New-York tribune., 1896-01-03
A TENNESSEE APPOINTMENT.
AND THE SNURBING ADMINISTERED TO
SENATOR HARRIS
THE NOMINATION OF MR.. sIMoNTON FOR DIS
TR1c-r ATTORNEY HAS STIRRED UP TIE
sTATE-aR CLEVELAND AFFRONTs ONE
or HIS srANchrsr SUPPORTERS.


sTATE-MR CLEVELAND AFFRoNTs ONE
or HIS sTANChEsT SUPPORTERS.
IBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRiBrNEl
Washington, Jan. Not since the celebrated
struggle over the Horrblower- PeCkham noriina-
tons when Senator HI won his hgh: against the
President has the Senate Committee on tie Judi
c!ary been confronted with so embarrassing
matter as the consideration of the hthess OF
Charles B. Simonton for confirmation as 'ntel
States District-Attorney for Western TENNESSEE
Whether the committee will consider all The phases
Of the trouble is doubtful, but there Is little ques-
tion that vher the subject reaches the senate ana
tina, body considers the manner In when the
nomination made. the same sympathy VIII 'e
extended 10 Senator Harris AS was granted 20
Senator Hill in his night against the Ne"-hoiK
nomination. a. Simontons appointment was IN
direct conflict with what Is knowH as Senatorial
courtesy The SAM elements enter the simon
ton controversy that existed in the Ncw-iorK con-
tentior with the additional sentiment 'nat "9"e
the President similarly ignored the tennessee
Senators in the selection Of Simonton, his action
in making the appointment VAS far-fetched at
tsrp, 10 humiliate a Senator WHO had up - that
time consistently championei tie Administration
in everything saving It's policy on the National
finances and who until this anront had stood IN
the van Of the Presidents conhdanis
As the Democratic Preslden, pro tenpore and
leader OF the Senate. a member of the Finance Com
n,,,tee and the Joint conference the Tariff b!ll.
Mr. Harris conspicuously as any Senator en-
joyed the confidence Of the President ana as me-
mentos Of his frequent pilgrimages 10 the "hre
House during the ,arlN fight some autograph notes
OF urgent summons preserved by the senator
TIE circumstances attending the snubbng OF SEN
ator Harris for an adhere ce 10 his lifelong pr!n-
ciples on National fnancN are understood by all
Senator'S who regard this nomination as an net
ignoring the rights OF Senator TO be heari IN re-
gard 70 State appointments 1t Is urged by soma
,lr fha adN a
OF Congressman Patterson. on whose sole recon-
mendation Slmontons appointment was made Is no
mitigation OF the Presidents offence 10 inc senate
Tenneseeeans complain that thi' action OF the ffeS-
ident has already greatly wil'ned the breach De
tween the gold standard and silver Democrats In
West Tennessee including Pattersons district, whch
is also the home OF Harris. and aseures the peT'na
nent retirement IF Patterson. whose great reiiah'e
mas ever been the friends or Harris, on whose
back he has thrice ridden into Congress Every op-
portunity they say was given to the Pres'ient' an"
he was urged prior 10 the appointment OF Slmonton
% o,vo a hearing TO Senator Harris when il was
rumored that the nomination was about TO be made
On the day Slmontons nomination was announced
Senator Harris mot being cognizant or the appoint
menD. having Just learned from Memphis tha, great
objections were being urged there against the nom-
nee-elcct by reputable citizens whose charges were
grave Immediately teegraphed 10 the President at
Buzzards Bay. appealing for hearing betore h~ecu-
tive action In response to his appeal the senator
received this tart telegram:
Dear Sir: For entirely satisfactory 10
myself | have Just nominated Charles h. simon'on
be District Attorney FOR Wesiefn ~
The principal accusations against the appo'ntee
,..o from W j. Crawford. leading man "'
X,r,,o n.bo controls THE Commercial Appeal
~ that city and who has heretofore oeeh a,unc'
ally OF Colonel Patterson. supporter OF '"e 'l.S'
den, and the prime promoter OF the ceieDra'e'
sound Money Convention. he'd at Memphis last May;
II s not known that Mr.. Crawford mas "ur'
charges to Washington. but 1t mas ieaheu ou az VI.
Capitol that the particulars OF n's a"'sh'o,' a."
on Front Row" at Memphis VIII be repea'ed oe'o'e
.he Judiciary Committee prior to action on the
Simonton case II being the intention OF the co'"-
n,ttee 70 ,ummon witnesses In the investigation
into Colone, Simontons qualifications for oHciai
position.
The facts about the appointment seem 10 be
these: On the death OF United states D'S'r'c'
Attorney Taylor Shelby County. the Gibraltar OF
Democracy In Patterson's district lost the ohiy
prominent recognition 1t had received from this
Administration. For this lack Of appreciation Kep-
resentative Patterson had long been hed respohsi p
DnweGred Ds rcpresen.aIive Of the President Shelby
County naturally looked 70 paerso" rms T Harrs
a. Us w anxious TO do Harris and Patterson discussed
the the, mater TAT ,hey should join in the recommendation
NJ a man mutually agreeable as had h.ther!o , psen
Senator snTn Harris came Immediately 10 Washnston
"h"re he fingered until run0rs OF the Iorthconhng
ms
hin ears In the time the Colonel han ri9en
M ms 'fnu stature He rose 10 the full realization
10 t, -. b vas the cpurted friend Of the Admlhistra
,inn Uairis Sun silver man since NJ o own
o,nence .ion, IN the "goldbug convention az VEN
n.d Uarriss prominence in the silver cohVen
Pm, PINE uhy should he longer continue alamo Win di
non, 1r,th whom the President at lost was MS
leasnd? lie would rise TO he occasi & and mo, smI~
pre- president he also dlspicased WIN iiaiit
10 VI. yonI,y they say in Tennessee tne ColoI','
ne rsckon on the opposition from such soulIh
dlu H., no! Sren1s as Crawford whose roweriui aIu
MONEY ,,avs enlisted for Patterson All ne Knew
Wis NV, he President has conilded In hin aIone
was ,a, W intoxicated with the desire TO please ne
ana IL, he tor whom he had already renounced hiS
Presluensc ncsccnvictons National finance ne couia
former ~ rnrther sacrifice for the President, even
mar re. nxneose OF losing such wheehorse III mn, n,s
a. @ tne corenr as Harris SO Colonel idtter -Jn trni
puohnc presdent his solitary co;nmeadat'o. Dacnea
10 me 1901 bar Endorsement. and Simontoh was
rceint OF the telegram from the Ires.dent
On .nr o,tnred Senator Harris addressed 10 M.
above abon nv" the longest and most pungent Ie,ter
PattersVa nver parsed between these sentIelnen.
when ha h5as,ivercd himself 10 Patterson Mr. harr.s
Hn'ns Liz 10 the President through me ineuu,,,
WIZ h n T-nted States Senate rms Is tne he.Ween
OF the already faulty drawn me iines pes"vy,hh
that mas hans Of Patterson and Harris IN tne MI Nh
the paris nstrict The trouble bids far 70 eH.vr
TenhesssS es safe and may become nationaHy nnnive
py re"1S ,Se Senates attention 70 .oe