The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-05-09
APPOINTMENT IS MADE
 PERSONALLY BY MIR. TAFT
Judge Oscar >Hundley Expresses
 Surprise at Appointment.
Mr. Grubb is Prominent Member oi the Birmsashsm Bar, and Was Room-Mate of the Presi- dents Youngest Brother
 at Yale.
nY ALFRrD '. sToFER.

BY ALFRED '. STOPPER.
 washington, May s.--tspecial)-- The opponents of Oscar R. Hundley have won their light. President Taft today sent to the Senate the nomina- tion Of william I. Grubb of Birraing- ham, to succeed the acting judge in the Northern Alabama district.
 In many respects this has been the most celebrated case of the kind since the. foundation of the government It has certainly been hard fought con- test on both sides.
 The friends and packers of Hundiey would not give up until the last mos ment. It is known in Washington that no longer than last "Wednesday Acting Judge Hundley informed sew eral people at Birmingham that he was absolutely certain of a perma- nent appointment. It is even report ed here that he was advised by long distance telephone from Washington that in spite of all that was being said and done he would at the last mo- ment triumph over his enemies and have the laugh on them.
 Men of great prominence in and out of Alabama worked like beavers to save the acting judge. but to no avail His opponents have as a rule felt absolutely certain right along lthat President Taft would never give lHundiey the permanent appointment.
 Possibly there never was so much guessing within the past month as to who would finally be selected for tlse, Iposision. First one man and then an other seemed to have the call until the name Of MT Grubh began to figure 1n the naaSkes \
 Haafy Taftsk saeksstfons.
 It Is learned on very good author. ity. that the Presidents brother. Hem " Tart. first made the suggestion that the 5udgeship be offered to hir. Grubb.
 As the story goes here the President mentioned Lone night to his brother what trouble he was having to find a successor to Hundley, stating then that he was certainly not going to give Hundiey the appointment. Henry Taft told the President that he knew the very man if he would accept.
 Any one who reads the official state ment given out from the White House today after the nomination of Grubb was made readily sees there was sub stantial facts for the story.
 The news of the selection of MT. Grubb caused general Interest here today. even though 1t is virtually a, local matter. The long and sensa- tional contest has been referred to so often by the papers of Washington and other cities that the average reader of intelligence fad become posted and naturally looked for a set tlement of the fight. It was eagerly discussed among Congressmen and De- pertinent officials, and most of the correspondents of the Senate press gallery had something to say about it when the nomination was posted on the bulletin board.
 The Representatives in Congress from Alabama who fought Hundley from start to finish are naturally highly eiated Representative Rich ardson was not here. having gone to Huntsville to attend the wedding of his daughter few days ago. But Judge Richardson was in touch with the situation. The six Democratic representatives from Alabama who opposed Hundley. as is we'll known, submitted the names of three Renub- 1icans to President Taft, he having early Informed them that he would not appoint a Democrat.
 Congressmen satisned
 The President did not select his man from that list. but the six Con gressmen are entirely satisfied. They insisted right along that their object was to defeat Hundley, and if that was the outcome they would be heart fly satisfied. They claim they never switched from the main purpose.
 Probably no President ever gave SO much thought to the selection of a United States District Judge. Mir Taft said he was going to do his utmost to find clean, able man. It is known that he sent to Alabama an official Of the Department of Justice early in March to get information about all of the lawyers whose names had been suggested, Democrats as well as Republicans. for then he had not positively determined that he would not appoint a Democrat. He even went so far at one time to say that if he could not find a satisfactory Re- publican in the judicial district, he would fall back on Democrat
 Senator Johnston was asked today hv The Advertiser correspondent If he desired to make any statement regari- ing the selection of MT. Grubb and he said he did not at present, adding T have no kick and have no shout ,, but the Senator added that MT. Grubb was undoubtedly man of fine reputa- tion.
 Ex -Congressnlan Jesse Stallings who Is here says the nomination of cruhh will give universal satisfaction throughout Alabama anu he thinks that his appointment will make many friends in the state for President Taef
 Before Grubb's name came up 1t is we'll known that President Taft had practically eliminated all of the other candidates who had been presented to him with the exception of Shelby Pleasants of Huntsville and Amos Goodhue of Gadsden,. He was hesi- tating between the two, with a lean ing then to Goodhue, for the Presi- dent hesitated about Pleasants be- cause of the fact that his uncle is circuit judge. He did not think that two men of the same family should be in the same Federal circuit
 For And Against HHndiey.