The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1901-05-03
a REMARKARLE MIxuP.


Late in the year 1900 il was decided by
the powers that be that Mr.. Daniel n.
Mcmillan, ex-state senator Of New York,
and for many years general counsel. in
the city Of Buffalo, for the Vanderbilt
system Of railroads. vas TO be appointed
associate justice Of the supreme court Of
New Mexico
This appointment had been urged not
only by those who knew Mr.. Mcmillan IN
the state CT New York, but by lawyers
OF Santa Fe and OF other cities IN New
Mexico. who knew OF him and desired
70 see him obtain the place.
Toward the close of 1900. with Cover
nor Otero Of the territory, Mr.. GcAiil-
Ian was on q Lake Shore train speeding
toward Washington. When the train
stopped at Pa5nesville, o. newsboys
boarded Il. and one Of them called out:
All about the new supreme court judge
Of New Mexico; Silas Alexander ap-
pointed" The governor Of the territory
and Eir. Mcmillan looked at each other,
and they bought a paper; and in that
paper they read IN glazing headlines that
silas Alexander OF Santa Fe had re-
ceiyed the appointment to the vacant
judgeship.
AIr. Mcmillan, the morning of his arri-
val in the capital, went at once to the
Office Of the secretary OF war.
How did it happen I was not ap-
pointer" he asked.
why" said Mr. Root you are ap-
pointed
Why" said Mr.. Mcmillan, you arc
mistaken" and he drew from his pocket
the Cleveland newspaper OF the day be-
fore. Secretary DOT turned all colors.
This is a mistake" he said; 'an absurd,
strange mistake, for I have II from the
presidents own lips. corroborated by
Mr. Griggs, attorney-general, that your
name was sent yesterday TO the senate
for action, and that the recommendation
was duly signed by President Mckinley. -
Then the men went to the state, war
and navy building and found Attorney
General Griggs.
But you have been given the appoint
ment," said Ar. Griggs.
Then, what does this newspaper re-
port mean?" was the reply
The attorney general was duTnb-found-
ed. Il cannot conceive what it means, -
he said. He tapped his bell and when &
messenger came in response he request
ed the attendance Of the clerk, IN con-
fidential relations with him, whose duty
It is to fiji in, upon appointment blanks.
the names of those who are designed for
appointments by the executive.
The clerk appeared. MIR. Blank" said
the attorney general, lind out at once
whose name was sent yesterday to the
senate with the recommendation by the
president that he be appointed associ-
ate justice of the supreme court Of New
Mexico.
Il viii look" said the clerk. He soon
returned with a memorandum slip in
his hand.
mr.. Alexander" he said; the man
from Buffalo
Then glinlmering Of the truth dawn
ed upon the group. Are you sure, -
said Attorney General Griggs, that the
name was not Mcmillan
Certainly" was the reply; the name
was Silas Alexander
The situation was remarkable and time
was important.
The president Of the United States had,
inadvertently, by the error Of a subor-
dinate, been made 10 set aside the man
whom he had intended to name
There came a pause. Mr.. Griggs broke
the silence.
well, gentlemen" he said, the fat is
in the fire, but we must get It out. My
subordinate has made this mistake, and
I must do my best to get it rectifed, and
perhaps the fault is partly mine, for
told him to i'll IN the name of the Buff
falo man. and he, probably seeing the
name Alexander and identifying it with
the congressman of the same name,
prominently known in Washington as
coming from Buffalo. thought that he
was to be the appointee-
And so the three men went to the pres
ident and explained matters; and as a
consequence a messenger, preceded by a
telephone message, sped rapidly toward
the capitol with instructions TO seeA i'm
mediately the leader in the senate and
prevent any action on the mistaken
nomination, and 20 make the statement
to that leader that it was withdrawn
The messenger arrived just as the
senate was about to take action, and
II the telephone had been relied upon
the nomination of Siias Alexander would
nave been confirmed by the United
states senate and the viii of the pres
ident of the republic would have been
dafaated -Satllrdav EVaning Post.