The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1877-10-30
Tuesday. October 30, 1877.
How Harlan Secured Ais Nomination

HOW Harlan Secured mas NOMINATION.
If there were no other considerations to
influence Mr.. Hayes 10 withholding or re-
fusing to nominate Jno. M. Harlan, of
Kentucky, for the seat on the supreme
bench made vacant by the resignation OF
Judge Davis, the disgraceful manner in
which he (Harlan) went around seeking
endorsements on his application for the
position. should have been all sufficient.
1t is well known that Harlan and Bristow
have been friends of long standing, add
law partners for many years and it has
also been said that Harlan's nomination is
due to Bristow's influence. Singularly
enough, this!is far from the truth, as is ex-
planned below from a correspondent at
Washington, who is in position to know.
In the iirst place, tits not usual for per-
sons seeking high judicial appointments tc
file a regular application and back it W
with letters Of endorsement, petitions, &C.,
as is done in the case of the appointment
of q marshal or a collector of customs
But Harlan, it seems, filed regular ap
plication at the department Of justice, anC
has worked up influence just as politica
striker would his backing when after
petty Federal Office. Again, the name
in which Harlan worked up his influenc
was a little out OF the usual order. Tn
Washington correspondent referred +
says:
To the south it seems that he circulated
quietly among Bristow's friends 10 Ken
lucky the story that the place had BEEF
rendered to Bristow, but he did not wan
it; he did not want to be shelved on tn
supreme bench. AT the same time Harlan
intimated that he would like the plac,
himself, aud that Bristow wanted him t
get it, aud would use his influence in tina
direction. Next it was told that Bristov
had written letter to Hayes, saying tina
he did not want the appointment, but b
did particularly desire his lifelong frien,
and distinguished law partner, John NJ
Harlan, to get it. After these stories ha
been quietly and discreetly circulated
Harlan sent about his petitions, for Bris
tow's friends to sign them. He also go
letters from them, and these were tor
warded at once to Washington. Wher
ever any Of Bristow's warmest friend
were to be found in Kentucky or out of it
applications were made to them on tn,
ground that Bristow particularly desires
Harlan's appointment, and of course the.
responded heartily. Thus it happene,
that Harlan worked up his case on BristOw'
influence without Bristow's knowledge
When Bristow found out what had bee
going on he was of course very indignant
aud he ceased to have any relations what
ever with Harlan. His friends were ais
incensed when they ascertained how the
had been imposed upon, and they took car
to let the president know it. But, yer
much to their surprise. the president wa
more fav3rably inclined toward Harla
when he learned the facts than he was be
fore. Hence Bristows friends conclud
that Hayes did not care much about pleas
ing Bristow, and that he was rather gla
to have an excuse for not giving Bristo
anything. The appointment of Harla
will Of course give Hayes an excellent el
cuse for letting Bristow severely alone, an
then, it his friends complain, be can al
swer that be appointed Brlstow's neare
friend to high Office. and Of course
can't take two meu from the same sta
and give them first-class places.