Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-07-22
NJ LAUR|N'S REFUSAL
His Defamation Of the Court
Of Claims Judgeship.
A DIST RIOT MAN
ONE TO BE APPOINTED TO THE
LOCAL SUPREME BENCH.
South Carolina Senator's Action a Sur
prise to His Friends in
This City.

The deciination by Senator McLaurin of
South Carolina of the offer of President
Roosevelt of the vacant 5udgeship In the
Court Of Claims bench probably means the
appointment of a District man to the va
cancy In the bench of the Supreme Court
of the District. Those at all familiar with
the Presidents views as to the local judge
sship have understood all along that the
reasons operating against the selection of a
District man included the Presidents de-
sire to give good judicial position to Sen
ator McLaurin. The President has inform
ed personal friends that he liked Senator
McI4aurin. considered him to have a bright
legal mind and that it was his purpose to
take care of him by giving him the yacan-
cy on the Court of Claims. Then arose in
front of the President a promise he had
made to Representative Cannon and others
to give a judicial position to John G.
Thompson assistant attorney general. Con-
sequently there were two men to be aiken
care of and two vacancies to fill, with the
District bar and people declaring that the
vacancy on the District bench belonged to
the District and should be filled by a Dis
trlct man. The chances Were strong that
Senator McLaurin would have received one
OF the places and Mr.. Thompson the other
The declination of Senator McLaurin leaves
the President free to offer the Court of
claims vacancy to Mr.. Thompson If he still
NiSheS ~ pace lnat Ofnclal the bench.
MT thompson is not understood to have
any particular desire for he District bench
vacancy and would probably be Just as we'll
satisfied with the other
Chance for a District Man.
Such a shifting would therefore enable
the President to carry out the wishes of
the District that a local man should be
CHOSEN 1t Is regarded as entirely probable
that ne VIII do this. When he left here for
flttSDurg and Oyster Bay his mind was not
ulsillchhed 10 entertain suggestions fire.
Quently made to him that, owing to the
complicated legal system of the District II
would be advisable to select a District man
de continued to give this thoughtful con-
SHERATON, and in some circles it was re-
ported that the President had in a measure
reconsidered his determination to name Mr.
thompson. When he left here several
weeks ago 1t was with the intention not to
announce either of the appointments until
the fall or probably until the assembling Of
Congress.
1t is not regarded as likely that there will
be any additional candidates from the Dis
trlct for the position. The three men who
We're so strongly indorsed-Messrs. Leigh
ton, Gould and Duvall-will be pressed by
their friends, and from these three the Pres
ident will be able to select a Judge The
fact that the President Is at Oyster Bay
may prevent the situation from being
properly presented to him except by mail
and is familiar with the situation, but
whether he would care to undertake the
presentation Of phases of the case to the
President Is not known, inasmuch as he
viii soon go on his vacation and not return
to Oyster Bay for month. The probability
Is that the President would not immedia tely
reach decision in the matter anyhow.
leaving the settlement until next fall but
should the case be put before him in good
shape at this time 1t might, 1t is thought
lead to his closing the entries from the
outside.
Local interest viii undoubtedly be re
awakened by the latest development, as the
promise OF local man is really better now
as seen this distance from Oyster Bay, than
II was just after the vacancy was caused.
Has Occasioned Surprise.
Senator McLaurins action has occasioned
surprise among his friends and the South
Carolina colony here. The general under
standing was that he would be offered and
would accept the place. =, He is well known,
however, to be sensitive to attacks such
as have been made upon him because of
his change of political faith. Rather than
run the risk of having his nomination BIT
terly fought In the Senate, and probably
necessitating administration pressure to Sc
cure confirmation, the South Carolina sena-
tor concluded to end the agitation by de-
Ginning the place. The President may have
something else in view for Senator McLau-
rim when the latter has become more fully
identified with the principles he has es-
poused. Senator McLaurin's term will not
expire until next March.
dispatch from Oyster Bay yesterday
says: President Roosevelt Is in receipt Of a.
letter from Senator John L. McLaurin of
South Carolina declining the proffered ap-
pointment to the vacancy on the bench of
the United States Court of Claims. The
President, it can be said, much regrets
Senator McLaurins decision, as he believes
that McIaurin's senatorial experience and
Carolina would have rendered him par
Claims.
Will do about Senator McLaurin. 1t is un-
derstood that he is anxious to appoint him
to some position in recognition of what the
President regards as his services to the
country and his demonstrated ability IN
public life. Senator McLaurins letter is
couched in the most positive terms and
evidently was based in particular upon a
newspaper article which accompanied the
letter. The article stated that the senator
had sold himself for the prospect of getting
such an office as that offered to him. 1t
can be said, however, that the President re-
garded such type of accusation as be-
meath notice and sincerely regrets that
Senator McLaurin should have deemed 1t
necessary to pay any attention to 1t.
Senator McLaurin evidently has changed
his mind about accepting the appointment
since he was in Oyster Bay on July IL. At
that time he indicated his readiness to ac-