The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-02-17
BIRMINGHAM BAR
ENDORSES SMITH
Shelby Peasants of Huntsville
Second Choice
FEDERAL JUDGE GOSSIP
Rumors of Other Names Being Submit
ted-certaln Features of Action
of Birmingham Bar Meeting
Criticized BY Lawyers.
FEDERAL JUDGE GOSSIP

Al meeting Of the Birmingham bar.
held in the city court yesterday morning,
a resolution was adopted to recommend to
! President Roosevelt the names of y. b.
Smith democrat and Shelby Pleasants, re-
publican. as suitable and acceptable can
didates for the new federal judgeshlp for
the Northern district of Alabama pro-
posed in the Clayton bill now before Con-
| gress.
r. b. Smith is city attorney of Biz
mingham at present and is regarded as
| on ii the brightest young lawyers at
| the bar; Shelby Peasants is praetlcng
attorney in Huntsville and enjoys a very
high reputation for his legal knowledge
and ability. committee was appointed
TO communicate to the President the re-
suit of the meeting
Meeting Yesterday Morning.
The adjourned meeting OF tie Brmmg-
ham bar met in the city court yesterday
morning 10 hear the report of the spe-
ciAl committee appointed at the previous
| meeting 10 select a candidate for the Of
flee of federal Judge under the Clayton
bill. john Ii. Miller presided and ]. @.
Smith was appointed to act as sccre-
tary.
letter was read from A. o Lane,
whose name had been mentioned in con-
nection with the office in which he stated
that he is not now and will not be a
| candidate.
In the absence of Capt Frank S White.
chairman of the special committee which
had been appointed to select candidate
lowing report:
Text of Report.
THE committee appointed by the bar
meetings beg to report, that after due
consideration and In view of the fact
| that there are several available candl-
dates eminently equipped to adorn the
position. that the committee deems it in
| advisable at this time to make any recon-
| mendaton as to candidate to be en-
dorsed by this meeting"
The chairman announced that there
was nothing before the meeting and asked
| what it purposed doing.
Harsh Proposes Resolution.
Attorney G. r. Harsh proposed a reso-
luton that the meeting name a democrat
and republican for the office, and that
a committee be appointed to present the
recommendation to the President He ia
vored making the democrat first choice,
but said that the office was too lmpor-
tant for them to neglect to express their
views upon the selection Of a republican.
Attorney j. r.. Moore. speaking as a
republican. suggested that committees be
APP, tied TO canvass the available ma
teral in both parties and report back at
an early date Mr. Moore made Wig
orous speech In favor of having the new
judge appointed ON the ground of his
qualifications for the office and not on
account of political party influence
Attorney Julius w Davidson said he
would much prefer to have a democrat
who was qualified TO discharge the duties
of the office than an incompetent repub-
lican.
Attorney Frank s White. Jr. said he
could not support the Harsh resolution
He thought they should confne their ac-
ton to the Endorsement of democrat and
allow The republicans to look after their
own candidate.
Attorney John London spoke in favor
of the Harsh resolution.
Opposes Immediate Action.
Charles G. Brown was opposed to any
immediate action. and favored the in
dorsement Of the Clayton bill. lie pre-
ferred leaving the whole matter to the
President with a request that he select
the best man for the office regardless
of politics
William Vaughan supported the Harsh
resolution and said action should be taken
at once If the Birmingham bar hoped to
have any voice in the selection of the
candidate He said he preferred a repuD-
lloan for the office and that there were
suitable candidates among the republic
ans. The speaker referred to e. d. smith,
and said he was well equipped for the
office Mr.. Vaughan said that Oscar
Tundley was barely possible considering
his appointment as district attorney had
not been confirmed.
Attorney F. G. Bowman brought mat
tiers to an issue when he proposed tho
names of f. d. Smith and Shelby Pleas
ants He said he did not designate their
politics and preferred that politics should
not be considered in the selection. He con-
cluded by putting the name of E. d.
Smith i'm nomination.
Attorney Moore proposed the name of
shelby Peasants of Huntsville Attornos
Richard II. Fries proposed the name Of
William IT, Smith. Upon a vote the name
Of L. d. Smith was adopted unanimous
~, and upon a division there were sc votes
for Shelby Peasants and "a for w. ii.
Smith,
Committee of Notification.
Chairman Miller appointed n committee
consisting of Frank S. White. James
Weatherly, q. b. Harsh. j. r. Moore and
Julius Davidson to notify President
Roosevelt of the action of the meet
ing.
1t is stated that the decision reached at
the meeting of the Birmingham bar yes
terday morning will not prevent the
names of other candidates from being
submitted to the President Several at
torneys in the course of conversation yes
terday afternoon, said that the bar meet
ing had gone completely off its base whG
didate 1T was meeting of democrats
| said one of the speakers, land when that
meeting Endorsed republican it re-
lieved President Roosevelt of any en-
| barrassments he might have had in maxi
ing an appointment contrary to the
wishes of the Birmingham bar. In my
opinion, Shelby Peasants is as good as