New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-06-03
THE SAFE PATH FOR TIE PRESIDENT

THE SAFE PATH FOR TIE PRESIDENT.
It must he evident to President Mckinley by
this time that he was led into a serious error In
acGuiescing in the selection of John Il. Hazel to
be District Judge of the Western District of
NewYork. And IT is an error that will not be
overcome and blotted from memory by any such
simple expedient as the successful seating of
the man upon the bench. 1t may suit Senator
Platt's purposes 10 force confirmation If he can
do so 10y appeals 10 the traditional courtesy of
the Senate But Mr. Platt's interests are not
and never have been the interests of the Presi
dent and the Republican party. Mr.. Platts in
terest is to maintain his power over the organi-
cation to reward his followers as he chooses, to
teach all men that he is the road to preferment
and that political wire pulling under him is
better than honorable attainment at the bar as
preparation for judicial honors. His interest is
10 protect his own political business even If he
overthrows the party. demoralizes the public
service and delivers over the people to robbers.
as he did in this city in 1897 when he elected
the Tammany ticket. The interest of the Presi-
dent and the party is to commend the Admins
tration TO the respect and support of the honest
thoughtful people of this State, and that viii
not be done by forcing upon them Judge whom
a large proportion Of them believe TO be incom-
petent as n lawyer and morally unfit as a man.
II is no answer 10 tne charges Drought against
Mr.. Hazel 10 call ont respectable men and judges
10 give him testimonials. Half Of the people of
the State might say they thought he would do.
but If the other half thought he unfit il
would be piece of political folly and moral
wrong 20 persist in making him their Judge
The President himself has recognized the truth
OF this principle When the Judgeship of the
Eastern District of New-York was vacant Mr.
Platt brought forward as his candidate a ma
chine worker with more experience at the bar
than Mr.. Hazel, hut much the same type Of poll
lcian. whose deserts were entirely those OF
political service. President Mckinley refused
10 appoint him. and compelled Mr. Plat to pro-
pose some other person who, while in political
accord with SIR. Plat, was acceptable to per
sons Of more fastidious tastes concerning Judi
cial character The result was the highly cred
liable appointment of Judge Thomas Are the
people of Western NewYork less entitled TO the
protection of the President than those of BROOK,
lyn? Are the people of this city, where both the
Buffalo and Brooklyn judges will Sit. less IN
need Of pure able and learned administration
of justice than they were at the beginning Of
President McKinley's Administration? And 70
the good opinion of voters less valuable now
than then?
judge should be above suspicion man
may be OF fair character and acceptable for the
ordinary associations of business, but he is not
fl 10 sit as judge unless his reputation is I'M
clouded and his purity and high mindedness are
beyond question. John r. Hazel is not above
suspicion. His high mindedness is not beyond
Sssastion. When the Bar Association Of New