The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1901-05-22
AN OFFICIAL MIX UP.
The STORY OF AN APPOINTMENT
TO A JUDGEsHlP.

Late In the year 1900 1t was decided
by the powers in Washington that Mr..
Dalhei IL. Mcmillan, ex-state senate.
OF New York and for many years gen
ernl counsel In the city OF Buffalo for
the Vanderbilt system OF railroads, was
10 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 of New York. but by law
yers of Santa Fe and OF other cities in
New Mexico who knew of him and de.
sired to see him obtain the place.
Toward the close Of 1900, with Gov.
ernor otero of the territory, Mr.. Me
MILAN was on Lake Shore train
speeding toward Washington. When
the train stopped Mt gainesville, O.,
newsboys boarded 1t. and one OF them
called out "All about the new supreme
court Judge Of New Mexico. Silas
Alexander appointed" The governor
of the territory and Mr. Mcmillan look.
ed at each other. and they bought Il
paper. and In that paper they read In
Of Santa l'e had received the appoint
ment to the vacant judgeshlp.
Mr.. Mcmillan the morning OF his ar
rival in the capital went ut once to the
office of the secretary OF war.
How did 1t happen l was not ap
pointed2" he asked.
why" said MIR. Root. you are ap
| pointed"
"Why." said Mr.. Mcmillan, you ar,
mistaken" And he drew from his
pocket the Cleveland newspaper of the
day before. Secretary Root turned al
colors. This Is a mistake" he said
IAN absurd, strange mistake, for have
It from the presidents own lips, cor,
roborated by Mr. Griggs, attorney gen
eral, that your name was sent yester.
day to the senate for action and that
the recommendation was duly signed
by President Mckinley"
Then the men went to the state, wal
and navy building and found Attorney
General Grlggs.
But you haye been given the ap-
pointment." said Mr.. Griggs.
ufh W nut uOtS ILLS newspaper re-
port mean?" was the reply.
The attorney general was dumfound.
ed, 81 cannot conceive what 1t means, "
he said. He tapped his bell, and when
Il messenger came In response lie re
quested the attendance of the clerk In
confidential relations with him, whose
duty 1t IL to Ill In upon appointment
blanks the names of those who are de.
signed for appointments by the eXecu-
tive
Tie clerk appeared. MIR Blank,
said the attorney general, find out at
once whose name was sent yesterday
TO the senate with the recommendation
by the president that he be appointed
associate justice of tho supreme court
of New Mexico"
81 will look" said the clerk, lie soon
returned With memorandum slip In
his hand
mir. Alexander" he sald-"the man
from Buffalo"
Then Elimmering of the truth
dawned upon the group. Are you
sure" said Attorney General GrIggs
that the name WAS not McMillanT
Certainly" was the reply. 1.-The
name was Sllas Alexander"
The situation WINS remarkable, and
time was important
The president of the United States
had in"hv"rt"nuy, by the error OF {
subordinate, been made 10 set aside thu
man whom he had Intended to name.
There came a pause. Mr. Griggi
broke the silence.
well. gentlemen" he said. the fa
Is In the fire, but we must get II out
My subordinate has made this mistake
and must do my best 10 get II rectl
fed, and perhaps the fault Is partly
of the Buffalo man. and he, probably
seeing the name Alexander and identi.
flying II with the congressman OF the
same name prominently known IN
Washington as coming from Buffalo.
thought that he was to be the APP
pointee."
And so the three men went TO the
president and explained matters. and
as a consequence n messenger. proceed.
ed by telephone message. sped rapid
ly toward the capitol with instructions
TO seek Immediately the leader OF the
senate and prevent any action on the
mistaken nomination and to make the
statement TO TINT leader that 1t 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 Sllas Alexander would
have been confirmed by the United
States senate. and the will of the pres
ident of the republic would have been
defeated.-Saturday Evening Post.