Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1879-05-24
CABINET AND CIRCUIT JUDGEsH1P

Washington Special May 2D to Chicago
Tribune.
a statement, which purports to be authori-
tative, is published to the effect that Judge
Dillon, of the United States circuit court for
the Eighth district, which includes Missouri
and Iowa, has announced his determination
to resign his position in order to accept the
law-professor ship Of the Columbia univer
sity of New York, and that Secretary Mo
Crary has been rendered by the President
the position to be made vacant upon the
bench. Coupled with this statement ID. the
announcement that it has already been de-
oided to tender the war secretaryship to
some Southern man but the whole story is
without foundation. Judge Dillon hasnot
yet madesany intimation of his intention,
although little doubt is entertained that he
will do so, since he has it in his power to se
cure for himself . much pleasanter and
more profitable position. .e5s.
As to the intention of the President to
tender the place to Secretary McCrary, and
the Willingness of the latter to accept it, the
matter has never yet been mentioned in
soclal circles, nor has any word or hint of
such prospective changes passed between the
President and Secretary McCrary. The
friends of the latter have been talking the
matter over for several days, and this, in
connection with the we'll known tastes and
undoubted fitness OF Secretary McCrary for
q position upon the bench, furnishes the sole
foundation for the statement thus far. 1t is
not impossible that such series of events
may some time become true, but, like the
majority of rumored cabinet changes, they
are atjpreseht nothing but! guesswork. An
intimation has been received, although no
names are connected in it, that St. Louis
would, at the proper time, present her
claims for the vacancy which Judge Dillon's
expected resignation will create. No pres
sure has as yet been brought to bear upon
the President in this connection from any
direction. -
The foregoing statement was obtained
from those who have held conversation with
the President this evening on this subject.
Mr.. McC rary's friends, however, take very
different view of the case. They understand
not only that the subject has been con-
sidered, but that it is very probable and al
most certain that McCrary will receive the
place. He is certainly in the field for it,
and is supported from all the States within
that judicial district. He also has the sup
port Of Judge Dillon, who has been here in
I uAo AAVoIoStS duu - WARMLY 6uppOEt0O 1Ol
the place by Associate Justice Miller, who il
the circuit judge in that district. While il
may be technically true that the subject has
not been mentioned in official circles, there
is every reason to believe that it has been
considered privately. Mr.. McCrary has 8
large family, and is poor man. His tastes
are judicial, and life position on the dis
trict bench would, of course, be preferable
to q position in the war department, the
honors of which he has lone
since exhausted. Mr.. McCrary hoped
and expected, when the cabinet was frs
formed, to be made attorney general. His
heart was set upon it. His friends had la
bored for it, and he was very much disap
pointed that he did not receive the position
If the President should appoint Mr.. McCra
~ judge, it is difficult to see how he couli
reconcile such an appointment with the re-
fusal to appoint Attorney General Devens te
the Maine circuit. The latter certainly de-
sired the place, and has frequently expressed
to Massachusetts friends regret that he eve
abandoned the Massachusetts suprem,
Ijudgeship to become attorney general.
1t was given out as the reason why Dew
ems was not appointed that the Presiden
desired that the cabinet should remain un
broken to the end of lis administration
Another reason why Devens was not ap
pointed was that the Senators in his circui
were not all united for his appointment, al
they are in the McCrary case. The Main,
and New Hampshire Senators are said tx
have not been dispo>ed to receive Deven'
appointment with favor.