The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-12-11
NORWOOD MADE THE NOMINEE.
A SURPRISE SPRUNG IN THE JUDGE.
SHIP FIGHT.

poses confirmation and Secures
POstpOnement of Action on the
Part of the senate Until To-day.
senator Osborne and Representa-
tive Rockwell Red Hot over the
Turning Down of the Citizens
Clubs Candidate.
! Atlanta, Ca, Dec 1O-The nomination
| of ex-senator T. NJ Norwood to be judge
of the city court of Savannah by Gov At
/ kinson to-day caused panic of indigna-
tion in the ranks of the Chatham county
| delegation in the legislature and bids fair
| to develop some sensational matter to-
morrow, when the nomination comes up
| for confirmation in the Senate.
/ As the first result of the opposition Of
the Citizens Clubs representatives, the
| Senate held up the confirmation this MORN
/ ing until tomorrow, and as a further re-
suit the nomination will be turned down
If the wishes and work of the delegation
can accomplish that end.
Senator Osborne and the House dele
| CATION have been in an excited state of
resentment ever since the announcement
OF the appointment by the governor and
they are leaving no stone unturned to Sc
cure the rejection of Judge Norwood to-
! morrow.
Senator Norwood arrived in the city
! this morning from Savannah His ar
rival and appearance at the capitol was
| apparently the first intimation that the
| Chatham delegation had that he was a
dangerous factor in the contest for the
city court bench.
Senator Osborne, as president of the Cit
liens Club. and the whole Chatham del
egation, have felt confident that Mr..
Wright, their man, would be landed cas-
lily. They regarded Gov. Atkinson as be-
ing under more than ordinary obligations
to oblige them, and, it appears, felt that
he could not afford to affront them by
| disregarding their wishes in the disposi-
tion of the local patronage Of the city
OF savannah, which chanced to be
IN his hands to dispense. The re-
port, therefore, a short time before the
nominations We're sent into the Senate
Inat the packet contained the name OF
Mr.. Norwood for the city court judge
snip, caused instant resentment on the
part or the Chatham representatives. Mr.
rockwell at once called at the Office of
tne governor, and in vigorous language
entered protest against the appoint
ment. He told the governor that he did
N4I n4o.,ii merely ask HIM not to appoint. Mr..
| people OF the county he protested, be-
cause he knew that the citizens Of Sa-
| Vannah did not want him upon the bench
| of their most important court.
| MI Wright, as Is well known, has al
ready been indorsed by the Citizens
| by Senator Osborne. This did not affect
| the governor however. and in the face
| OF violent opposition, he refused to alter
| his determination, and the nomination
| went to the Senate. When ii reached
| that body Senator Osborne rose in his
place and upon statements to the effect
| that there was grave opposition to the
appointment, had action deferred until
tomorrow. 1t is not known just what
argument was made to the Sen
ate to secure the postponement
of action, but it is understood that the
Senate was given to understand that an
interesting case would be made out by
tomorrow.
From what can be learned from mem
hers Of the delegation, ii appears that
|. fought, on the ground that he is not a
democrat, that ne is not a resident of
the city of Savannah, and that he is not
the choice of the bar or of the public as
Well as being incapacitated to perform the
arduous duties of the office. The repre-
tatlVes say that a young man is required
20 90 the work that falls to the lot of the
CITY court ana that even If Judge Nor
wood is qualified otherwise for the posi-
ton, ne cannot transact all the business
of the court with the expedition that Dub-
lie interest demands. All the renresenta
tives express these sentiments and in
venting his opinion for publication Mr.
wright, who was generally supposed to
nave been slated for the place tonight
said that the appointment was an out
rage upon the people of Savannah while
Senator Osborne and his cOllea eues i'm tbe
assembly are indignant at the turn of
aiIalrs and tonight declare that they
VIII tight the confirmation to the end.
Liner Other members generally regard the op-
position as more matter of politics than
OF anything else, and will not be auick
TO refuse confirmation, although Mr. Nor
woods views on finance and his proximity
TO populism within the past few years is
d1stasteful to them.
The case of Judge Berry of the CITY
court OF Atlanta. whose confirmation was
held up at the last session, has been cited
by the Savannah members to-day in sup
port OF their opposition TO Mr.. Norwood
The two are hardly parallel in circum-
stance, however. In the case of Judge
Berry, the sole objection made was that
he was not qualified in point of legal
knowledge for the bench; This was the
| ground upon which the Senate acted. it
can hardly be urged in the present case,
as Mr.. Norwood's ability as q lawyer
Is admitted.
Gov. Atkinson feels serene about the
situation. He says he was actuated in
appointing Mr.. Norwood solely by a de-
sire TO best subserve the interests of the
citizens of Savannah, which was to put
a man on the bench who does not affiliate
with either of the local political factions
that are constantly at war over place and
honors. Personally, he was under no sort
of obligation to Mr.. Norwood, and there's
fore he was not at all influenced by DO
litical motives in selecting him. This Is
the very point that sticks in the side of
the Citizens Club members. They think
that pOntlcal considerations should have
influenced the governor, and plainly saw
that his action is a direct slap in their
faces, a slap which will, of course cosr
him their friendship and support in the
future.
Gov. Atkinson also appointed TODAY
Hon. James F. O'Neill to be solicitor Of
the city court of Atlanta, one of the fat
test offices in the gift of the executive
Mr. O'Neill is the man whose appointment
was openly protested against by the
American Protective Association. He is
a Catholic. The appointment was prompt
ly confirmed along with the following 9TH
ers:
Trustees to the State University-Dr. H.
V. NJ. Metler, ex-GOv. Mcdaniel and Hon
Henry Persons of Talbot county
Hon p. NJ. Davis Of Macon Hon Pat
Walsh Of Augusta and Mr.. R. ~ Lamar
OF Milledgeville, were appointed trustees
of the Girls Normal College at Milledge-
vile,
II. NJ. Jackson was appointed fudge Of
the Oconee county court; Sam Q. Atkin-
son, Judge Of the city court OF Brunswick;
j. J.. Crowley solicitor general Of the
county court Of Ware. and A. n King.
solicitor general Of the county court Of
All OF these appointments were con-
fa-rrra -