The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1901-07-03
an OFF NIX Up.
The STORY oFsAN App PolNTMENT.
TO A JUDGEstilP.
How the Man Slated For Associate
Justice OF New--Mexico,s Supreme
Court First Got Surprise and Att
-erwcrd the Office.

f-onr+ E;,s+ co+ surprise and Aft
+,.a ,naf,.e
-s7'.#.2s..s...::z z..s...
50 Late IN they ise'o u was declueo
by the powers N Washington s1hat VT =.
;Dan1ei -. Mcallllan, llt:-ll eA-s5aee senaeo1
s3.Sod Ne1vs1orks ana ior many years sen s.
counsel IN IN the city OF BuHaloz TOE
fhe vanderbilt system oI>rsailoaos' was
80 be appointed associate ousucesoI tne
prenae court ofsNeWs Mexico.
Ihis:appo ointment had been urged not
Dnly BY those who knew M MT.sAAcMltlan
IN the state ef New YYerk, but by. law.
yers fSSanfas=E sof other cities ID.
sssewMeNco who kneWsof him 1e ana sde7,
Sxired to:see him obtain the place ss
Toward the close OF 1900, With Sow
erners s0fere of the territory, 11r..:Afc-
flIlansswas on Lake Shore train;
speeding toward Washington. When
fhe train stopped at Painesville, O.,
nsWsbeys boarded sand {ones OF them
called out: All about the new supreme
court Judge OF New Mexico. Silas.
A7exander appointed" The governor
0f the territory and Mr. Mcmillan look
I'D at each other. and they bought a
naper. and IN that paper they read In
srlaring headlines that Silas Alexander
nf santa BE had received the appoint
ment to the vacant iudgeship.
:afr. Mcmillan the morning OF his ar.
fyal in the capital went at once to the
xsaceof thesecretary OF war.
s.How did it happen I was not ap-s
nointedy he asked.
.e5Vhv. said Mr.. Root. ..you are ap-
poIntedr.
ssWhv.. sid Mr.. Mcmillan. ..you are
adstaken.'' And he drew from his
snocket the Cleveland newspaper OF the
s1ay before. Secretary Root turned al
,coaors. .Thts is mistake, he said;
,c-.san absurd, strange mistake, for I have
1t from the presidents own lips, cor
.xoborated By Mr.. Griggs, attorney gem.
ap1al that your name was sent yester-=
day to the senate for action and that
HE recommendation was duly signed
by President Mckinley
Then the men wentsto thesstate, war
am navy building and found Attorney
General Griggs.
.4But you have been given the ap-
pointment.' said Mr. .sGriggs.
Then what does this newspaper re-
port mean?' was the reply.
-Ehesattorney general was dunfound-
ed 81 cannot conceive what Il means, =
he said he tapped his bell and when
~ messenger came in response he re-
arrested the attendance Of the. clerk in
c0n6denftal relations with him. whose
duty It siszto ill 1n supon appointment
blanks the namessof those who are de-
tgned for5appointments by the execu-
tive. ...z..
Ihe clerk appeared. Mr. Bank.
the attorney genera. IND out tsat
unce whose name was sent YESTERDAY
40 the senate with the Srecommendatlon
hy the president that ne oe appolnteo
associate justice OF the supreme court
so1 New Mexico -
Il VIII Look, SAID the "a CLERK K he soon
returned With memorandum sup 10
lbs hand. g. $500
MI. Alexander. ne sa.a-stne les @Ilans lal'
from Buffalo zs - rs 8
Then glimmering Of the truth
Iawned upon the group are Fou
said Attorney General riggs
that the name was not Mcmillan r
erta1nly Vas t'es.
Name was Silas Alexander
The situation was remarkable. and
lime was important.
The president of the United States
aad inadvertently. BY the error OF
Sssbord1nate, been, made 60 seI asloestnes
sana1a whom he bad intended TO name. s.
There came pause Mr. eriggsl
Shcoke the silence. s
Veil gentlemen. be said the Sfat
So she tire, but we most get It out
subordinate has made this mistake