The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1902-06-04
THE QUESTION rs DECIDED.
Senator McLaurin Will be Ap.
pointed to a Judgeship.

v pointed to a Judgeship.
1t is conceded that the President wi
n name Senator John l.. McLaurin. {
South Carolina, to fill the vacancy O
the court of claims in Washington
, and this fact produces much commen
In one way or another. The Washing
ton correspondent of the Atlant
Constitution says:
Senator McIaurin, of South Caro-
lima, is understood to contempIat
some sort of grandstand play in tn
Senate in the near future when he will
announce his resignation of the posi-
ton he holds. A great deal of myster,
Is maintained by those in the Senator!
confidence and it is impossible, there
fore, to say just when this performance
will come off. 1t is, of course, posi-
BILE that he may change his mind about
the manner in which he will let the
world know that he has been taken
care of by Republican President, but
the understanding now is that either
coincident with the announcement of
his appointment to the court of claims
or before that announcement is made.
he will again air his grievances toward
the party which has honored him, and
VIII endeavor to get some notoriety by
his manner in doing it. The friends
OF several candidates for the judgeshlp
seem to think that the matter has not
yet been settled in McLaurin's favor,
but have it from source very close
to the President that he has decided
upon McLaurin for the place.
The resignation of the Senator IS
likely to add interest to the South
Carolina situation. Politicians from
that State believe Governor McSweeney
is anxious to get into the Senate, and
they are wondering whether he can
make an appointment to- fill the
vacancy which will in any way help
along his ambitions.
The old line Republicans of the
State have been turned down again by
President Roosevelt in the appoint
mont Of postmaster at Charleston,
but the appointment is not particular
ly pleasing to those Democrats who
have been trying to get or the Repub-
lican band wagon, some of whom
wanted the place for themselves. The
appointee is W.. l.. Harris, who is a
recent citizen of the State, and while
classed with the so.called Commercial
Democratic element, does not distinct
ly belong to ii. He is Republican
and has lived at Charleston for less
than year, having come from some
Northern State to hold small govern
ment position. He seems to have re-
ceived his appointment largely because
OF the fact that he married relative
of Major Micah jenkins, who is one of
President Roosevelt's favoriles.
The Washington correspondent of
the State makes the following COM
ment upon the situation:
President Roosevelt's friendship and
regard for the Senator are known, and
furthermore he would be carrying out
the wishes of President Mckinley in
providing a comfortable berth for
Senator McLau1n. A judgeship on
the court of claims carries salary Of
"a 500 and a life tenure. It's social
advantages makes the office much
sought after.
1t has been suggested in case the
Senator were nominated for the office,
that his colleague would endeavor to
prevent his confirmation by the anate.
Friends of Senator Tillman declare
that the suggestion ls purely gratui-
tous one, and that in their opinion he
would do nothing of the kind, either
directly or indirectly. Because for
personal reasons the Senator has seen
fit to hold up certain Federal appoint
ments made in South Carolina at the
instance of Senator McLaurin, is, they
argue, no indication that he would do
the same by his colleagues appoint
ment. The reasons for which Senator
Tillman has been keeping Mcl.au
appointees on the "anxious bench"
are not, 1t is thought, such as would
cause him to hold up McLaurin's APP
pointment TO an office that is entirely
remote from South Carolina politics.
In this connection, it is known that
a number of personal friends of Sena-
tor Mclaurin in the Senate, among the
Democrats, have been exerting strong
influence to have the Senator appoint
ell to the court of claims. The De-
mocratic Senators who have been adj
vocating Senator McLaurin for the
office happen to be among his most
pronounced opponents on certain
political issues aud are supporting him
entirely because of their strong per-
sonal friendship for HIM.
But what is of more vital interest IN
South Carolina circles is not the ap-
pOintment of the Senator 80 much as
the consequences. 1t is believed that
Senator McLaurin will accept the judg-
ship. HIS Senatorial term expires
next March, and as he is out of the
race for reelection there is really very
little that he could accomplish between
now and the end of his term. If he is
rendered the appointment and accepts,
he will of course resign his seat in the
Senate. And then what? II will be
up to Gov. McSweeney. No one has
suggested that the Governor will show
any reluctance this time about accept
ng designations from senators. Nor
could he very well decline to appoint a
successor to fill out the uDexpired term
of Senator McLaurin, as there will be
any number of important questions
comming up next December when
Congress convenes. Friends of the
Governor declare that he will meet the
issue and deal with it firmly when he
is officially introduced to it, but further
than this they will not discuss his pos
slble course. The report that the
Governor is himself harboring Senate
rial aspiration complicates the possible