The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1905-04-28
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER
WASHINGTON, D. c.. April 22nd.

some extremely unfortunate appointments
recently. That some few unworthy ones
will secure recognition among the great
number of selections which a President
is compelled to make is inevitable, such &C
cidents happen in the selection of men for
life positions on the federal bench it is an
occasion of regret for anyone interested
in the welfare of the Nation. Taking the
appointees Of President Roosevelt as a
class and they are so much above the av-
e1age that it is only fair to assume that
he means to confer public off lie only on
men worthy of p1eferment, but if that be
his intention he is occasionally badly i'm
posed upon and he shonld take heed and
never again listen to the recomm end ations
of the men responsible for his mistakes.
That he does listen to men whom he
knows haye tried to fost upon his and
upon the public service unworthy officials
ia probably the reason for his mistakes.
The latest appointment made by the
President is that of ex Governor Atkin-
son of West Virginia to the vacancy on
the Court Claims caused by the death of
Judge Weldon. The general comment of
those who know Mr.. Atkinson, the place
to which he has been appointed, and who
are willing to speak frankly, is that he is
"a cheap man for a highly responsible po-
sition." 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 wos this endorsement
to the fact that he withdrew from the last
Senatorial contest in his State in favor of
Senator Scott who desired to return to
the Senate for which he is SO lily fitted.
Of course the Senate could reject Mr.
Atkinson. The power to confirm m 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 untitness, witness the folio wing The
judicial position to which President
Roosevelt has appointed him is one that
calls for the most expert judicial skill,
comprehensive 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 be has been
connected with several newspapers and
has held public Office almost continuously.
Not more than eight years have been de-
voted to the practice of law in the ex-
Governors career since he graduated,
with considerable honor, from Howard
University Law School about 1872. In
a word, it is not because he possesses a
record or any particular disabilities which
would debar him from the bench, but be-
cause he lacks those qualities, especially
experience, which every prominent mem
Der of the judiciary should possess.
Another Instance OF President Roose-
velt's being misled in regard to the char
acter of man he appointed to the bench
is that of Judge Wickersham Of Alaska.
Judge Wickersham has been attacked in
the Senate, not on personal grounds but
because there are certain things in his
record which seem to demonstrate his un-
fitness for the position to which the Pres
ident has appointed him. The Senate has
thus far failed to confirm Judge Wicker
sham and he will be compelled to come
to Washington and answer charges be-
fore the Senate Judiciary committee next
fall. If he is unable satisfactorily to re-
flute these charges he will not be confirm
ed at all although he will have served a
considerable time under the recess ap
pointment.
Still another instance of an unfortunate
appointment, although one of less impor-
lance, has recently come to light. For
some unexplained reason the President
has conferred a con sui generalship on a
newspaper man utterly unfit for the place.
The American consulate in section far
from United States embassy or legation
should be a source of refuge nd comfort
to Americans travelling abroad, but such
is certain not to be the case with the con-
sulate to which this man has been ap-
pointed. He is not only not the fright
sort" of man to hold such an Office, but
he is addicted to the abuse of liquor and
all who know him confidently expect that
he will prove source of annoyance and
modification to all Americans who have
occasion to transact business with his Of
fee, or to visit the city to which he is APP
pointed.
AS already indicated, these errors of
judgment or mistakes in character are the
ITZu>o1t T11<0Lc|