Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-01-12
HENDERsoN's SUCCESSOR MIGHT
TAKE NORTHERN DISTRICT
JUDGEsHlP.
TO SETTLE DIFFICULTY
The Appointment OF Either Judge
Birdsail, Judge Conner or Judge
Thomas Would Be Good Way Out
of DifficuIty-Laeey on. Panama.
IBY H. j. MAHIN.l

Is Judge Birdsall of Dubuque, now
congressman from the third district,
going to be the dark horse which will
settle the judgeship fight after all?
This question continues to be asked
by many who are interested in the
long drawn out contest over the north
ern district judgeship and the rumor
persists in fitting about the corridors
of the capitol.
It would be very nice way to set
tie the fight. No better way out of it
could be suggested than the selection
Of one of the congressman. Beside
Judge Birdsall there are Judge Conner
and Judge Thomas who are eligible to
the appointment. 1t is understood
that Judge Conner would not accept
the place if it were offered to him but
no positive denial has been obtained
from either Judge Birdsall or Judge
Thomas. The latter undoubtedly has
lively contest to meet in his district
before he secures his denomination
and it is suggested by some that he
might find the judgeship appointment
very welcome escape.
With Judge Birdsall however, there
seems to be more reason for the ru-
NOR. In the first place no better man
could be selected for the place than
Mr.. Birdsall. While he has just been
elected to congress and no doubt has
every chance Of denomination and re-
election possibly for several terms yet,
Judge Birdsall is not what one might
term a professional politician, and it is
likely that he would achieve more
notable career in the judges chair
than in the halls Of congress. AS far
as his private affairs are concerned,
Judge Birdsall would probably find
himself ahead financially if he accept
ed the appointment of Judge. This POI
sition is for life at a salary of $4,000
a year. OF course as congressman
Judge Bfrdsall gets $4,000 and also is
at liberty to carry on his law practice
but after he has deducted his CAM
paign expenses and the expenses Of
his annual trip to Washington and his
| living there not a very large surplus
would be on hand. Then too as
judge all the worry and trouble of a
fight for the nomination and the cam
paign would be eliminated. Few of
the Iowa congressman hesitate to say
that the judgeship is the better dob"
When the question was put directly
at Judge Birdsall he did not deny that
he was a candidate, but whether or not
there is a sentiment Of sufficient
strength among the other members OF
the caucus to unite on him is not
known
Major Lacey was one of the first
members of congress to call on Pres
ident Roosevelt last Tuesday and con-
graduate him on his message on the
Panama question. Major Lacey has
always been just little worried over
the hasty action taken in recognizing
Panama. He once characterized it as
rather rapid fire diplomacy" He told
the President on Tuesday that the lat
ter's message entirely cleared UP this
point for him, and he now thought that
the administration was absolutely
justified in its position. President
Roosevelt expressed himself as ex-
tremely gratitied by this expression of
opinion on the part of Major Lacey, as
there are few men in the house whose
ideas on matters of this sort he values
more highly.
January 20 has been fixed by the
subcommittee of the judiciary commit
tee Of the house as the date for con-
sidering Colonel Hepburn's bill for the
purpose of making liquors shipped in
original packages subject to the laws
Of the states into which they are ship
ped. This bill was up last session, but
n y1yNf law La, =,
it was crowded out by other measures
pushed along the last of the session.
There seems to be the best of chances
for its passage this congress, and If it
does pass 1t means that the big brewer
In Milwaukee or ST. Louis or the whis-
ky dealer in Chicago will not be able
to ship his products into prohibition
locality simply because he uses the or
iginal packages for shipment. The
man who wants whisky after Colonel
Hepburn's bill is passed, will have to
go to the nearest town that boasts a
saloon and give his order to the bar
tender. He cannot get it by the use Of
the mails alone.
The calling up of this bill will prob
ably be the signal for the gathering in
/ Washington of sundry representatives
of big brewery interests, as was the
case last year. These interests are, of
course, opposed to the bill, though it
is, as a rule, favored by local liquor
dealers.
Judge Wade, Senator Hedge, Judge
Birdsall and other members interested
in the river and harbor bill, are rather
! disappointed at the prospect this year.
Representative Burton, of Ohio, told
4 the President one day this week when
asked about the bill, that he did not
think 1t would carry very large sum
4 this year The President did not ex.
J press any opinion on the matter, but
Representative Burton, who is chair
man of the committee having this
eral plan of economy will hit this bill
, as hard as any other, if not little
J harder. In view of the floods last
measure in charge, said that the gen.
sum mer there will be q great MANY