The times., 1899-07-13

The end of the fight for the vacancy on
the District Supreme Court bench is not
in sight. Another name was presented
yesterday, it being that of Benjamin F.
Leighton.
Only one thing has been settled. It is
that Judge James l. Alread, OF Greenville,
Ohio, will not be appointed. The Presi-
dent has said that much. Judge Alread
is likely to fill the next vacancy if it oc-
ours while President Mckinley is in Of
fee.
a proposition suggested yesterday is that
n meeting of the members of the District
bar be called and in open meeting the
names of three or possibly four candidates
already announced be selected by the
meeting and submitted to Mr.. Mckinley.
If this plan is pursued it is said that the
names which will be submitted to the
President are Henry E. Davis, Job Bar
nard, and Talmadge A. Lambert. The
name Of the fourth man has not yet been
decided upon by those who are proposing
the meeting.
The question who will be entitled to a
vote in the proposed meeting is a matter
which has been given some serious consid-
Grafton by those interested in the move
ment- Others than the members of the
Washington, Bar Association, there being
many laTySfsSxiie are not members of the
association, by right have voice in the
choice of the gentlemen TO be selected. By
this II IS meant that every practitioner at
the District bar has a right to be heard in
the matter. If a general invitation is sent
TO the members of the District bar to as
semble and participate in the proceedings
II is contended that there are others who
by virtue of their membership in the Dis
trict bar will be present and claim the
right to perhaps dictate who shall be rec
commended for the appointment.
The attorneys referred TO are those who
are employed in the Government depart
ments, and while not in the true sense
practitioners are members of the District
bar There is large number of these
and If their force were concentrated it
could be made very damaging TO the inter-
ests of those who are getting up the meet
ing.
1t was stated late yesterday afternoon,
however, that while the conference held
did not decide upon any particular line Of
action, that there is hardly any doubt that
this morning ii will be determined to call
a meeting of the District bar.
The friends of Mr.. Davis are more con-
hdeat than ever, for they maintain that if
a meeting of the members of the District
bar is called it will only tend to prove
what they have repeatedly asserted, that
he will practically receive its unanimous
endorsement.
Many of Mr. Davis friends who are
pledged to Mr.. Carusi. however, feel that
now, since the latter is practically out of
the race, they are left in very embar-
RAISING position. If Mr.. Carusi were to
announce his withdrawal from the con-
test, 1t is claimed that it would not only
give Mr. Davis an opportunity to declare
himself in reference to the justiceship but
would also allow them to tender their sup
port where it would be effective.
The vacancy in the District Supreme
Court was again brought to the attention
Of President Mckinley yesterday by
delegation of local lawyers, who presented
the name and urged the appointment of
Hon. Benjamin f. Leighton.
The delegation consisted of A. A. Birney,
4. Hart, John Ridout Jesse H Wilson.
and W. E. EdmonsJon, President of the Co
lumbia Title Company.
While it was stated that the delegation
was not at all preiudiced against any of
the other numerous candidates for the
place 1t was particularly in favor of Mr.
Leighton, who his advocates believe. rep
resents not exactly the younger but the
middle-aged element Of the lawyers of
the District
They pointed out that Mr. Leighton is
ffty-one years old. He has been a resident
Of the District for more than a quarter of
a century has a good war record as
Union soldier, and was wounded in battle.
Mr.. Mckinley, after asking numerous
questions regarding Mr.. Leighton, also en-
quired about other candidates whose names
have been presented. He seemed TO be
more particularly interested, ii was said, in
Attorneys Duvall and Barnard.
He was informed that the appointment OF
either one of those two men, or in fact
any Of the applicants. would be received
with satisfaction by the District bar; that
while there was seemingly no disposition
on the part Of the local attorneys 10 COM
bine in favor Of one candidate, there was
not the slightest feeling against any of
them.
No Indication was given by the Presi-
dent, it is said as TO who would be ap-
pointed or when the matter would be de-
cided.
1t is believed that as the local attorneys
are becoming so tangled up in their agree
ing upon a man that the President may
be forced 10 settle the matter by appoint