The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-15
OPPOSITION ID
 HUNDLEY ACTIVE Enemies Say He Is Paying Po-
 litical Debts WILL MAKE MORE CHARGES Claim He Loaned s45oo To Thompson Practically Without Security.
 Hundley's Friends Conf
 dent of Confirmation.
WILL MAKE MORE CHARGES

It was learned yesterday that a letter had been received in Birmingham from a member of the judiciary committee of the United States Senate, which stated positively that Judge Oscar R. Hundley's appointment as federal judge of the Northern Alabama district would ot be confirmed at the present session. fudge Hundley has hundreds of friends in Bir- mingham, but the fact remains that op- position to his confirmation appears to be taking on new life.
 When The Age Herald announced last week that seven of the members of the Alabama congressional delegation had pe- titloned the Senate judiciary committee through Senator Johnston, to uphold the Senate's confirmation of Judge Hundley's s appointment, there was a divided senti- ment in Birmingham. The anti-admins- tration faction considered 1t as nothing. The announcement, however, served to bring out in bold relief the fact that the opposition to Judge Hundley is not only possibly due to the reported unfriendli- ness of Congressman Richardson. but is also traceable to his political enemies in Birmingham.
 Will Make Further Protest.
 This week, indeed, it Is hinted that there will be additional evidence pro- duced in Washington further protesting against the confirmation of Judge Hund- ley The local opposition is confident that the appointment of President Roosevelt will not be confirmed.
 The Birmingham Times, one of the leading republican papers of Alabama, Is especially active in it's opposition to Judge Hundley. Last week 1t published a copy of a mortgage filed in Lowndes county for $45O0 executed by J. O. Thomp- son, the well known internal revenue collector and wife, to Judge Oscar R. Hundley The contention is made that the mortgage is on property already en- cumbered-in other words that Judge Hundley advanced J. O. Thompson S45O0 practically without security. It is fur 1 ther pointed out that MT. Thompson, the | Presidents referee, was especially aggres- sive and energetic in gaining the appoint ment of Judge Hundley by the Presi- | dent. ..,
 | Claim Law Is Violated. 1 The Times further contends that at | the first opportunity Judge Hundley ap- | pointed J. O. Thompson one of the re- | ceivers of the Southern Steel company, position which, it is contended, cannot fail to yield MT. Thompson less than $10Ooo. An accompanying editorial uotes from page 1S4, volume 29 of the Revised Statutes, to show that the appointment | of MT. Thompson to the receivership was illegal because of the statutory provision to the effect that mo civil or military employe of the government shall be law | fully appointed receiver receivers in any case now pending or that may be hereafter brought in the courts of the | United States
 Ant-administration republicans yester- day were very free in pointing out what they term "glaring instances of the use by Judge Hundley of his office to pay political debts." They claim the appoint ment of MT. Thompson is an instance; that the appointment of E. G. Chandler receiver for Southern Steel is another and that the naming of Sterling A. Wood as master in bankruptcy is still another, since MT. Wood was the man who circu- lated the petition among members of th, | bench and bar of Birmingham in1orsing Judge Hundley for the position of federal judge.
 The local opposition to Judge Hundley. it is stated will stand ready to speak in more specific terms when the proper time arrives.
 HundIey's Friends Confident.
 On the other hand, the administration faction of the republican party does not believe that the petition of the seven Alabama congressman will have any weight in the senatorial confirmation of Judge Hundley's appointment.
 It was pointed out that Judge Hundley has the indorsement of 9s per cent of the local bar, and of the lawyers in other cities of North Alabama. He also has the indorscment of the majority of pro- bate judges in the northern district. In other words. his inducements, it is ar- gued, could not be improved upon
 Administration republicans believe that the opposition in Congress is the result of bitter personal feeling existing against Judge Hundley on the part of Congress- man Richardson. It was stated yesterday that Judge Hundley and Congressman | RlchardSon aDdnuOned friendly inter- course some time ago. It is true that
 in past political battles Judge Hundley 1 overcame Congressman Richardson and | his partsans.
 Bankhead and Johnston Pledged?
 The administration republicans, too, are | under the impression that both Senator Johnston and Senator Bankhead ale friends of Judge Hundley. It was stated on excellent authority that when Con. gressman Richardson personally request ed Senator Johnston to do what he could against the confirmation of the appoint mcnt, tho senator informed Congressman | Richardson that he was a warm friend of Judge Hundley, and would take no such action unless specific charges were pre- | ferred over the affidavit of either Con | gressman Richardson or other reliable persons. On the same authority the statc- | ment was made that Senator Bankhead, l prevented from attending the present ses- sion of the Senate, has written to brother senators, urging that they take steps to- | ward gaining the confirmation of Hund-
 ey's appointment
 The democrats, 1t is evident, are keeping 1 hands off. They have steadfastiy refused to participate in the discussion. It is be- | lieved however. by certain prominent l democrats in Alabama that the effort lo hold up the confirmation is based on the