The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1911-06-01
ELLIOTT CHOSEN
FEDERAL JUD .
ABERDEEN MAN is SELECTEl
FILL THE SOUTH DAXOT
VACANCY
SELECTION MAY CAUSE CONTROVERSY
Nomination Is Expected to Precipitate
Row Among the Progressive Re
publicans of the State

Last Friday President Taft sent to
the senate the name of James d. FL
lott Of Aberdeen, for federal Judge to
succeed Judge Garland. A Washing
ton dispatch says that the nomination
is expected to bring about a bitter
controversy in the progressive wing
of the republican party in this state.
The prime reason given for expect
ing this is that it is understood here
that the last state convention, which
was controlled by the progressive ele-
ment in the state, adopted a resolution
emphatically opposing the selection of
railway attorneys to be federal judges.
In the face Of this action, Senator
Gamble has been enthusiastically
pressing upon President Taft the
name of Attorney Elliott and Senator
Crawford has acquiesced in this ar
rangement, although not having been
50 insistent upon it as Senator Gam
BILE.
The name of Attorney Elliott has
been associated with many of the con-
tests over federal patronage in South
Dakota for many years. He is a friend
of Senator Gamble of long standing
and was originally appointed United
States attorney for South Dakota upon
the recommendation Of Mr.. Gamble.
Later, when the break occurred be-
tween Senator Gamble and the late
Senator Kittredge, the former sup
ported Elliott for United States dis
Irict attorney, and the conflict over
the matter was carried through a
large part of President Roosevelt's
second term.
Contrary t. the wishes of Senator
Kittredge, President Roosevelt nom
mated Elliott for district attorney, and
the nomination was held up through
two sessions of congress by Mr.. Kit
tredge.
The renewal of the fight over Mr..
Elliott as a factor in federel patronage
was begun when the vacancy occurred
in the United States district judge
ship. Senator Gamble promptly went
to the front with a recommendation
for the appointment of Elliott, and
while no direct statement was made
at anv time that Senator Crawford
united in the recommendation, it was
always understood that there was a
plain understanding between the
South Dakota senators that they want
ed Elliott appointed.
The selection was understood to be
very unsatisfactory to President Taft,
who is said to have desired to nom
mate for the place Attorney Camp
bell Of Aberdeen.
The controversy has been going on
for several weeks, and was further
complicated recently by the appear
ance at Washington of National Com
mitteeman Thorson of South Dakota,
who belongs to the progressive ele-
ment and who strongly objects TO the
selection of Elliott. In the face of
these objections and the known hos
tility of the progressive faction in the
state. the senators stood by Elliott
and the agreement reached that he
should be named is the outcome of
their pressure upon President Taft.
In the opinion of the South Da-
kotans who are not in sympathy with
the progressive movement in the state,
Senators Gamble and Crawford have
buiIded a hot fire under themselves
by thus forcing the selection OF Elliott,
and it will be interesting to observe
whether the progressive members OF
the senate, headed by Senator La
Toilette, will be called upon by their
following in South Dakota to defeat
the confirmation of a railroad attorney
who is chosen in defiance Of the ex-
pressed platform objections OF the
party in the state.