The Savannah morning news., 1902-07-15
M'LAURIN AT OYSTER BAY.
HIS APPOINTMENT TO COURT OF
CLAIMS SEEMS ASSURED.

Make il Warm for Him Later on.
VIII Make Specified Charges
Against His Junior Colleague and
Possibly Prevent His Confirmation
by senate-DOes Not object to Nc
Laurin "Getting His Reward" but
Says He Is Unfit for N Judicial Po-
sition.
Washington. July Ex-senator Nc
Laurin of South Carolina has the dis
tinction of being the first member of
the Senate to dine with the President
at his summer retreat at Oyster Bay.
Senator McLaurin's visit to the Presi-
dent has occasioned the reiteration of
the announcement, with almost Off
cial directness, that the junior sena-
tor from South Carolina is to be ap-
pointed judge of the United States
Court of Claims.
There is no news in the mere an
nouncement that Senator McLaurin
may receive this much sought-after
life appointment at Washington. The
news will develop when the appoint
ment is actually made. and Senator
Tillman. the senior senator from South
Carolina, opens his fight against his
colleagues confirmation in the United
States Senate.
Senator Tillman has registered
solemn vow that he will oppose Sena-
tor McLaurin's appointment to any jul
dicial office which the President may
bestow upon him. Senator Tillman
does not hesitate to tell those who dis
cuss the McLaurin question with him
that ne does not believe Senator Nc
Laurin is qualified to occupy life po-
sition in the judiciary. The political
relations between Senators McLaurin
and Tillman are strained to such
point that Senator Tillman declares
that he does not propose to carry his
opposition TO Senator McLaurin into an
executive session, behind closed doors,
but intends to say in the open Senate
just why he does not believe his young
colleague should be given judicial APP
pointment.
To Put Charges in Record.
1t is understood that Senator TILL
man proposes to place in the Record
all of the allegations he has made
from time to time charging Senator
McLaurin with betraying the Demo-
cratic party by his vote in favor of
the peace treaty He does not object
to the Republican administration re
warding Senator McLaurin for his SER
vices as Tillman expresses it, for that,
he contends, will be a convincing cir
cumstances in the minds of most men
OF a direct deal between Senator Nc
Laurin and the Republican party.
So determined is Senator Tillman in
this matter that he will endeavor to
show from information in his posses
sion that Senator McLaurIn is lacking
in the essential qualities which would
fit him for a position on the bench.
This means that Senator Tillman in
Ii 49, oil M
use IL vigorously upon his young col
league. If the President concludes to
appoint Senator McLaurin to the judg-
ship, then the Tillman McLaurin fight
promises to be one of the most sensa-
tional character. If, on the other hand,
the President should, after due delib-
Grafton, decide to appoint Senator Nc
Laurin to a position not of a judicial
character. there would be no serious
opposition on the part of Senator Till
man. He has minated as much in
discussing the McLaurin case with
personal friends. Senator Tillman is
apparently sincere when he says he
has no desire or intention to personally
haraSs or persecute his young colleague.
They were once warm personal and
political friends. Senator Tillman's
partisanship is so strong that he cam
not overlook what he believes to be
political treachery on the part of Sem
Confirmation In Doubt.
There is grave doubt whether Sena-
tor McLaurin can be confirmed by the
Senate should he be nominated for the
judgeship. 1t is understood that the
Senate win deny him the unanimous
Endorsement they gave former Senator
Chandler of New Hampshire, when he
was nominated for president of the
Spanish Claims Commission and Gen.
when he was appointed minister to
Mexico.
During the recent session of Congress
few of Senator McLaurins friends in
the Senate intimated to the President
that any appointment he might see fit
to bestow upon Senator McLaurin
would receive their cordial approval.
There was no concerted effort, how
ever. on the part of the Democratic
senators to further the interests of
Senator McLaurin in that direction. If
the name of Senator McLaurin came
before the Senate for confirmation
without debate, he would have no diff
Guilty in getting enough votes to con-
firm him. There are, however several
senators who doubt the wisdom of pro-
voking such a fight as Senator Tillman
undoubtedly intends to make against
the appointment of his colleague to
judicial position.
$4,000 Per Annum for Life.
1t must be exasperating to Senator
McLaurin to have such a tempting
prize as a judgeship on the Court of
Claims dangling before his eyes, and
yet be deprived of the convenience and
comfort which would follow if he could
but grasp it without serious difficulty
1t is a life position at a salary of 81, 900
per year, the same compensation al
lowed a senator or representative The
duties are not heavy, the hours of SER
vice are not long, and the social posi-
ton of a member of the Court of
Claims is rated high in official circles
Senator McLaurin has been in Con-
gress long enough to find Washington a
most delightful and attractive place of
residence, and he does not try to con-
ceal the fact that the position would
he entirely agreeable and acceptable
to him.
The latest advices from Oyster Bay
indicate that the appointment may not
be made until late in the fall or per-
haps until after Congress reassembles.
BY that time the resentment which
Senator Tillman admits is of a purely
political character may calm down and
the spirit of Democratic harmony,
which is now said to be floating around
in political space, may dispell the Till
man and McLaurin feud, so that there
will be no opposition to Senator Nc