New-York tribune., 1900-05-17
A PL4TT BOSS FOR JUDGE.
JOHN r HAZELs SOLE QUALIFICATIONS
FOR THE FEDERAL BENCH ARE HIS
POLITICAL SERVICES TO THE ERIE
COUNTY ORGANIZATION

John r. Hazel the Platt boss OF Erie County.
wants TO be appointed TO the Federal Judge
ship in that section. Many of Mr.. Hazes neigh
bors opposed to his appointment. and a num-
Der of them took the trouble TO visit President
Mckinley last week for the purpose of explaining
the why and wherefore Of this opposition George
E Matthews OF The Buffalo Express" headed
the delegation. For the purpose of ascertaining
the reasons for his objection to the candidate
lected by the senior Senator from New-York The
Tribune addressed a message TO Mr. Matthews in
Buffalo. This is the answer:
Mr.. Matthews is in Washington but here are the
arguments against Hazel as presented in The Ex-
press" The movement divide The Northern
Federal District of New-York originated in the de-
sire OF the marine interests of Buffalo TO have
court nearer than Detroit or Cleveland where they
could try cases. Momentum was given to it by
the dislike OF principals and witnesses IN other
court through district which extended from Buff
north 10 the Pennsylvania line on the south.
The bill has been so manipulated by politicians
New-York The slated candidate for Judge is the
Republican boss of Erie County. II John X. Hazel
is appointed the hopes of the admiralty lawyers of
the patent lawyers. of the insurance lawyers, Of
the various law specialists of this ana adjoining
states whose PTaSuee comes before the re hnited
part Of the services of capable judge they will
Itigations "up The lake" Ii is not Erie County
alone which is interested in having an efficient man
the judges, the importers and the underwriters of
the metropolis have vital interest in the appoint
Judge must sit in the Circuit Court of Appeals TO
hear and determine appeals from the decisions of
the other District Judges within this Jurisdiction
Almost all Federal courts In this section suf-
fering from congested calendars. They will be
worse choked than ever unless the new Judge is a
man of skill and experience. The Erie County
Bar, which has laughed Mr.. Hazels aspirations
TO place in the State Supreme Court, and even in
the County Court. is largely Indifferent TO his pre-
tentions a still more important judicial office
because few of its members practise in the Federal
courts.
Mr.. Hazel is not fitted for the place and in the
interest of good government should be appoint
ed. He is a lawyer in name. Admitted to the bar
the of twenty-One. he has devoted the
greater part of the intervening eighteen years to
ing caucuses. running conventions and acting
sub-bOss and boss Mr. Hazel frankly admits that
he has paid much attention to the law. He
excuses himself the ground that he has been
busy organizing victories for the Republican party
He has received good pay for his services, and
him. Some politicians have developed into good
judges. but they served a novitate as district at
tOrneys city COunSelS or lawyers in active
practice. Mr.. Hazel has had neither the time nor
seemingly. the inclination TO learn and practise
law. He is of anything but judicial cast of mind
profession which has not come TO him through poll
tics. He has tried cases which have attracted
attention, either from lawyers or laymen. His
learning is sought after in the capacity of
counsel. life tenure the Federal bench might
give him time enough in which TO study law, but
his capacity to absorb and assimiate legal lore
Is yet an unknown quantity to the pubic. His
appointment would be venturesome expert
considering the interests al stake though II
might improve political conditions here at the
pense of the Federal courts.
THE MORNING EXPRESS.