The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-01-18

announcement from washington
gertarday that Judge a. d. Lewis is to
succeed himself Is dise,tct uttorHsy,
and that Clarence g. smithers, Of
Cape Charles. is 10 replace Morgan
Treat as marshal, ir the Eastern Dis
trfct of Virginia. came as surprise
Ito this community In Federal circles,
where it had beer generally thought
Mr.. Treat would be reappointed. news
of his removal came as a shock to his
supporters. and surprise 4 to those
who advocated the appointme ent of
another.
Mr.. Treat was indorsed for reap
pointment by the judges of the United
States courts. by the. local bar, and
by judges of the city courts. and
everything seemed to point to him as
the logical candidate. The only eX-
PLANTATION given of his overthrow is
that he was not backed by the Re-
publican state organization, and that
powerful Influence was brought against
him from various sources, chiefly from.
those who claim the title of Original
Taft men, He was opposed by Alvah
Martin and Congressman Slemp
| Opposition Formed Gradually.
Mr.. Treat was a urm advocate of
Mr.. Tafts election. but he was first
| of all Roosevelt Republican. and
was outspoken in his views. Dissen-
sions within the party In Richmond
\ led to the removal of Major M. j..
| Enright. as chief deputy marshal, by
Mr.. Treat, and it was some time be-
fore this action was ratified. It was
tntimated then that the marshal would
inot serve another term. but such state
ments were considered rather in the
Hight of expressing tho wishes Of
those eager for his removal.
1 nnnOSif{pp fc
Treat has gradually taken form DUR
| ing the past year, and the outgrowth
was in his bitterness toward Major
| Enrigit, after the latter had affiliated
| with those interested locally in the
political welfare of Mr.. Taft. Mr..
Treat had been in office for twelve
| consecutive years, except for a lapse
/ of three months when j. y. B. Stuart
held the appointment. The express
sion generally among those who have
| been associated with MIR. Treat Is that
I he has performed every duty conscien-
tiously and faithfully
\ Judge Lewis received the first news
! of his reappointment from The Times
Dispatch but did not appear TO be sur
| prised. d. Lawrence Groner, of Nor
folk, was the only other man spoken
| off for the appointment, and he had
the support OIL rl!lc s'stANo "
which, In Justice TO Judge Lewis, II
should be explained, was told that the
District Attorney did not ask for re-
/ appointment. 1t has been generally
conceded for some time before the an
norncenlent that Judge Lewis would
retire to private practice at the con-
i clusion of his present term
Judge Lewis Sot Surprised.
/ n
appointment of Judge Lewis and the
l appointment of Mr.. Smlthers were re-
garded In the light of compromise
with the organization. but when 1t Is
4 considered that no opposltionha has been
4 brought against the District Attorney
\ such insinuations are regarded as alb.
4 surdities. and It Is even said here
4 that State Chairman Martin and Rep.
resentative Slemp will be{entIrely sat
il Isfied with the announcement as made
Judge Lewis Is regarded as one OF
i 1.-THE ablest lawyers at the Virginia
bar, ana was United States attorney
for many years prior to 1889, AT the
Y session OF the I,eadjuster Legislature
n of 41Ss1.1sSa he was elected to the
4 Supreme Court bench, and was elected
. president of that body. He served the
yItwelya Years term, and was rem oyed
I when the Democrats came Into mower,
4 |sIn,re Iewis resumed the prac ctice al
alhis profession In Richmond, and has
.Ibeen the candidate of his party for
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