The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-08-21
THOMPSON-SCOTT REGIME
 ONE WHICH DOESN'T RULE
Their Fight on Bryan and Cooper Seems to Have Been Lost Bottle Holders Needed For
 the Roosevelt Referees.

Birmingham, Aug. 2o.-(special.)-- Ever since the publication in The Ad- vertiser of the clash between the United States Court and the referees over Colquitt. and the appearance of the emphatic circular of the President for '.politicans" not to meddle with the officers connected with the court, there has been talk and talk, and suppressed excitement in the Government building here. Officials most concerned shut the mouths closely when a newspaper man appears. But they talk and talk to others. Putting this and that to- gether, one can get very near the truth of the interesting situation.
 It seems a general war was planned the marshals here and at Montgomery, who. it Is said, kicked like steers at some of the exactions of the referees. A demand was made on Bryan, which would ruin him either way. If he did what the referees wanted, and dismiss ed Colquitt in face of the judges warn- ing, the latter would be sure to re- pent it and Bryan would be ended. No President would appoint marshal who failed to treat him with proper respect. Wise ones say the chances are the President would have removed him from office just as he did Judge Emory Speer's marshal over in Geor- gia. if he had removed Colquitt. If, on the other hand. Bryan held on to Colquitt rather than provoke the Judges enmity, tho referees had their casus belli. It seems Thompson and Scott were so sure of their power, they insisted Bryan should go ahead, after they found the Judge had the power to remove deputy marshals at will and had said he would remove some him- self If Colquitt was put out. They reasoned, it is said. they represented the President and his policy. Judge Jones had ambitions they could in- jure. He would not dare, no matter how much he threatened to put out Q man they put in in the Presidents name. But he dared. He did more; he complained to the President. Worse than all. the President sustained him in that stunning circular.
 Bryan Grows Stronger.
 The Montgomery end of the court re- mained unbroken. Bryan, instead of being weakened was strengthened. Hs had only refused in advance to over throw a policy the President warned the faithful must govern in the future.
 The Presidential shot shivered some timber in Birmingham The splinters have not yet been picked up. The ref erees had 1t in for Marshal Dan Cooper He had been slow in granting their demands. He had q vague idea. like Bryan. that he should have some voice in his own office. He muJt be brought to book. Cooper's chief deputy is Mir. White. very estimable man. The referees wanted his place. It wouldn't do. after the Coiquitt row, to remove | l l. l. T1A.. |. Judge wouldn't permit that He would cut off the head of his successor. So better charge was made. If White was guilty of that. the Judge. of course, wouldn't object
 So. at a Republican mass meeting early in the month, some resolutions were fired at Cooper and White. White was charged with using some bad lam guage about the President personally. It was gently insinuated. perhaps. Cooper on the quiet shared the damn able sentiments of White If so, Messrs. Scott and Thompson were to oppose his reappointment as marshal, and call on numerous Senators to help disinfect Cooper's office.
 White Demanded Proof.
 The resolutions were published. White wrote a card denouncing the instigation of the resolution. He said they were two men who wanted the job themselves. He demanded proof. The story goes that the conduct of White was also reported to the judge. who instructed the marshal to in- vestigate and report. Thus 1t was the referees had Cooper fin a hole" He would be black listed by the admin istration if he failed to fire White. If he turned down evidence, no matter how slim, he would only be using his office to keep in a Democratic brother-in- law, and spite the ambassador of the President. He would be a goner. If he turned out White, then the referees