The Birmingham age-herald., 1902-09-14
No Details Yet Given of His
 Discharge
APPLICANTS FOR THE PLACE
Although the President and Attorney General Are Both Absent, Letters and TeIegrams Are Being
 Rushed to Washington.

Speculation as to the cause of the re- moval of United States District Attorney William Vaughan continu ss to be chief topic of conversation. Opinion is divid- ed as to whether the action taken was from political fear or because cf some neglect on the part of Mr. Vaughan. Mir. Vaughan. when seer yesterday, said he had not received any letter from the department giving the reasons for bis removal, and that he had nothing to say further than his previous statements.
 The department of justice in Washing ton remains firm in It's statsment that politics had nothing to do with the ac- | tion- This statement is from the highest official in the department. yet his fail ure to make known the details of the charges causes many to think ths excuse only blind
 Some interest IS being shown in the appointment of a sue .essor. The acting district attorney, J. W. Davidson. has filed an application for the plaee. He may be endorsed by the present execii- tive committee of the republican party, which assembled yesterday and which will be in session tomorrow. A number of others are being mentioned TOT the place. but little activs work is being done now because of the fact that Att torney General Knox is in Paris and the official statement that no appointment would be made until his return.
 The following dispatch was received by the Age-Herald from Washington last night:
 No Accurate Information.
 Washington, September 1s.-(Special.)- The absence of the President and attor- ney general from Washington precludes tho idea of obtaining accurate informa- tion here relative to a successor to for mer District-Attorney Vaughan. In some quarters it is thought that the President has already selected his man for the 1 place, but nothing is known about this at the department of justice, where 1t Is stated that the matter will likely be held | up until the return of Attorney-General Knox.
 The politicians in Alabama, however are evidently under the impression that the fight is an open cne. Telegrams have all eady begun to pour in upon the acting attorney general, and it Is expected that late nsxt week number of Alabama TO- publlcans will visit Oyster Bay and l Washington to see the President and att torney general
 Probable Candidates. A name prominently mentioned here to- l day for MT. Vaughan's place Is that of J. A. W. Smith, the well-known Bir- mingham attorney, The President Is said to have been favorably impressed with MT. Smiths candidacy when he reap pointed MT. Vaughan last January. MT. Smith was splendidiy endorsed then, though it Is understood that he personally made no effort to obtain the place, tho matter being left largely with some oC his enthusiastic friends. If MT. Smith can be considered a candidate. his appoint ment may be the solution of the problem. J. H. Montgomery of Birmingham is an- other name being spoken of in connection with the position.
 l MT. Vaughan's friends here still insist that his removal is not due to neglecting the affairs of his office. It is intimated that ho may have neglected President Roosevelt's second term ambitions. but until the department of justice proves 1 the gross carelessness alleged they are not willing to accept the severe indict- ment drawn against the recent district attorney.
 Fight In Convention. 1 A fight Is said to be probable at the 1 Alabama republican convention next week as a result of MT. Vaughan's re- moval This may be precipitated by the 1 introduction of a resolution to indorse President Roosevelt for the nomination in 1904 Several state conventions have adopted such resolution, but 1t is rather an unusual proceeding. Senator Platt of New York says the republican conven- tion of his state does not intend to de- clare itself two years ahead of time. and | the Alabama republicans may lead off with a failure to iIdorse Roosevelt and be followed by the republicans of the Empire state.
 | An Alabama republican here, who claims to be a Roosevelt supporter, says that the influence of Mir. Vaughan even | if asserted, will not be able to defeat the l adoption of Roosevelt resolution. This republican says that everything is aH fixed and a sufficient number of votes have been secured to knock out ''the Hanna faction" as he terms 1t. 
 Venable's hot chocolate now