Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-12-04

Judge Lewis Discusses the Ap-.
pointment Of Assistant.
Mr.. Malcolm A. Coles, Chief Deputy
United States Marshal, with offices at
the Custom House. will be assistant at
torney for the Eastern District of Vir-
ginia, under Judge L. L. Lewis when the
latter assumes the Office of District At
torney on the Goth of December after
the term of Mr.. Allan expires.
This appointment has been practically
determined ever since the announcement
of Judge Lewis appointment by the
President to the district attorneyship.
but Judge Lewis had not entertained any
purpose. up to last night. Of making
public announcement of the fact until
after his confirmation by the United
States Senate.
The announcement is precipitated by
Roosevelt in Washington yesterday in
answer to a large delegation Of colored
men from the Eastern District OF Vlr-
ginia who called on the President to
present the name and urge the appoint
ment of James II. Hayes, Capt John
S. Wises colleague in the suffrage cases,
to the place.
President Roosevelt was reported in
special dispatch to the Richmond News
as saying among other things to the
delegation that Judge Lewis had al
ready decided to appoint Malcolm A.
Coles as his assistant"
Judge Lcvis,s Statement.
When seen at his residence, 313 West
Franklin street last night and asked for
definite statement as to the matter
Judge Lewis said that he had just read
the article in the afternoon paper and
; up to the moment Of doing SO had not
intended to say anything at this time
on the subject.
After cogitating the matter thought
fully awhile he went on to say that in
view CT the fact that the President had
mentioned. the matter he could see no
| objection to the press having an exact
| statement of the whole circumstance.
| When he was in Washington on other
| business on the 2sth of November and
| was unexpectedly summoned by the
; President and rendered to Office OF Dis
! trict Attorney by him, the President
| had said to him that he wished him to
understand that the office was given to
him without any restriction wha teVer.
But the President had gone on to say that
it would be pleasing and gratifying to
| him should Mr. Malcolm a. Coles be
made assistant attorney if Judge Lewis
thought we'll Of Mr.. Coles and found
such an arrangement entirely agreeable
to himself.
well, in view of the fact that I had
myself already recommended Mr.. Coles
for the place under President Mckinley
said Judge Lewis, "and had determined to
recommend him again. to who
ever should be appointed district at
torney, not dreaming that l would be the
man, I said to the President that the
appointment would be entirely agreeable
| to me-"
Would Recommend Mr. Coles.
"My exact reply to the President at
| this point was: II the Senate acts favor
ably on my nomination, Mr.. President,
| 1 Shall recommend Mr.. Coles to Attorney
/ General Knox for appointment to the
| place Of assistant,
For you know" he explained, that
! neither the President nor myself make
| the appointment. That is the prerosatlve
| of the Attorne ney-Generai.''
There are a number Of good men who
were candidates for the place" Judge
Lewis added, ''and l am only sorry that
/ there is only one Office and 1T cannot be
| given to all Of them.
Confusion to Still Hunt.
His announcement Of the already set
! tied determination to appoint Mr.. Coles
to the place, which will cause confusion
| in the ranks Of the Industrious still hunt
ers who have been striving for the place
(! since the announcement of Judge Lewis S
i appointment was clearly precipitated by
! the candidacy of Mr.. Wise's co!ored col
/ league. who evidently thinking to strike
| while the iron was hot. followed up his
| recent display of forensic pyrotechnlcs
| by applying for place which would
| give him more frequent opportunity for
| airing his legal erudition.
Cur the Gordon Knot.
! When besieged by the Virginia negro
/ delegation President Roosevelt, with char
| acteristic decision. foreseeing doubtless a
! great deal of trouble and complication II
/ the matter, was left in doubt as desiring
! the decision already arrived at to select
Mr.. Coles for the place. The following
| is the story Of Hayes interview with the
! President as told by the telegraph:
The Incident Told by Wire.
WASHINGTON, D. c., December 81
/ (special.)-A big delegation Of Virginia
1 colored men called on the President to-
/ day, and urged him to appoint James
HAYES. the colored lawyer of Richmond
as assistant attorney Of the Eastern Dis
| trict of Virginia. to succeed Hugh Cor
/ don Miller, who is the present assistant
TO Edgar Allan. The delegation later
/ called on Attorney General Knox.
i The President explained to the deiega.