The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-06-13
CONTEST BEGUN.
Aspirants for the Federal Judge
ship Are Numerous.
Three Avowed Candidates and
More in Waiting.
sen. LONG - ENIGMA.
Whose Candidacy He FayOrs Is
the Puzzle.
sen. LONG - ENIGMA
Senator Burton's Position fol
the Present known.

Already the contest is on IN earnest
over the United States district judge
ship made vacant by the promotion CT
Judge Hook to the circuit bench
Judge Hook has decided that he will
not give up his present place until he is
confirmed for his new appointment by
the senate, which will not be before
November. It is understood that con-
gress will be convened in extra session
in November. and he can then be con-
firmed for the circuit judgeship There
is now long vacation in the circuit
court so there is no great hurry about
his accepting the place. but there is
work to be done on the district bench.
This will mean that the contest for the
district bench viii probably not be de-
cided before November. but the contest
will go on just the same.
Senator Longs position in regard TO
the matter is enigmatical. His closest
friends do not know his inclination in
the matter-in fact. they say that Mr.
Long himself has had little idea what
position he Will take
+Mr. Long only attempts one thing
at a time" said Morton Albaugh today
He has absolutely refused to even dis
cnss the district judgship until Judge
Hook was first appointed to the circuit
bench. He Will not get mixed in one
contest While he has another on hand.
That is why he accomplishes so much
l have no idea what position he will
take in this matter
1t is pretty definite that what is
known the Leland element, Chair
man Aibaugh, Governor Bailey. cyrus
Leland and Others, Will be for either
Chief Justice johnston or Justice Pol
lock They are undecided betwee.1
them. but one or the other VIII get
their support, and the one which fails
TO get II Will probably withdraw from
the race.
CHIEF Justice Johnston has had more.
judicial experience by far than any OF
the other candidates mentioned. ELs-
succeeded Justice David L. Brewer on
the state supreme bench early in the
eighties VIXEN Justice Brewer went to
the United States supreme bench, and
he has been on the state supreme bench
ever since. No man has left a stronger
impress on the judicial records of Kan
sas than has Chief Justice Johnston.
Justice Pollock is also recognized as
a jurist of ability, but he has servesi
only two terms on the bench. He is
probably a better politician than John
ston, however, and may therefore win
the support of his element of the party.
Ex-Governor w. E. Stanley is mem
toned in connection with the place, bur
It is not known that he is a candidate.
he IS not at least an active one Th-
name of z. F. Ware is also mentioned.
but it is understood that Mr.. Ware does
not want the place.
The men who Will support either Pol
lock or Johnston are the close friends of
Senator Long, but this does not pcs
itively indicate that he will do as they
do. If N H. LOOmiS should become an
active candidate for the appointment
he would have strong drawing powers
on Mr.. Long, for Mr.. Long owes his
election to the senate in a large degree
to LOOMS. Mr.. Loomis is not now a
candidate for the judgeship. but there
is the possibility that conditions may
bring him into it.
The only other formidable candidate
/ IS Charles Blood Smith of the firm OF
Rossington- Smith & Histed. He will
nave the support. at first al least. Of
Senat tor Burton and some of his friends.
The anti-Burton element does not be
lieVe that Smith can win. but he will
certainly have a considerable backing.
he IS attorney for the Western Union
4 Telegraph company and the Pullman
company and he has eastern cOnnec-
/ tions which will throw to him the cor
DoIate influences, including the railroad
support. This would ordinarily 90 a
long ways towards landing the appoint
ment for him. but it may not count
with President Roosevelt.
Mr. LOomis will undoubtedly be the
second choice of the Burton element. At
the same time he would be very ac-
+ ceptable to Mr. Long and his friends
and this makes his appointment d
( strong possibility, even though he is not
a candidate for the place at present A
good many lawyers have urged him to
get into the race, but he has refused tC
do so and instead has endorsed Charles
Blood Smith for the appointment In
/ case the president should insist that all
elements of the Republicans united on
! some one man. including the two sena-
tors, it would appear as though Mr.
LOOMS might be the man, and he pro-
/ baby would not refuse the appointment
/ if it were offered him.
1t is isAexpected that Senator Long will
/ come to Topeka next week to discuss the
matter of the district judgeship-
At the last moment some Of Judge
( Hooks friends were very much alarmed
for fear he would not receive the ap-
pointment to the circuit bench after all
Even after the State Journal had re-
ceived the dispatch from Washington
announcing Judge Hooks appointment
! yesterday afternoon conference was
/ held in Governor Bailey's Office to con-
slider the matter. and Morton Albaugh
4 talked with Senator Long about it over
/ the long distance telephone. Both Gov
4 ernor Bailey and Cyrus Leland were
/ confident of Judge Hooks appointment
/ because President Roosevelt assured
them last spring that he would appoint
/ Hook and they knew OF no condlUons
which were likely to bring about a
! change.
The feature which brought about un-
easiness was the presidents recent triT
to Cleveland to attend the Hanna we'd
4 ding 1t was known that Senator Hanna
was very favorable to Judge Green OF
Omaha. and in view of the fact thai
Hanna has laid down in his fight or
/ Roosevelt in Ohio. it was feared that tht
/ president would name Hanna's candi-
date for circuit judge as sort of peace
\ offering between them.
Within three minutes after the tele-
| phone conversation with Senator Long
at Medicine Lodge had closed. Stat'
\ Journal reporter carried the information
of the appointment to Governor Bailey:
office. By that time only Governol