The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1909-06-03
Charlotte Observer, May 2ist.

Charlotte Observer, May 2ist.
Early yesterday District Attorney
A. L. Holton told an Observer repre-
sentative that Col. Harry Skinner.
one of the best known Republicans OF
Eastern North Carolina, and one who
was prominently mentioned for the
Eastern judgeship, had a communica-
ton or an interview in regard to the
iudgeship, which was in the nature
OF strong endorsement of the stand
of President Taft. Mr.. Holton said
that this was about the strongest en-
dOrsement that he had seen. and
urged the newspaper men to print
the interview in its entirety. Soon
after the President had delivered his
speech ut the Auditorium yesterday
afternoon, a representative of the
paper sought Colonel Skinner for the
purpose of securing the interview for
this mornings Observer. He aud Mr..
Holton were found together. They
were delighted with President Taft's
speech, but when Colonel Skinner was
asked for the interview, he refused to
give it out. saying that it was so
nearly in line with the Presidents re-
marks that it was unnecessary.
Colonel Skinner was seen later in
the afternoon and asked to make "a
statement in regard TO the speech and
also the appointment OF Judge II.
g. COnnor, as Judge of the Eastern
judicial district. He said that he was
delighted with the speech, and that
it was just in line with some inter
views that he had had with the Presi-
dent before the iudgeship appoint
ment was made. He thought the
statements expressed in the speech in
regard to the iudgeship and other
appointments should meet with the
hearty appreciation of all political
citizens.
In regard to the judgeship he said
| that having been a candidate for the
| position naturally he would have
liked for the honor to have come his
| way, but that he was satisfied with
the appointment. He said that Inc
felt the President had acted wisely
and well in making the selection o
Judge PurnelPs Successor. He
thought that President Taft WAS not
actuated by any political motives in
making the appointment. but wished
to secure the best man for the place
regardless of politics. He said tha,
although the President had no polit.
ical motive in view, still he thought
the party would in the coming years
be strengthened by the President (
action in the iudgeship matter lie
said that he knew that number ol
the members of the party were just Il
little sore and disappointed about
the appointment at this time, but
that they, the rank and file, would
soon forget about it, and realize
that the President had acted for the
best. He felt that numerically the
party would be helped. He didn't
think that the leaders in the Demo
cratic party, Judge Connor. Charles
B. Aycock, Josephus Daniels, and
Others. would become Republicans
because OF this appointment, but he
did think that many men in the Dem.
ocratic party who think. would in
time come to realize that the Presi.
dent had done a wise thing in making
the appointment, and that a few
more appointments OF the kind would
eventually result i'll numerical growth
to the Republican party.
In u word, Colonel Skinner was de-
lighted with the Presinent's speech
and he is satisfied that the President
acted wisely and well in the iudgesbip
appointment.
District Attorney Holton was well
pleased with the speech. and he had
| no word of censure to offer in regard
to the iudgeship appointment. He
was struck with the absence of II
number Of Republican leaders, nam
ing over a list Of those that were
most conspicuous because OF their
absence He remarked that it was
evidently not a postmasters' conyen-
tion that has been held in Charlotte
on this occasion.