The San Francisco call., 1909-12-10
DFvIIN TO RETIRE
AFTER VINDICATION
United States District Attorney
May Be Succeeded by John
L. McNab of Ukiah
Choice of Leaders for LincOIn=
Roosevelt League Delayed
by Local Situation
Bv GEORGE A. VAN SMITH

That United States District Attorney
Robert T. Devlin viii retire from the
public service Immediately after the
senate gives him its long deferred con-
hrmation OF his appointment and that
John McNab OF Ukiah viii be Devlin's
successor is one of the political low
downs" which has been going the
rounds for two months under double
wrap Of secrecy.
The story may never be verified and
it has been already stripped of some of
its most slluring glamour. but il has
been so good that at least one of the
principals has taken il more than Sc
riously. AS originally told behind
locked doors in the councils of good
organization men, the master of the
machine. w. L. Herrin. had been called
10 New York, and when Devlin got his
''Vindication" the Herrin berth at the
head of the Southern Pacifics legal de-
partment would so to Devlin.
PART OF STORY SPOILED
Herrin and Lovett spoiled part of
that story by declaring that Herrin had
declined the invitation TO transfer his
activities to New York. Remodeied. the
story gave Peter +. DUNES job to Dew
lin, and then the remodeled story was
spoiled by the semiofficial announce
ment that there was no Dunne's job
vacancy to be filed. The vindication,
the resignation. the devotion Of DeVlin's
services exclusively to the Southern Pa
cific and the appointment of MacNab
features of the story are still working
quite as good as new
Devlin's confirmation was held up
throughout the last regular session of
oh he q Doctor
Perrin, whom, with Benson, Devlin
prosecuted in connection with land
fraud charges. Perrin got the ear of
Senator Borah of Idaho, who was in an
unhappy frame Of mind about land
fraud indictments against himself.
DEMAND FOR VINDICATION
Borah was prepared to believe that
he was the victim of a horrid conspir
acy, and Perrin, il is said, told Bo-
rsh that Devlin was playing with Fran
els ]. Heney to railroad other innocent
men, the same being Perrin and Ben
son.
Borah held up Devlin's confrma ton.
Perrin was strong enough with Wick
ersham or the department to have his
indictment quashed, and Benson has
run up against stone wall federal court
refusals TO turn him loose. Borah, it is
said decided as long ago as last
more. The story goes that DevIin would
be out of the federal service now and
devoting himself TO the practice of his
firm, which is the Sacramento legal ad-
wiser Of the Southern Pacific company,
u II We're not for his determination to
win confirmation and vindication.
CHOICE OF LEAGUE LEADERS
IT is generally understood that. ex-
eept Tor the San Francisco districts and
the first congressional district the men
who, as executive committeeman. are
70 make the Lincoln Roosevelt leagues
fight have been chosen tentatively. The
appointment Of the committeeman al
ready chosen probably will not be an
nounced by President Rowell until fbe
san Francisco situation has been
cleared up.
The San Francisco situation is said
10 hinge primarily on RowelFs ability
10 secure the services of Charles n
Bentley and Daniel A. Ryan as exeeu-
tive committeeman for the fifth and
fourth congressional districts respec-
lively. If Ryan and Bentley will take
up the work the selection Of three
more San Franciscans and Santa
Clara county man viii be matters of
minutes only.
Rolla Y. Watt. who succeeded Mar
shall Hale as committeeman from the
NTH district, it is understood. will not
he a member of the new executive
committee. That does not imply any-
thing more than Watts declaration
tnst he can not serve, which has been
accepted as final by the league or
Sanizers.
MEN ALREADY NAMED
The selection Of three committeeman
for the first district has been referred
10 Vice President Harold T. Power of
Auburn. IN the second district the
committeeman will be Col. z. A. Forbes