Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1897-04-29

Special correspondenoe nj On zette End journal
Washington, April %. The appoint.
ment of Edward q. Bradford Of vii.
niugton to the Federal judgeship oil
the Delaware district, yesterday, aroused
general attention among the horde OF
politicians In Washington, and owing
to the strong tight over the plum
between the two factions Of the party
in that State, great interest was dis.
played In the outcome by Republican
Senators and members The victory
for the Regular Republicans was plens.
ing to the original" Mckinley people,
and they could hardly restrain their
satisfaction over the defeat of II. II.
Ward and Mr.. Addiclss. The only really
surprising feature of the appointment
WAS the sudden manner in which it
was nrecipitated on the Senate. From
conversations OF several Delawareans
with the President. IL was understood
that the nomination would not be made
until his return from New York. when
be could find opportunity to study the
situation more closely. But no doubt
is now expressed that Mr.. Mckinley
bad long made up bis mind on the sub
ject and bad really decided upon his
appointee befofe the last aud most
earnest conferences which the Addicks
people, beaded by OK. Congressman lis
had with him. At a consultation with
the President last week, Mr.. Willis was
told that Mr.. Mckinley had not ''fullyu
made up bis mind in the matter, but IL
ia now realized that the appointment
was practically settled upon prior to
that time.
That the appointment indicates that
the Regular Republicans are to hold
the upper hand on the administration
there ia no doubt, and in the future all
office-seekera from Delaware will be
obliged to get the endorsement of that
faction before they can hopo to land
Henry a. du Pont and ex-senator
Anthony Higgins will probably act in
the capacity of referees for the admin.
istration and will decide who among
the various candidates for local offices
should be appointed and who should be
turned down. 1t ~ believed that Mr..
du Points word will go further with
Mr.. Mckinley than that of any other
man in the State. even including Mr.
Higgins, and to bring the situation
down to the bedrock, tho former and
his closest friends will have a shade the
better OF it at the White House.
Friends OF Mr.. Addicks are dis.
couraged oyer the outlook and readily
recognize the seriousness OF the situa.
tion for THAR faction. Senators Quay
gnd Penrose of Pennsylyania, 1t has
developed, discussed the situation with
tho President one night last week, in-
cidentaliy to conference which they
held on the subject OF Pennsylvania
patronage. The two Pennsylvania Sena-
tors put in a good word for Mr.. Ward,
the Addioks favorite for the judgsship,
and intimated that they would DO
pleased with his appointment, but they
received no encouragement. On the
other hand,s the Regular Republicans:
were frequently represented at tine
White House by Senator Mark Hanna,
who is a close personal friend-of Mr.. du
Pont. beside being in thorough sym
pathy with the anti.Addicks people.
Mr.. Hanna thought the appointment OF
Mr.. Bradford would be the most judic-
ious and 80 informed the President.
His word carried considerable weight,
Mr.. Hanna's services in tho future will
he enlisted in hehalI of the Regular
Republicans even more actively than it
has been in the past.
The appointment OF Mr. Bradford,
aside FROM political considerations,
meets with approval. All DeIawareans
in Washington join IN the prediction
that his career on tho bench will DO
brilliant one, and say that from tho
point of genuine MORT the President
could not have made a better selection.
Senators Gray and Kenney are not in
thu city and no opinion can be Obtained
from them,. hut Congressman Handy,
m In
objections with Judge Bradford, said
the nomination was highly commend.
able one.