The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-05-08
Appointment of Outsiders
a Grievance.
DISTRICT BAR MEETS
1t Will Ask Roosevelt to Appoint Resi-
dents There TO at Least Halt the
Vacancies That Occur on
the District
Bench.
Especial to News and Observer.

Washington, d. c.. May 7.--lur-
suant to adjournment q week ago, the
district bar met today to consider the
question of passing Il resolution ex-
pressing disapprOval of the practice
OF the President in appointing non
residents to the bench of the district
and particularly of criticising the
course pursued by him in naming
successor to Justice Pritchard.
1t will be recalled that the meeting
last week was for the purpose of urg-
ing the President to appoint a local
lawyer to the District supreme bench
as Justice Prtchards successor, and
that about an hour before the time
set for the meeting word was received
that the President had decided TO APP
point Justice Stafford, of Vermont
The assembly of local lawyers there
upon resolved itself into Il sort of in
dignatiOn meeting, and only the inter-
vention OF cool heads by securing adj
jOUrnment until today prevented the
adoption of resolutions censuring the
President for ignoring the local bar.
The Discussion is Hot.
At todays meeting the discussion
week. Though the President was both
criticised and defended, the majority
of the speeches were in strong con-
domination of him. Those present felt
particularly raw over what they re-
garded as q fragrant disregard OF the
wishes Of the community and Snub-
bing of the local bar. One speaker de-
nounced il as the latest fragrant
abuse of power by the executive" and
taA fI1ni de-.
In spite of the fact that the Presi-
dent knew there was no need for
haste that he knew Justice Pritchard
would remain here at least one
month; that he knew that the Senate
had adjourned and that he had post
poned the filling of the last vacancy
on the bench till a political campaign
in some States was over-rather, be-
cause of those facts, he appointed a
nonresident to this bench less than
an hour before the time he knew we
we're to meet and decide on candi-
date for the place.
He insisted that there could be no
excuse for the President disregarding
the wishes of the community and ig-
noring the members of the bar. He
concluded: "While we may not make
Theodore Roosevelt, tire President,
heed US. we may make Theodore
Roosevelt. the man, respect u.s."
The only speaker who could find
nothing to criticise and everything to
commend, in both the general prac-
tice and the specific instance referred
to was Mr. r. II. Mcneil, private sec
rotary TO Judge Pritchard, when he
was Senator. He thought the Presi-
dent was exceedingly liberal with tn (
district, and when the expression II
this sentiment produced laughter Mr..
Mcneil replied in some heat that he
was mot here to be insulted, but to
express my views"
The Negro Lawyer Kicks.
Even Thomas L. Jones, one of the
three negro lawyers present. could not
go quite so far as Mr.. McNeill in his
commentator of the President. At
ter declaring that he was "for RooS..~
welt first, last and all the time" Jones
expressed his disapproval OF the con
tinual appointment of outsiders" He
added, we are political slaves in the
district. We should go to Congress
and demand the right TO vote"
At the end of the discussion it was
decided to appoint committee OF five
to draft resolutions requesting the
President in the future to appoint res
idents OF the district to at least one
half the vacancies on the bench OF
the district courts.
Such incidents as the one of which
the district bar no wcomplains have
made Theodore Roosevelt one of the
most unpopular President so far as
Washington is concerned, that has
ever occupied the White House.
Washington the Headquarters.
Chairman Cowherd definitely an
nounced today that FOR the present n.
least, the Democratic Congressional
Campaign committee would have its
headquarters in Washington Later
in the campaign, if occasion requires.
the headquarters will be moved else
where The Republican headquarters
will probably be in New York.
Mr. Cowherd is very much encour-
aged over the prospect for the No
vember elections. He thinks there is
q good chance TO carry the House.
The Democratic opinion is that New
York, New Jersey, Indiana. and Hi
nois will be the pivotal States, aad
that material change of sentimant in
these States Will suffice TO wipe out
the Republican majority in the House
as the same conditions which affected
the vote would prevail also ~ Cen
necticut, Ohio and Pennsylvl ia.
FRED l.. MERRITT.