The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-02-20
The Senator Nominated by the President
Late Yesterday and Promptly and
Unanimously Confirmed.
A SURPRISE TO EVERYBODY
Mr.. Cleveland Consulted Few i'm
Making the Appointment.
The New Justice Lawer, Not Yet Fifty
Years of Age, and Educated in
Jesuit Institutions.

the President sent to the Senate the nomi-
nation of Senator Edward d. White of
Louisiana, to be an Associate Justice of the
United States Supreme Court, to fill the
vacancy caused by the death of Justice
Blatchford. The Senate had hardly had
time to recover from the surprise which the
nomination of Senator White occasioned
when his confirmation was announced.
While months had been spent in considera-
ton Of Messrs. Hornblower and Peckham,
and much time devoted to them by the Sem
ate committee on judiciary, the name of
Mr.. White was not referred to the COM
mittee at all, and in less than an hour after
the nomination had been received the Sem
ate had placed its seal of approval upon the
selection. had robbed itself of an esteemed
member and had given the Supreme Court
the one man necessary to make full
bench
The nomination was received through
Private Secretary Pruden about twenty
minutes before o'clock. The haste of the
Senator's to show the traditional senatorial
courtesy to their colleague would not even
permit Mr.. Daniel, of Virginia, to finish his
speech on the Hawaiian resolution. When
Senator Caffery, of Louisiana, appeared in
the chamber from the lunch room he was
apprised of the nomination of his colleague
to be Justice of the Supreme Court With
out waiting for any intimation on the part
of Senator Caffery Mr.. Daniel, after an in
terchange of glances with his fellow-Sena-
tors announced that he would conclude his
speech at a later time, and Senator Caffery
moved that the Senate proceed to the con-
Sideration of executive business.
Occasion has never before arisen for pass
ing upon the fitness of a Senator for the
office of Supreme Judge, but there have been
many instances in which Senators have
been appointed to other places and ii has
become the custom, not unbroken, however
to confirm without reference to committee
1t was believed on all hands that the prece-
dent would be followed in this instance
Such proved to be the case. The Senate
had been sitting behind closed doors less
than half an hour, when 1t became known
that the motion to confirm without refer
ence had carried without opposition. The
vote was unanimously and heartily in favor
of confirmation.
The proceedings prior to the casting of
the vote consisted entirely of the deliver
ing of eulogistic speeches by members of
the Senate judiciary committee and by Sem
ator Caffery. There were two speeches by
Democratic members OF the committee and
two by Republican members, Senators
Pugh and Hill speaking for the Democratic
side and Senator's Hoar and Teller for the
Republican. All the speeches were lauda-
tory and congratulatory, both to the Presi-
dent and to Mr.. White, and the tenor OF
all that was said indicated general feel
ing of relief that the selection had proved
to be one to render it no longer necessary
to continue the contest, which has been a
somewhat distracting feature for the past
three or four months. The Senate even felt
so good natured over the whole affair that
1t decided to remove the injunction of Sc
crecy, and the newspapers were notified
that they were at liberty TO publish the de-
tails Of the proceedings.
While the Senate acted promptly and
without hesitation upon the nomhation, 1t
is still a fact that it was greak surprise
at the Capitol. The President sent for Sen
ator White and his colleague, Senator Caf-
ferry, last night, and upon their arrival at
the White House made known the purpose
of his invitation for a conference. Mr..
White, while expressing a deep sense Of
gratitude, was much surprised, and was
doubtful as TO whether he should accept.
He asked the President for time to consider,
and although he and his colleague remained
with the President until late at night, he
left without giving his assent. This morn
ing, when he and Mr.. Caffery again called
at the executive mansion, he was still un-
able to say positively that he preferred the
office to that of Senator. and 1t was not
until the last minute before his departure
that he gave his assent
Without exception Representatives and
prominent officials in this city, interviewed
upon the subject, express entire satisfaction
with the Presidents selection