The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-02-09
A POLITICAL OUTRAGE.


A POLITICAL OUTRAGE.
There has been nothing more dis
graceful in the whole field of machine
politics than the attempt made to pre-
vent the confirmation Of the Hon.
Charles f. Amidon as district judge for
North Dakota. The long and the short
of this matter is that Mr.. Hansbrough,
i'll order TO secure his reelection as
senator from North Dakota, has en-
tered into various deals for the dis
trbution of the federal patronage in
that state. He has, from the beginning,
had no particular use for Judge Ami
don, who is not one of his kind Of men.
Judge Amidon's appointment was one
altogether admirable. He is a man of
the highest professional attachments, of
admirable personal qualities and of en-
| tire fitness fol the bench. He is a
sound money Democrat, who was not
afraid to stand by his principles when
it cost something to Go SO. No filter
man for the place could have been Sc
! lected, and the whole bar of North
! Dakota, saving such exceptions as are
! TO be found, unfortunately, in every
state, rejoice in his selection and ap-
prove Of it Internationally. This ap-
pointment has been held up in the SEN
ate at the instigation of Hansbrough
! to help him make terms with his OPP
ponents. Naturally, the North Dakota
! has ijtfln nd
money man, be he Democrat or Repub-
/ lican, and ne probably finds himself
! with great many obligations on his
! hands since he secured the necessary
! majority OF the legislature The men
whom he has to placate with offices are
! not the men who would be enthusi-
astically in favor of Judge Amidon The
position which he nows occupies would
/ be juicy plum for some fellow if the
/ appointment could go over uncon-
| firmed.
! We want to say right here, in the
name of all Democrats in the North
! west who love justice and fair play,
that, if Judge Amidon's appointment is
not confirmed and if he should be She
ceeded by any other candidate Of Mr..
Mchinley's appointing, it will never he
/ forgotten or forgiven by the voters Of
other states than North Dakota. No
greater outrage could be committed
than for the serc e to refuse, as it has
done th',s-1ar, to pass upon the nomina-
tic, Of a man SO thoroughly qualified
for his place. The pretense of charges
being brought against Judge Amidon is
the basest and most shameless element
in the situation. These charges are
purely fictitious and were never heard
Of until in connection with the recent
senatorial election. There is no man
ner Of doubt that some Of Hans
brough's creatures who want this place
are responsible for them, # they were
not directly inspired by Hansbr5ugh
nimself. This furtiva assault up7n
mans character 10 furnish IN excuse
for givinS another his jo15 il, tha. mean
est act Of which any politician can be
guilty. We took to the United States
senate to see whether it viii sanction
q double outrage that strikes at man
publicly and privately for the sake Of
carrying through this low political deal.
If the confirmation OF Judge Anidon
fails in the senate because the Repub-
licans. who know thoroughly his char
acter and his worth. do not support
him, the Northwest will remember it.
If Mr.. Mckinley recognizes a vacancy
in this place to appoint any other man
than Judge Amidon, he will be guilty
of an act as shameful to him as an in
dividual as it would be unwise for him
as a politician. Shall a man Of the
highest standing personally and pro-
fessionally, a Democrat of the sound
money creed. be dishonored and de-
prived of position by this senate Of the
United States because such a man as
!, Hansbrough has made o bargain with
the free silver element among his SUD-
porters with which he formerly affiIi-
ated, from which he was pulled away
with difficulty, and to which he vet
trUckles and is ready to offer bribes?
We can assure the members of the
senate from this section that there are
a great many voters IN Minnesota and
South Dakota and Wisconsin. as well
as in North Dakota, who will look with
interest upon the issue of this quarrel.
and who will have a long score to settle
ii Judge AmiGon's appointment is not
confirmed.
PLAY BALL.
Spring is coming near enough to Us