Goods Words For Mr. Judson

The death of William Judson, the well known state politician, is a great shock to his many friends. He was one of the most forceful and energetic politicians In the state. He knew politics from A to Z and adopted all the wiles and arts of the politician. He had a host of friends and a host of enemies. During the Pingree regime he was the power behind the throne. For a long time especially after Wesselius, the "governor" of western Michigan had fallen out with Pingree, Judson practically controlled the politics of the state. He had a peculiar facility of landing on his feet, and succeeded in making Aaron T. Bliss governor of the state. Perhaps his most remarkable performance was the adoption by a state convention of a resolution in favor of R. A. Alger as United States senator, lt was the first time such a thing was ever done in Michigan, and .Judson succeeded in spite of the doubts and opposition of many of his friends and associates. He was complete master of that memorable convention at Grand Rapids.

Whatever may be said of Judson's methods, it must be admitted that he was a political power; but a power resting on such a foundation is bound to disappear. Before his death Judson probably realized that he had come to the end of his rope. He had played his last card. He was doomed to political oblivion. Death has ended all his earthly troubles and disappointments. - Kalamazoo Telegraph.

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The sudden death of William .Judson, of Ann Arbor, removes from Michigan politics one of the most picturesque and most discussed figures it has contained in many years. Had he devoted to private pursuits one-half the tireless energy, the shrewdness and organizing capacity which he lavished on machine politics, he must have risen to high station In the business world, and left a name more honored than will be that of the skillful political boss which he was undoubtedly was. With him the end always justified the means, and he was not over-particular as to the end that did the justifying, so long as it included either direct official advancement for himself or the strengthening of the machine he had built. His talents for organization, application, silence and intrigue were remarkable, and he managed to place some of the most prominent and influential men in the state in his debt, by the genius he displayed in making trades and deals in conventions. and by his indefatigable labors in controlling caucuses.

Judson's resourcefulness and insight made him much sought by men of larger ambitions than his own, while, as a thorough opportunist, he always turned their desire for his assistance to his own advantage. In common with most county bosses, his active sympathies were always with the winner, but his keener foresight enabled him to outstrip the majority of them in the matter of forming alliances while bounties of promised preferment were still being paid for recruits, instead of after the contest had been decided. As a product and exponent of sordid machine politics he was a brilliant success, and had exercised.an easily traceable influence on the recent political history of the state. With more money and an ambition for honors as well as emolument, he might have been a governor or a United States senator.- Detroit Evening News.

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In the death of William Judson of Washtenaw the state loses the most picturesque figure known in its politics and in spite of some objectionable methods, there are reasons to believe he will be sincerely mourned. Judson was an excellent illustration of that type of the boss politician found in the west. He would not have been a success in Tammany because he was not a moral corruptionist and because he had few if any personal vices. But he believed in machine organization and in the subserviency of the voter to the will of the boss, and in party affairs he was not always particular as to methods so long as the desired object was accomplished. In other words, he believed that the end justified the means.

But William Judson had many excellent personal qualities. His home life was of the happiest and while he made enemies, he also had many warm personal friends. To friend and enemy also, he always showed one admirable trait; he was true. He never proved disloyal to a friend and he never forgot nor forgave an enemy. For more than a quarter of a century he was a power in politics, first locally, then in a larger sphere until he became one of the shrewdest political manipulators in the state. It is inevitable that he would have continued as a political power indefinitely had not death cut short his career.- Grand Rapids Press.

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Internal Revenue Collector David Mcginnity, of Detroit pays this tribute: "William Judson was a man of his word and a fighter for his friends. He was always a faithful republican and like every man who tries to do what he considers his duty, necessarily had to make enemies. Judson enjoyed .a wide acquaintance and in his death the republican party suffers a distinct loss."

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Railroad Commissioner Atwood, who managed Col. Bliss's two successful gubernatorial campaigns, said: "Mr. Judson was the best fighter I ever met in a state convention. He was an extraordinarily shrewd and resourceful campaigner. His action in the state convention that first nominated Gov. Bliss in swinging the Washtenaw and possibly other county delegates to Bliss at an opportune time undoubtedly secured for him appointment as state oil Inspector. His death, just as he was apparently in position to reap some of the rewards of his clever and successful efforts at political manipulation and combination is the more to be regretted."

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Lansing, Mich., Aug. 5. - A number of state officials and other prominent citizens of various sections of the state are here today and all express deep regret at the death oí' William Judson. It is regarded as significant that while there are on file in the executive office a score or more letters and telegrams from Mr. Judson making engagements for conferences with the governor, it was not until yesterday that a letter asking a conditional engagement was received. This letter; which was written Monday, says: "If nothing nothing happens I will see you in Lansing Wednesday (today)." All the other communications make a positive engagement for a time certain.

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Attorney Odell Chapman, of this city. besides being a political ally of William Judson, of Washtenaw, was a personal friend and was much grieved on learning of his sudden death.

"I much regret Mr. Judson's being cut off in his prime," said Mr. Chapman this afternoon. "I regarded him as the leading Michigan politician and it is a great loss to the state that a man of his ability and influence is taken out at the present time" -