, 1903-03-11
A PLEASING PROBABILITY

For several days The Republican
has been in possession Of the informa-
ton that the name Of Judge John A.
Riner was being urged for the vacancy
on the bench Of the Eighth circuit soon
to be caused by the retirement Of
Judge Henry P. Caldwell. and it is a
pleasure to state that there is a strong
probability he will be promoted to the
place. Z
President Roosevelt, of course. has
the appointing power, and will take in
to consideration seniority, the best in
terests Of the public service and all
matters Of consequence bearing upon
the subject. From a civil service
, standpoint, Judge Riner is sQuarely in
line for the place. Judge Philips Of
Missouri, Judge Shiras Of Iowa, and
Judge Hallett Of Colorado are his sen
iors. 1t is true, but they are not candi-
dates because Of the near approach Of
their retirement from the bench.
Judge Riner has been upon the federal
bench for thirteen years and has made
= record Of which any jurist might be
proud. He has the unanimous support
Of the bar of Wyoming and distinguish
ed attorneys Of other western states
are urging his candidacy for the posi-
ton. To us Of Wyoming it hardly
seems possible, but he has spent three
years Of his life Upon the bench in the
state Of Kansas and a great deal Of
time in Colorado. In those two states
he has tried more than fourteen hun
dred cases and many in the state Of
Utah. AS a judge, his life has been
one Of great activity and his mind has
therefore grown and strengthened with
each succeeding year.. and more par
ticularly in that jurisprudence SO vital
to the interests Of the arid and mineral
states. Heretofore the bench Of the
Eighth circuit has been occupied by
men from along the Missouri and Mis-
sissippi valleys, far removed from the
practical operation Of the irrigation or
mineral laws and hence their knowl-
edge Of such matters must have been
obtained from reading entirely. Prac-
tical knowledge from actual contact
and personal observation is just as es-
sential to the Judge upon the bench as
1t is to the operator in the mine or up
on the. ranch. The people of the great
west will be interested in having Judge
Caldwell succeeded by a man who has
for . quarter Of a century delved deep
into all the questions in which they are
most largely interested, one who has
given the best years Of his life to the
study of those questions which they
are anxious to have at all times decid-
ed right.
In this discussion of Judge Riner's
candidacy, the Cheyenne Leader says:
III the right thing is done Judge ].
A. Riner will be promoted from the I'm
tied States district %judgeeship to be Un-
tied. States circuit Judge.
There Is a vacancy rear at hand.
and Judge Riner is in line for it, and
he should receive the appointment.
Judge Caldwell, who now holds the po-
.sition. has reached the age for retire
ment and will soon withdraw from the
apublic service.
There are few, If any. men in the
/. cQaAtrx ~ we'll qualified a. Judge RI
! ner to take the place, and by the rules
; Of the service he is clearly entitled to
Advancement.
Senator Warren, with his usual tact
! and energy. has already taken the mat
j ter mp. He is not only backed BY the
!, people Of Wyoming. but special letters
Of endorsement are being sent N to
Washinston from the bar and bench Of
this state.
1.-The unanimity and zeal with which
thsy advocate his claims are quite re
Variable. The endorsements extend
bszQaA+pazty lines. They arc unani-
nsp6S Every 90 feels that .ths sDssar
did record he has made - United
ketatss 4ldes, sotitlss him to . higher
1AahxAa9nAi1kasy sftAAamksy.s7
'1AoaA JsAes Riser be thus promo