Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-12-04
Refuses to Say Anything About the
Attorney Generalship.
PREMATURE PUBLICATION OF OFFER
Pacific Coast Antagonist to Mr..
IUS
I'd; Is, c:aaMckenna.
HIS ELEV OPPOSED

OF Attorney General to succeed Mr. Nc
henna, and 1t is said that he will accept
tue position. AT least the New Jersey
governor has been sounded on the subject
and Is thought to have expressed his will
ihgness to go into the cabinet. AT the
capinet meeting Tuesday the President
brought up the subject of a successor to
the present Attorney General. Several we'll
Known men were discussed in connection
with the position. A cabinet officer asked
or those assembled: what about Governor
Griggs? He is good man"
Inc President answered.: Yes, he is
splendid man, but doubt whether he would
surrender his place as governor of New
Jersey"
10 the cabinet members who did not have
some some friend to suggest for the place the
impression was conveyed that while the
PRESIDENT considered Governor Griggs
splendid man and would like to have him
IN the cabinet, the position would not be
rendered for the reason it was thought he
would not accept.
The day following the cabinet session the
President told one of his friends that Gov
ernor Griggs had been sounded on the
SUBJECT and had declined the position.
me probability is that Gov. Griggs'
Irlends induced him to reconsider his hasty
decision and to notify the President that
he would probably accept, or at least hold
the offer omen.
Gov. Griggs was not at any time can
dldate Tor the cabinet position, and was
unaware that Vice President Hobart and
Senator Sewell had urged his fitness for
the place. This is thought to have been
done In forceful manner after the sug-
SeStlon OF the governors name at the cabi-
net meeting.
Gov. Griggs came to the city Wednesday
and saw the President that evening. He
left here yesterday, having been a guest at
the home of Vice President Hobart.
A dispatch from Paterson, N. j., says
that Gov. Griggs refused to talk about the
report. He would not say that the office
has been offered to him. neither would he
deny this. This fact is thought to he more
significant than anything else 1t at least
indicates that the governor has the matter
under consideration.
An undoubted authority, however, states
that the premature publication of the mat
ter may do harm to the case of Gov
GriggS ---.-s
Supreme Court bench by President Harri-
son, but DECLINED. His term governor will
expire neAf year, and it is said that the
lieutenant. governor could take his place
without prejudice to the party. 1t is claim
ed that the appointment would strengthen
the republican party of the state in its
tight for u senator to succeed Senator
Smith, denocrat
The nomination of a successor to Attor-
eney General Mekenna is good way Off.
Mr. Mckenna will have to be nominated for
the Supreme bench and confirmed by the
Senate before ffs successor will be named
There mayi be some delay in the conlirma-
ton of Mr.. Mekerna, because of protests
which will be entered, but it is not thought
from present Indications, that these pro-
tests VIII result in much delay.
one af The Protests.
A petition has been forwarded from, the
Pacific COAST to the President protesting
against the appointment of Mr.. MchenEa
This petition is, signed by Judge Gilbert OF
the United States court of appeals of Ore
gon, Judge Bellinger of the United States
district court, by state judges and a num-
Der OF lawyers OF Oregon. The petition
says:
The consensus of opinion has been and
is thai he is not, either by natural gifts
acquired learning or decision of character
qualified for any judicial place of import
ance, much less for the highest place in the
land"
Claimed to BE ii Personal Attack
Close friends of Attorney General McKen-
ma were somewhat bitter today in talking
about the protest. They unhesitatingiy said
that Judge Gilbert is a personal enemy of
Mr.. Mckenna. and that this is well known
on the Pacific coast. The two men quar-
relied some years ago over the appointment
Of some clerks in their respective courts
and Mr.. Mckenna won the victory, thus
making an enemy of Judge Gilbert.
Judge Hanford OF Oregon, who was push
cd for a position in the cabinet as the rep
1csentative OF the Pacific coast, refused to
sign any petition. SO did Circuit Judge
Morrow and District Judge De Haven of
California. the California friends of the
Attorney Gel Grad denounce in unnea sured
terms those who have instisated the pro-
test.
AS an indication of how Mr. McKerna
stands in California it is said by his friends
here today that before his departure for
the east to enter the cabinet he was ten
dere1 Banquet by the people of the state
irrespective of party. This was followed
by q banquet by members of the bar OF
San Francisco. Later Mr.. McKenna was
received in open session by the California
Legislature.
What IA Fight WOU;l Mean.
There is no doubt that there would be
serious trouble If fight is made in the
Senate on the nomina tier of Mr. Mckenna
President Mckinley would, 1t is said, con-
slider it a personal affront to himself and
would so treat it. He knew Mr. McKenna
many years before offering him his pres
ent position His almost daily contact with
Mr.. McKenna since the 4th of March ought
to have enabled him, he will say, to judge
OF the qualifications of the California man
He will consider himself as a competent
Judge of the man and the situation
1t is believed that much will be deter
mined by the attitude OF the California
senators. 1t is not now known that they
have any more reason to oppose Mr.. Nc
Kenna for the bench than for Attorney
General. They knew him then as well as
they know i'm now, it is said.
1t is not believed here that the latest at
tack was animated by the American Pro-
tective Association. The Attorney General
does not think 81 himself. He thinks tnat
Judge Gilbert Is at the bottom of the whole
matter 1t has long been intimated that
the A. P A. Would fight Mr.. Mckenna
solely on TIE grshnd that he is a Catholic
and that there Is already one justice Of the
Supreme Court u that faith; but this has
given the friends Of Mr.. McKenna no
Army OMcers' Retired.