The Washington herald., 1909-05-09

The appointment yesterday Of William
I Grabb. Of Birmingham, to succeed Os-
car r HundIey, of Huntsville, as judge
Of the Northern Federal district Of Ala
hama. has brought a roar Of protest from
the Alabama Bar Association as well as
from others who for years have claimed
to have an inroad to the administration OF
things at the White House
Joseph o. Thompson. the Republican
state chairman for Alabama. and for
seven years the White House agent In
Alabama politics. admits ne is beaten,
and yesterday left for his home after he
had made a number Of fruitless trips to
the private Offices Of the President.
Says He Was whipped Hard.
He told his closest friends in Washing
ton that he was whipped. and whipped
hard. Mr- Thompson. as the Roose, cit
referee in Alabama. succeeded in getting
Judge Hundley appointed three times.
and although his nomination was never
confirmed by the Senate. M Thompson
never lost heart. But he lost It yester-
day.
Just as Mr. Thompson was defeated in
his efforts to have Judge Hundley remain
in the North Alabama iudgeship. so were
the Birmingham lawyers whipped on ali
sides az once. They wanted a Democrat
70 get the place; they say the President
had promised 10 appoint a Democrat. and
they thought he was going 10 appoint one
Instead Of doing this. he selected a for
mer Ohio man. who did break away
from the party ranks and support the
Palmer and Buckner ticket but came
back into tiie folds of Republicanisu last
fan and voted for Taft 4 dispatch 70
The Washington Herald last night from
Birmingham said Mr Grub was not re-
garded as Democrat there.
But the President didn't listen very pa
tiently 70 the Alabamisns. Mr.. Crlbb
was about the darkest horse in the Judge
ship and the knowing politicians down
there esked "What2" IN about hun
dred different tones when they heard Of
his appointment They ali say he is
good lawyer. and many Of them are Won
dering how he can give UP his practice
10 sit on the Federal bench He Is a
member Of the law firm Of TiIlman.
Grubb. Bradley & Morrow, one OF the
biggest legal combinations in the South.
Attorney fer L. &N.
Before that he was an attorney for the
Louisville and Nashville Railroad. and 2
personal friend OF Milton II. Smith. of
Louisville. the president Of the Louisville
and Nashville
Now that he has been appointed Judge.
and the Birmingham lawyers want 70 fgh,
l,Fc con G---o4go- 81
bring up this old corporation connection
and blame him for il. Also they Win
say that Judge Thomas 6. Joues. once
governor Of Alabama and the first Dem
OcTst 10 receive a Federal judgeship un-
der the Roosevelt administration favors
his appointment because they were en-
ployed by the Louisville and Nashville
AZ the same time
President Taft issued a statement YES
terday following Mr. Grubb's appoint
nenI. and told what he knew about him
He was born IN Cincinnati. He was a
classmate OF President Taft's brother ar
Yale. and also q cousin Of President Har-
risen. he had a personal call on the
jUdgeShip. and the President regards him
as the most eminently fitted Alabamian
10 I'll It
Members OF the Alabama delegation n
Congress say they do rot know much
about 8Ir- CrUbb- He IS en- able lawyer
they admit. but one OF them expressed
what he said vas the sentiments Of his
colleagues last night. when he said: He
never has mixed Up in politics much but
he IS little TOO friendly with the Re
publican party 20 fl an Office in Ala
bama as a Democrat appointed by the
Ren-hlica President -
willard Nominated.
Charles a Willard. OF Minnesota, g
justice OF the Supreme Court OF the
was yesterday nominated 10