The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1897-12-22
.P|GOTT GETS THE PLUM
The Great Falls Man Will Sue
ceed Justice Buck.
Is FITTED FOR THE PLACE
The Appointment Was Made by Cover
nor Smith Immediately Upon His
Return From the East-Meets
With General Favor.


Special Dispatch to the Standard.
Helena. Dec. 21--Willam Trigg Pig
ott of Great Falls will occupy upon the
supreme bench of Montana the position
made vacant by the tragic death of
Horace r. Buck. Governor Robert B.
Smith, who returned from the East to-
day, announced the appointment this
afternoon. The appointment meets with
general favor with the members of the
bar. A. j. Shores of Great Falls, who
was in the city when it was announced,
said: Il think the appointment one
that the bar of the state as whole
will undoubtedly approve. Mr.. Pigott
is a well-known lawyer of scholarly at
fainments and acknowledged fitness for
the place. The governor could hardly
have made a better selection
T. j. Porter of Miles City. county at
torney of Custer county-While l am
not personally acquainted with Mr..
Pigott, / believe, from what I have
heard of him, that he is in every way
fitted for the position, l believe, from
what I have heard, that the governor
has made the best possible selection
from the persons proposed for the posi-
ton.
G. r. Middleton of Miles City-I only
know Mr.. Pigott by reputation, bur
from what / have heard of him. I think
the governor has made a wise selec-
ton.
A. j. Craven of this city-I am
pleased with the selection. MIR. Pigott
rs a man of recognized ability, and
while | don't have the honor of being
personally acquainted with him, know
from what I have heard that he is
thoroughly competent for the posi-
ton
Ex-Governor J. X. Toole-I think 1t
is a very good appointment. I consider
Mr.. Pigott in every way qualified for
the position.
f. w. Toole-I am very much pleased
with the selection.
William Wallace expressed himself in
a similar vein.
Hundreds of other Endorsements of a
similar nature could have been pro-
duced had the Standard reporter the
time or the inclination to seek them
1t is the general opinion in Helena to-
day that Governor Smith, in the selec-
tion of Mr. Pigott, has chosen man
eminently fitted for the high and hon
orable position of associate justice,
most worthy successor to the late Hor-
ace r. Buck. The governor said tha,
in making the appointment he had in
mind the agreement reached at Mis-
soula by which it was arranged that
the associate justiceship should go to
the democrats In all about 10 names
We're presented to the governor for con-
sderation The names presented came
from various sections of the state. but
the governor believed that from a geo.
graphical standpoint the position be-
longed to Northern Montana. Promi-
nent among those mentioned from that
section was William 7. Pigott Mr..
Pigott was never in the sense of the
term a candidate so far as personal
representations go. He presented no
petition and never asked to be appoint
ed. Some of his friends. however adj
dressed the governor both by telegram
and letter. These Governor Smith re-
ceived while in the East, and it is an
open secret that before the governor
returned TO Montana he had his mind
fully made up as to whom he would
appoint.
All politics aside, it is the consensus
Of opinion that the governor could not
have made better selection. The
Standard reporter has failed to find here
a lawyer or layman who disapproves
the appointment He is at present a
member of the state board of educa-
tion and was a member of the commit
tee that drafted the resolutions or re-
spect upon the death of the late Asso-
ciate Justice Horace r. Buck. The APP
pointment takes effect as soon as Mr..
Pigott can qualify.