The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-01-18
AFTER JUDGE SPEERS PLACE.
MESSRs. ERWIN AND LEAKEN AS
PRE- TO BE JUDGE.

II There Is "A Vacancy in the District
Court, Caused by the Advancement
of Judge speer to the Circuit Court
the District Attorney and Assis-
tant District Attorney Are Expect
ed TO Cross swords for the Ermine.
The bill to give an additional circuit
judge for this circuit, extending from
Texas to South Carolina, Is reported from
Washington as having been favorably re-
ported by the judiciary committee Of the
House. The bill, which also gives a new
circuit judge to the Ohio circuit has
passed the Senate, where Senator Bacon
added the provision for another judge for
this circuit With the favorable report
of the House committee, 40 which it was
referred, it would appear that the chances
of the bill becoming a law are very good.
There is already much gossip among the
local lawyers, as well as attorneys
throughout the state, as to whom the
prize of the new judgeship will fail. Sa-
vannah has no candidate in the field, but
Atlanta is reported as having three al
ready at work, Judge w r. Hammond,
Col. John T. Glenn and Judge Henry B.
Tompkins Each of these gentlemen is
reported as having already solicited the
support of Savannah lawyers through the
Intervention of friends who have interest
ed themselves in their cause. Alabama,
and perhaps other states, may be expected
to bring out candidates, and the contest
is apt to become a spirited, though digni-
fed, one.
The logical candidate for the office of
circuit judge, as some Savannah lawyers
point out, would naturally be Judge EN-
DRY Speer of the United States District
Court. Judge Speer has been mentioned
in connection with the Supreme Court. He
has been on the bench for many years,
and is recognized as one of the ablest
judges of the federal courts. While he
has so far made no effort to put himself
in the field for the circuit judgeship, and
viii probably decline to enter personally
into any struggle over it, it can be de-
pended upon that his name will be pre-
scented by his friends to the President for
consideration when the bill becomes
law and the appointment is under consd-
Grafton. From the standpoint Of equip
ment. Savannah lawyer said yesterday,
Judge Speer will not suffer by compari-
son with any who may be mentioned in
connection with the Circuit Court Judge
ship.
If Judge Speer is elevated to the Cir
cult Court bench there will be a vacancy
on the District Court bench to be filed.
1t is generally understood that there are
two rival candidates already for this po-
sition In the event of a vacancy. District
Attorney Marion Erwin and Assistant
Attorney w. r. Ieaken of Savannah will
cross swords for the ermine that falls from
Judge Speer's shoulders Each of the Of
fcials has strong influences that can be
brought to work i'm his behalf and the out
look is that there will be a pretty strug
gle between them for the high honor if
the vacancy occurs.
If the district attorney should succeed
to the judgeship then Mr.. Leaken would
naturally, 1t is presumed, be advanced to
the office of district attorney. But Mr..
I.eakin has no such ambition. His hope
Will be to succeed to the judgeship, and
every influence at his command will be put
to work to that end. He and Mr.. Erwin
are lawyers of years of experience and
of excellent standing with the profession,
and the race between them would be fol-
lowed with interest by not only the bar,
but the public generally.
Mr. Leaken, when seen last night, refus-
ed to discuss the matter, except to ac-
knowledge that under certain conditions
he would probably be a candidate