Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1905-04-28
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From our Regular CORES DO nden,.,


Washington, D. c.. April 22.-The
President has made someiextremely un-
fortunate appointments recently. That
some few unworthy ones will secnre
recognition among the great number
of selections which President is COM
PEELED to make is inevitable, but when
such accidents happen in the selection
of men for life positions on the federal
bench it is an occasion of regret for
everyone interested in the. welfare OF
the Nation. Taking the appOintees Of
President Roosevelt as class and they
are SO much above the average that 1t
is only fair to assume that he means
to confer public Office only on men
worthy of preferment, but il that be
his intention he is occasionally badly
imposed upon and he should take heed
and never again listen to the recon-
mendations of the men responsible for
his mistakes. That he does listen to
men whom he knows have tried to
foist upon him and upon the public SER
vice unworthy officials is probably the
reason for his mistakes.
The latest appointment made by the
President is that of Ex-Governor Atk-
inson of West Virginia to the vacancy
on the Court of Claims caused by the
death of Judge Weldon. The general
comment of those who know Mr.. AK
inson, the place to which be has been
appointed, and who are willing to
speak frankly, is that he is "a cheap
man for highly responsible position. y
Those who know politics and who seek
the reason for the Presidents being
misled in this instance will find the
cause without trouble. Mr.. Atkinson
was endorsed by the two Senators from
West Virginia. In fact, it is generally
believed, that Mr.. Atkinson owes tn is
endorsement to the fact that he with
drew from the last Senatorial contest
in his State in favor OF Senator Scott
who desired to return to the Senate for
which be is so lily fitted.
OF course the Senate can reject Mr..
Atkinson. The power to confirm him
lies with the Senate alone, but there are
no charges to be preferred against the
Ex-Governor. He is an honest man,
so far as anybody knows, and for the
Senate to refuse to confirm him would
doubtless place an unjust stigma upon
him. AS to his nnfitness, witness the
following. The judicial position to
which President Roosevelt has APP
pointed him is one that calls for the
most expert judicial skill, comprehen-
sive knowledge of the law and a fine
ability to weigh legal propositions. Mr..
Atkinson began life teaching school
which he abandoned to qualify for the
Methodist ministry. Since then he
has been connected with several news
papers and has held public office al
most continuously. Not more than s
years have been devoted to the prac-
tice of law in the Ex-Governor career
since he graduated, with considera BILE
honor, from Howard University Law
School about 1872. In q word, it is
not because he possesses a record or
any particular disabilities which would
debar him from the bench, but because
he lacks those qualities, especially ex-
perience. which every prominent mem
Der of the judiciary should possess.
Another instance of President Roose.
velt's being misled in regard to the
character of man he appointed to The
bench is that of Judge Wickersham of
Alaska. Judge Wickersham has been
attacked in the Senate, not on per-
,onal grounds but because there are
tLllhSO Ill II WulCu 60Ctu
10 demonstrate his unitneSs for the
position to which the President has
appointed him. The Senate has thus
ar failed to confirm Judge Wickers-
IAN and he will be compelled to come
o Washington and answer charges be- |
ore the Senate Judiciary committee
lext fall. If be is unable satisfactorily
o refute these charges he Will not be
onfrmed at all. although he will have
erved considerable time under the
ecess appointment.
Still another instance of an unfortu
ate appointment, although one OF j.,
,ss Importance, has recently come to :
ght For some unexplained reason =
ne President has conferred CONSUL !
eneralship on a newspaperman utterly
NIT fer the place. The American
Dnsulate in a section far from a Uni
I'd States embassy or legation should !
9 source of refuge and comfort to
-mericans travelling abroad, but such =
certain not to be the case with the
onsulate to which this man has been
ppOinted. He is not only not the 1
right sort" of man to hold such an d
flee, but be is addicted to the abuse c
liquor and all who know him con.
tently expect that he will prove a .
,urce of annoyance and modification
} all Americans who have occasion to ?
ansact business with his office, or to
sit the city to which he is appointed.
As already indicated, these errors of
dgment or mistakes in character are
e result of the Presidents listening
} the recommendations of men whom
2 knows to be guided by any impulse :.
.ther than the proper ones, the credit /,
their country and their party. For ii
stance he still appoints men on the V
commentator of Senator Platt, of r.
ew York, although in one instance o.
rec of the most prominent mem bers II l,
the Senate were compelled to 60 to ir
g White House and make represen- -
tiOns regarding man appointed to
gh Office on Platt Is recommendation, =
nich resulted in the Presidents inn
withdrawing the nomina-
IN. In another instance, the Presi-
Mt promised to appoint a man to an
portant position In Washington on
ats urging. Prominent members
the Senate went to the White House ;.
told the President the man could IL
t be trusted. The President was o od
npelled to break his promise, and III
; the President has this spring ap
nJed this man to an important con-
ar position 1t must be admitted