has been in public life, he has been associated with practically every movement for civic betterment in Illinois. He has played an important part in the formation of the legal codes of Illinois and Chicago.
Judge Horner is best known for his distinguished work in the administration of the Probate Court. It is the proud boast of the judge and his associates that there never has been a loss of principal and interest in the $200,000,000, which is handled annually. Reform in probate procedure which have resulted from Judge Horner’s decisions and administration are legend. The most striking public service which he worked out was the creation of the plan now known as the “Horner Plan” for administration of the estates of fallen soldiers and their families. The plan calls for the probation and administration of the soldiers’ estates without charge or fee of any kind. Many widows were saved from poverty as a result of the successful carrying out of this plan. It meant the saving of millions of dollars to dependents of service men who died in Flanders Field. Officials of the American Legion have characterized the “Horner Plan” as “the great single benefit conferred upon the service men”.
In the primary campaign, for the first time in the political history of Chicago, all of the newspapers of the city of Chicago came out and openly recommended the same candidate— Judge Horner. It is the first time, too, that the “Chicago Tribune” and the Hearst-owned “Herald-Examiner,” morning papers, ever had agreed on a candidate for a major political office in the state or city. As a matter of fact the “Daily Times” and the “Examiner” even went so far as to urge his election to the office before the primary election was held.
This busy man, however, has plenty of time to delve into other matters and serve his fellow citizens. As busy as he is in his court— it is said he keeps a small army of secretaries busy and often dictates as many as 100 letters in a single day— he has acted as arbitrator in many labor disputes. His election invariably came about because of the respect which both the workers and the employers have for him and because of his impartial and sympathetic handling of all controversies.
In addition, he is active in demanding improvement in the conditions in the state hospitals and is trustee of some ten charitable homes and asylums.
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The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.