erne" f COn"
BDePntaCutn,C1th!,en!,re "f0 f Judge ReeSe ,n Nebra8k
hf n, , r6"8111, tbUgh r"y. he prefer, to work at
17 ?rilkr thaD h0,d "Ice- He was a member of the
'd dirtlt7V?Kt,0n ,D dl8tr,ct-a-ney of the Fourth
dedirtln8 , . Qthree termS: 8Upreme Jude' and de ot the law
department of the State university. All positions of the greatest imT
enTolT tH d0De hU dUty aDd "owUlthfu, he ha,
IVVm' rePHed ,D him 18 answered the endorsement .
given him by his party at the late primary election. Judge Reese
was slow to ask for this endorsement, and only allowed the use of
h g name after many newspapers and many people had called upon
him to again assume leadership. Before he announced hi. candidacy
In answer to this demand, he was for the nomination of Judge.
Sedgwick, for whom he always had the most profound respect and
admiration. His noiurnation this year wa. not unlike his nomination
ten years ago. At the convention held at that time in Omaha, there
were many candidates, but all united in a call for Judge Reese. He
repeatedly declined to accept, but finally responded to the call. He
accepted over the long distance telephone, and in the files of ex
pense account In the office of the secretary of state It is shown that
he spent 32 cents to get the nomination, and on the margin of his
report It Is written out that this sum was spent after the convention
Bad acted.
Illinois Tarm His Start.
Judge Reese was born in Macouplu county, Illinois, in 1839. a
farmer boy, and doubtless would still be a farmer with a ranch 100
mile, square for a workshop somewhere in western Nebraska, had
he not injured an arm about the time he was ready to branch out,
and this turned his attention to another profession, for In those day.
a farmer didn't get to use a riding plow or cut cornstalks by proxy
as they do now. .While be was living on the farm Judge Reese com
pleted the course prescribed by the country schooled then worked
, hi. way through a seminary near his home. Between his farm work
and his schooling he found -time to court and win for a wife Miss
Carrie Burrows. All this happened by the time has wa. 23 years old, '
und so proficient was he in his law studies that about the same Ume
he wa. admitted to practice ard removed to Osceola, la.. Illlnoi.
9 having become entirely too eastern for him. He lived In Iowa from
1865 to 1871. when he heard the call of the prairies and removed to
Plattsmouth. where he again hung out his shingle. The health of
- wa8 noi gooa in the river town, so the Judge, with his
belongings, remoyed to Wahoo. He resided In Saunders county only
two years, when the people realized his worth and he was elected a
member of the constitutional convention of 1876. In this convention
he attracted the attention of th stale, and no sooner did he reach
home and get settled down again thanhe was called upon to make
the race for district attorney of the Fourth district. He was elected
ao this office in 1876. and was re-elected twice, but before his third
term was eompleted he resigned and moved to Lincoln, where a
larger field was open to him for the practice of law. That was in
3. 8 82
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been the hero of numerous incidents so dear to the heart of the pol
itician. There is a story, however, which the Judge has not been'
asked to verify, about his experience with a client This client was
a rough-and-ready fighter of Saunders county and very frequently
he was hailed up before the courts for an infraction of the law. On
one occasion he had whipped a neighbor, and wrote to Judge Rftesa
to get him to defend him. An interview was arranged and Judge
Reese asked the client who he had for witnesses:
"Wert," he replied, "Ben Smith got there when I had the man
down, but he saw him strike ttie. George Jones is another good wit
ness, and so is Bill Good." Bill saw the whole scrap, but I want him
on the Jury." s
In his practice Judge Reese has always looked after his clients
well, even if he had to work some'times on the absence of law knowl
edge of the court. When the Judge first began the practice of law;
over in Osceola, la., he was employed to defend a man before a Jus
tice of the peace. When the case was called, Judge Reese moved to
strike from the netltion certain surplus statements. After an argu
ment the Justice agreed with him, and the surplus matter was'
stricken out. Then Judge Ueese promptly moved that, inasmuch as
the surplus matter had been stricken out, there was not enough of
the complaint left upon which to base a case. Again the Justice held
.with him and the prisoner was promptly discharged.
. Frank at All Times.
It is easy to find where Judge Reese stands on any question, for
he never beats around the bush nor tries to give out a wrong im
pression. When asked questions he speaks right out in meeting,
whether it is to his political advantage to do so or not. During the
recent campaign someone started the report that he had ridden on
a pass during the year 1905. Political enemies of Judge Reese
thought this very reprehensible and the report was spread' and
gained great circumference. He was finally asked the Question: "Did
you ride on a pass during the year 1905?" Instantly he replied:
"Yes, I did. I rode, if 1 remember correctly, from Auburn to Lin
coln, and from Lincoln f.o Ashland and return, though I may have
used the pass only on the Auburn trip. Yes, I am president of the
Nebraska Prison association, and that association had an arrange
ment with the railroads whereby it could get reduced rates when It
desired transportation for ex-convicts who desired to leave the state.
As president of that association I was presented with a pass. 1 used
it when I went out to maka a speech in behalf of that association
and to collect money for its maintenance. I never used it except on
business for the association. And, by the way, I was sent a pass In
1906, but I never used that one. I simply tore It up."
That settled the pass business, and his straightforward answer to
the question made many friends for the Lincoln candidate.
After the name of Judge Reese had been mentioiKd as a probable
candidate for the republican nomination, he was asked: "Are you a
candidate for supreme Judge?"
I am not," ho replied, "I have not even considered it seriously.
If there is a general sentiment throughout the state for me to an- ,
nounce myself I shall do so, but if there Is not, then I shall not be
a candidate." After having delivered himself ofthe above without
any preliminaries, the Judge continued "Personally, I should like '
to see Judge Sedgwick renominated. He has made an enviable rec-
ord on the bench. W?hen Judge Sedgwick was a candidate for dls- j
trlct Judge I made speeches for him and worked for his election. He
Is a scholarly, able gentleman." - -
Why He Is Running.
People Call for Him.
While Judge Reese has been In office a good many years, the rec
ords, show the people have wanted him oftener than he has called
Upon the people-to take him. He had no sooner become settled in
Lincoln than he was caUed upon by the republican party to make
the race for supreme Judge. He was elected, and served until 1889.
Then, following custom, he entered the contest for a renominated.
That republican convention, which has been recorded as the best
railroad-controlled convention ever held in the state, defeated him.
As he again took up his private business Judge Reese was called
upon by the Board of Regents of the State university to become a
member of the faculty of the laV school. This was followed shortly
by his elevation to the position of dean, which he held with dis
tinction for ten years.
How well he succeeded as the head of the law school Is beBt told
by the action of his students, 500 of whom he graduated, during the
late campaign. Nearly every one of them, some In the farthest corn
ers of the globe, wrote him letters of encouragement and good
wishes, while those in the state, or several of them, who through cir
cumstance did not openly support him. did not work against him.
During the school days he won the love and admiration of hi.
students, and he has retained their sincere friendship. Incidentally,
Judge Reese keeps . In close touch with a great majority of these
former students, and it is his boast that practically all of them are
doing well and have become respected and honorable citizens.
It la said of Judge Reese that he never graduated a law student
who was not qualified to practice. He was most vigorous In his ex
amination and his greatest hobby was to make the student reason
out propositions rather than niemorUe them from books. He do
tested the "faker," and be could always "spot" one. He carried his
religion Into his classes, and an old student recalled that his favorite
expression was this: "Though you speak with the tongue of men and
angels and be without faith, you are a. sounding brass or a tinkling
cymbal." (
His Advice to Students.
He Impressed upon his students that with all the learning and all
the oratory In the world they could not win case in court without
evidence therefore "use shoe leather," he advised, "dig up evi
dence." This. trait of thoroughness In Judge Reese was shown in
his prosecution of Orlando Casler, convicted and hanged for murder
In Seward county during the time he was prosecuting attorney, eas
ier lived in the county and was well and. fairly favorably known,
while his victim was a stranger, going through the country in it
covered wagon seeking a location. The evidence was hard to get
and the fight to save the man was a hard one, but with character
istic energy the district attorney gathered his evidence and made
his case, and the verdict was guilty. This case marked an epoch in
the Fourth Judicial district:
For six years Judge Reese has been president of the Nebraska
Prison association, and in this position the good he has done is in
estimable. .This association wa. organized for the purpose of as
sisting convicts who having served their time were once more
thrown out Into the world to make their way. l Is one of the rules
of the association that none of its meTnbers shall, as such, assist in
the trial of any person or assist In getting a parole or pardon, but to
assist the convict only after his release. Recently Judge Reese was
called upon to sign a petition asking for executive clemency for a
' MANOAH
prisoner sentenced to be hanged. He replied: "As n r.ltlten I might
want to help thi. man, but as a court I don't see how I could helb
but hang him, as long as the law is as it is." And that has been the
record of Judge Reese he has strong personal opinions on all sub
jects and never fear, to express himself, but as a Judge he in
terprets the law regardless of his persona! opinion in the matter.
As an officer and a helper in the Nebraska Prison association
Judge Reese ha. been brought In contact with men' of influence
throughout the country who are Interested in the betterment of hu
manity, and the records of the association show that his'advice has
been eagerly sought by these men from all parts of the country. He
has received scores of letters from ex-convicts who have become
good citizen, through his efforts to help them. Recently one man
wrote him from Massachusetts that he Is now receiving a salary of
$1,500 a year and 1. doing well in every way. Four year, ago thi.
man wa. behind the bar. at the state penitentiary.
B. REESE.
Judge Reese has been a prominent member of the Methodist
church' and so long has he been identified with this denomination
his friends frequently refer to him as John Wesley. In 1888 he was
a member of the general conference of the church held in New York
City. He is still active in the church work and never misses a Sun
day morning service. Recently he was asked if he could spare an
houV on a Sunday. "Well, I think so. Let me see. I go to church
in the morning. Then to Harry's for dinner, and I stay there dur
ing the afternoon, for you know I have two grandchildren that I like
to visit Sunday afternoon, and I can't break in on their time. I can
spare the houf before church in the morning." Incidentally, Judge
Reese says he and the little grandchildren have a great time dis
cussing the questions of the day, even If tme or two of them are too
young to talk much.
While he was born in a good humor and has never lost his
temper slnce,( Judge Reese is not a story teller and neither has he
Ak-Sar-Ben XIII and His Consort
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It was with this feeling that Judge Reese finally permitted the
use of his name, and personally he did little or nothing to secure
the nomination, placing himself entirely in the hands of his friends.
It is his idea that it is beneath the dignity of a candidate for su
'preme Judge to make a campaign, and on other occasions when he
has been nominated he has never gone on the stump.
Since the death of Mrs. Reese some years ago, Judge Reese haa
been dividing his time between his dayghter, Mrs. Santord. his son,
Harry Reese, and his own home. The latter is now dismantled with
the exception of one room, in which the Judge sleeps. "I am merely
camping here," he said, "to-keep up the Insurance." The Judge Is
negotiating for the sale of the place, after which he will Jive with hi.
married children.
The republican candidate is a magnificent specimen of physical
manhood, about six feet all and broad In proportion He haa sn6w
white hair and lots of it, and a long white moustache. He la a good
specimen of the man who is strong enough to blaze a trail In a new
country or lead an old country out of a rut. And he is even-tempered,
good-natured, a wit and an brator. He catches an audience
with his humor and he holds them while he clinches his arguments.
He Is a Mason and belongs to no other fraternal society. In 1887 he
served as grand master of the Masons, and he has always, taken
great Interest In the lodge. In 1899 he received vete. for United
States senator, though he was not an active candidate for the
position.
Governor Sheldon Is a great admirer of the republican nominee,
and, while taking no active nnrt in tY,& nnntaot i
M - . w i. v 4Vi Liic uumiDaiion,
expressed himself as being favorable to the Reese candidacy, though
saying at the same time ho could with equal enthusiasm support
Judge Sedgwick. Speaking of Judge Reese, Governor Sheldon said:
,"The republicans have nominated a candidate in whom the people
have every confidence. Judge Reese has a spotless record, both
public and private. He Is a student, a scholar and a tireless worker.
I have been his admirer for years. He has always 6tood for the
best interests' of the people regardless of the consequences to him-
self. He has been opposed to machine rule iu politics and ha.
fought for years that tho government and the people might be
.ur... uuoci wscuici. iu ids eariy aay. back In
Wahoo he encountered the hostility of ring rule, and he has always
had the enmity of those who prefer machine control in politics
rather than have the majority of the people In control. He should
receive the entire republican vote and doubtless will receive many
of the votes of the opposition parties because he stands for the very
best in state government. He Is one of Nebraska', best men and
will make a splendid record ou the bench."
Always Sociable.
NATHALIE MERRIAM.
Though a member of the younger set, and only out of
college, Miss Nathalie Merriam is possessed of a poise
and a charm of manner to be envied by much older and
more experienced society women. Tall and stately, of
the brunette type. Mis. Merriam is counted one of
Omha's fairest daughters, and, just entering upon her
formal season, her prospect, are bright for a brilliant
social career. Her selection for the distinction conferred
upon her Is most popular,
VICTOR B. CALDWELL.
Victor B. Caldwell is one of the best known of
Onialia'8 younger banking men. As vice president of the
United States National bank he has made for himself an
nvlble name as a man of afairs, while as a member of
the Board of Governor, of Ak-Sar-Ben he has fairly won
the honor that has come to him in the order. Mr. Cald
well has been one of the active workers in the order since
be ha. been on the board and ha. proved efficient and
resourceful.
Judge Reese is a very sociable man and visitors to his office are
Invited to make themselves at home and. if they desire, to take
charge. Some time ago Henry T. Clarke, Jr., candidate tor atate
railway commissioner, who Is not a bad mixer himself, called on the
Judge to get better acquainted. Judge Reese was smoking a cigar
with very evident satisfaction. Clarke Is also a very ardent smoker,
but he didn't come prepared. Finally he spied the Judge's pipe:
"Judge," he said, "may I take a pull at your pipe?"
"Yes. sir," replied the Judge, heartily, "help yourself. Am sorry
I haven't a cigar for you. but I believe the pipe Is better for your
health, anyhow." Even though Clarke carried off the pipe, Judgo
Reese told friends afterwads that the good fellowship that resulted
from that Incident amply repaid him for tho loss of the corn cob.
Judge Reese is very direct when ancwerlng a question and sorae
tlmea knows how to answer without saying anything. When "Hon.
Peter Mortensen was mentioned as a candidate for governor, the
question of his eligibility wa3 raised, Mortensen at that time being
state treasurer, and a provision of the constitution saying that a
state officer is not eligible to another state office during the time
for which he was elected to the one.v As Judge Reese helped to
make that constitution, he was asked his opinion of Mortensen's
eligibility. Reese was a great admirer of Mortenson. He did not
answer the question with words, but mcio'.y openod a law book at
the constitution and then a supreme court report at an opinion
bearing directly on the Question. It settled Mnrnt', .ii.ru.im-
'u4 Ia withdrew from tho race, n, U, B j