The San Francisco call., 1905-03-07

Robert T. Devlin of Sacramento has
been appointed by the President as
United States District Attorney fer the
Northern District of California, vice
Marshall B. Woodwork, term expired.
Mr.. Woodwork received the news of
his successors appointment yesterday
afternoon with philosophical resigna-
tion.
Il have been told by my friends" he
said, that it is the best thing that
could have happened to me. 1 hope
that is so. L have made arrangements
to enter the practice of law on my
own account with Congressman Dun
can e. McKinlay. My long experience
in the Federal law and procedure will
stand me in good stead. L have re-
ceived no advices as to when my sue
cessor will qualify, but 1 believe it will
be soon."
Robert T. Devlin is a well-known
lawyer of Sacramento, whose practice
throughout the central and northern
regions of the State is prominent and
lucrative. The anti-Debris Association
and the Southern Pacific Company are
among his clients. He was born in
Sacramento, June 13, 1859, and educat-
ed in the public schools of that city.
He was appointed a member of the
State Board of Prison Directors in 1884
and has since been reappointed: His
term of office as director expires jan
uary L, 1912.
1t is gossip in political circles that
he will resign from the Prison Board
and that Governor Pardee will be re-
quested to name his successor at an
early day. The impression that Mr..
.Devlin cannot hold State office and
a Federal office at the same time is not
clear. The constitution of California,
article 4, section 20, reads: mo person
holding any lucrative Office under the
United States or any other power shall
under this State
The Office of State Prison Director is
not an Office of profit. The constitu-
tion, article 10, section 4, declares that
the members of the board shall re-
ceive no compensation other than rea-
sonable travelling and other expenses
incurred while engaged in the perfor-
nance of official duties. to be audited
as the Legislature may direct"
Mr.. Devlin was elected to the State
Senate from the Thirteenth Senatorial
District in 1900 and served for four
years in a manner highly acceptable to
his constituents. He is a member of
executive committee of the Republican
State Central Committee and was
CHOSEN chairman or the RepuDllcan
State Convention which met in Santa
Cruz on August %, 1904, and nomi-
mated Presidential electors and Con-
gressmen.
Gossip says that Senator Perkins
was advised by his lieutenants in Cali
fornia that a man who keenly appre-
ciated the force of political organiza-
ton and who had displayed ability as
an organizer should be appointed to
the Office of United States District At
torney. 1t is common opinion that the
Senator is looking after his own
fences. The report that Senator Flint
urged the appointment of Luther
Brown to succeed Mr.. Woodwork
is not credited by the politi-
clans of the inside circle. There Is an
impression that the junior Senator
yielded gracefully at the beginning to
the opportunities of the senior on be-
half of Mr.. Devlin's appointment, but
this does not signify to the politicians
that Senator Flint has adopted yield
ing policy. On the contrary it is as
serted that the Senator from Los An
geles will insist on fair division OF
the patronage.