St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-02-09
How Edgerton The senators recently
seated from Dakota
Became are Richard PETIT grew
and Gideon C. Moody.
a Judge. Petrigrew is typical

seated from Dakota
Became are Richard PETIT grew
and Gideon c. Moody.
aJudge. Petrigrew is typical
Western man. He
was born in Windsor county, Vermont,
not far from the birthplace of Thaddeus
Stevens. At the age of six years the
elder PettIgrew removed to Southern
Dakota. and there the present United
States senator was reared on farm.
Senator Pettigrew represented the ter
rtory Of Dakota as delegate eight
years ago in the lower house of con-
gress, and there made the acquaintance
of BENJAMIN Harrison.
Senator Pettigrew described the SEN
atorial contest briefly while slipping his
milk punch to-day at private room in
Millard's: 81 reckon | knew every
man of any Importance in the old terri
tory, and when the old territory of Da-
kota saw chanceto read her title clear,
| found | had practically no opposition,
but found there was hot fight over
the short term of two years. The oppos-
ing candidates were Gideon G.
Moody, one OF the eleverest
men among the older Repub-
licans of the territory, and Judge Ed
gerton, leading man of wealth
and position and thoroughly
identified with the social and Industrial
interests of Dakota territory. My SYM
pathies were naturally enlisted with
Gideon G. Moody, a longtime personal
friend.
''But the question was, what shall we
do with Edgerton? We promised to
make him judge of the United States
court in Dakota. His answer was,
Boys, that is all very well.
and IN make the deal, but are
you quite sure you can deliver the
goods" ! said yes: he answered, Try it,
/ fastened on to Washington to Presi-
dent Harrison, who received me with
even more than his old-time cordiality
and listened patiently to my tale Of
woe. But suppose said the president
frankly, Il am willing to please you and
Judge Moody both, there are old lions
in the way, for Senator Edmnnds
caused resolution to be offered
last session that no candidate
for judicial honors should be con-
firmed by the senate if over the age
of sixty, and Judge Edgerton is sixty
two years old within my knowledge
THAT does give me a pause replied.
but / will go up to the other end of the
avenue and interview Senator Ed
mundS.'"
Il approached the great lawyer of the
senate with timldity and made my er-
rand known to him. But said he,
slowly taking the fragrant cigar out Of
his mouth, the United States senate
has made rule not to confirm Judges
when they have reached across the
limit of three-score years. What will
we do about that""
Nothing easier,' I answered, Il
knew wise old chancellor in one of the
Middle States, who. when demonstrated
with for doing something contrary to
the rules of his own court, quickly re-
piled, But the chancellor is not the
creature of any rule
1.-the point is we'll TAKEN answered
the urbane senator from Vermont. You
get Mr.. Harrison to send in Judge Ed
gerton's name to the senate, and / will
take care OF his confirmation, and
with sigh, we generally confirmsome
cid fellow to please friend and then
re-establish the limit at sixty years. /
FASTENED back to the White house and
found the president ready and willing
to send Judge Edgerton'S name to the
senate, and that is how Gideon c.
Moody became the senior senator from
Dakota and Edgerton became United
States judge"