The National tribune., 1893-02-02
SUPREME COURT VACANCY.
Mr.. CIarkso Thinks 1t is the Presidents
Official and Party Duty to Appoint Justice
I.mars Succes.or.

Hon. James s. Ciarkson. Chairman Of the
Executive Committee OF the Republican Ma
finnal Committre-fnrmerly First Assistant
Postmaster tieueral-in a recent interview.
expressed himself forciby concerning the
efforts ri the Democratic politicians and news
papers To prevent Gen. Harrison from appoint
ing Justice of the United States Supreme
Court to surreed the late Justice Lamar. The
following are Mr.. CiaFksous sentiments re-
garding the matter:
The Democrats especially Mr.. Cleveland,
have no right to object if President Harrison
appoints a successor 10 Justice Lamar No
other President kept on making appointments
Of all kinds up TO the last minute as Cleveland
did IN the Spring of 1899. lie not only did
this, but President Harrison, when I've came
into power approved o: Cleveland's action in a
very generous manner. Ia the Pos Office De-
partmeut a!Ore were 95 appointments OF PTesI-
dental pOstmaStcss made By Cleveland IN
February Some of these were ouITmed by
the Senate before the 4th Of March, aud some
were confirmed until after the 4th. You
know it takes practically a month after a man.
appoint ment rs Postmaster. and he IS confirmed
hy the senate. before he can take possession Of
his Office ne has TO Wait for official nOtIhca-
ton. prepare his bond, VI icI is inspected and
approved. before his commission be sent
him.
when was in the Postoffice Department
| early found there SO unrompleied Democratic
apPoir ilncuts and rs did not feel that the
Republican party had elected Gen. Harrison 10
commissions Democrats as Posimasters l did not
make myself industrious in preparing such
/ commissions FOR the resident to sign. Pretty
soon the Democratic Congressman and Demo
critic Senators began to come to the Depart
! ment to wrcstle Republican com missions for
| ihcir Democratic Posinasters The % Offices
/ were all important and all desirable, ranging
| in salary from! $500 to $1,000 year- They
/ appealed to the President aud he ordered the
commissions made out and signed them, and so
/ sent % Democrats into office on the commits
sion OF a Republican President.
/ TheSe commissions arly all sent IN
! SOME time in April a month after the Republi-
caus were in power. The Postmasters hold
ing the places yet, and will hold them until next
| april or until Cleveland can recOmmission
| them himself.
President Harrison took the broad ground
| that Cleveland had the right to appoint these
| men, and that it was his duty to commission
them, so in the 90 Democrats went, and in they
| have stayed during the whole of Harrison s
| term
| 81 notice that the same Democratic Senators
| and Congressman who besought me to have Re-
| publican com missions issued wholesale to Demo
Gratis are now excited for fear Gen. Harrison
may obey his oath and perform his duty by APP
| pointing successor to Lamar. 1t will De
| inexcusable on his part, and gross breach oil
! official as well as party duty if he does not.
President Harrison has made a remarkable
record in his judicial appointments. and there
| must be little or no ground for the current
supposition that he would now like to appoint
a personal favorite some Indiana neighboI
| TO this exalted place"