Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1907-08-20
THE IuDGESHIP.

Jndge J. X. NJ. Norton and Messrs'
7 X. Cation and s. p. Fisher returned
from Richmond last night where they
went TO urge Governor Swanson to ap-
tint Mr.. J. NJ. johnson to the position
vacant on September 10th of judge OF
this circuit. Their interview lasted
long time and at its conclusion the Gov
ernor announced that he would give the
matter careful consideration and notify
Judge Norton of his conclusion before an
annointment was made. The impress
sion made upon the delegation was that
Mr.. ]. B. T. Thornton, of Prince VIII
liam. would have been appointed Judge
Yesterday but for their appeal IN behalf
of Nh. Johnson. They assured the GOV
ernor that Mr.. Thornton himself had
Endorsed Mr.. johnson for the position
and that a number of the members OF
the bar of Fairfax and Prince William
counties, who had Endorsed Mr.. johnson
and had subsequently transferred their
endorsement to Mr.. Thornton, had done
40 after having been informed that the
Governor had said he would under
no circumstances appoint Mr.. johnson
10 the position and that Mr.. johnson
had Withdrawn. The Governor assured
the delegation from Alexandria that he
had never made such a statement and
said il Mr.. johnson had been the only
candidate he would have appointed him.
He added that he wished a little time
10 make inquiries concerning the In
formation presented to him by the Alex
andrians before he reached a DEFINITE
conclusion. He was at first inclined to
Give both sides hearing at some future
date concerning the matter but sfterWard
concluded that such course would Dc
inadvisable.
No one appeared to request the ap-
pointment OF Mr.. Thornton, but his ap-
plication for the position was IN the
Goyernor's hands and it is presumed
that the friends of Mr.. Thornton were
content to have his name submitted
without special appeal. The Alexau-
drians called the Governors attention to
the numerous Endorsements Mr.. johnson
had received from the lawyers through.
out the circuit and TO the petition signed
nv more than 700 of the repres sentative
citizans of Alexandra, asking for MIR.
Johnson's designation to the Judgeshlp.
Il was declared that he is The choice oil a
large majority of the people Of the cir
cult. 1t is possible that when NJ"
Thornton is advised of the circumstances
under which some of the members OF the
bsr Endorsed him he will withdraw from
the contest but the general impression is
that the appointment of Mr. Thornton
has alresdy been decided upon and that
he will soon receive his commission as
iadpe. The Richmond News-Leader OF
yesterday said
"Governor Swanson has not yet made
an appointment of judge to succeed
Judge Charles E. Nicol, OF the sixteenth
circuit who resigned when he became a
candidate for Congress in opposition TO
Congressman elect @. o. Carlin. Their
are two candidstes-JOhn b. 1. Thorn
Ton. of Prince William, and Mr.. John
son of Alexandria. Friends OF both can
didates have been very active, and SOME
time has been given to hearing the mat,
ter but 50 far the governor has reached
no conclusion. The governor would not
indicate the man to be selected, but one
of the closest of the governors persona
and political friends said that he felt sure
that the appointment would go to Mr.
Thornton. of Prince William. lie wal
the first candidate to announce him sell
lives in the county and is exceedi ngly
popular"