Philip weekly review. [volume] (Philip, Stanley County, S.D.) 1907-1912, 1911-06-01
MAY NOT CONFIRM ELLIOTT
Senate May Reject Him for Judge
ship p-Previons Reflections
Have Bearing


has confronted the Senate of the
United States in many a day is be-
fore it as the result of the nomina-
tion of James ID. Elliott to be fed
cral ldge for South Dakota.
In the first place it is question
whether Elliott will be confirmed
without a fight. In the second
place, it is suspected in Washing
ton that big South Dakota politics,
involving the senatorship to sue
ceed Senator Gamble, and the Civ
ing of the delegation to President
Taft, is being played.
No Charges as Yet
No formal charges have been
made against Elliott. 1t is not
certain that any will be made. The
situation at this time is that power
full progressive republicans in the
Senate are considering how far to
go in opposition to Elliott.
President Taft is aware of this.
lie has known ever since the ques-
ton of appointing Judge for
South Dakota came up that Elliott,
largely by reason of his earlier
failure in passing muster before
the Senate, and partly because of
his railroad attorneyship might
have trouble being confirmed.
This is one of the reasons why the
president hesitated to name Elliott
as Judge.
Very Close to Gamble
The relations of Elliott to Senat-
or Gamble are well known to all
familiar with South Dakota affairs.
The capacity of Elliott as a politi-
cal manager needs no enlargement.
1t is sufficient to say that he has
no superior in the state as mast
er hand at big politics. 1t seems
strange that Presidedt Taft should
be using the power of appointing
a federal Judge for his own pOliti-
cal advancement. But a strong
feeling exists among the Senate
progressives here that the presi-
dent has named Elliott in the know
ledge that his chances for getting
the South Dakota delegation will
not suffer thereby.
Senator Gamble, of course, has
stuck to Elliott because of the long
friendship between them and be-
cause of Elliott's great political
services to him. Moreover he
needs the powerful aid of Elliott
in the senatorship contest, in which
many believe him already beaten.
Land Matters Mentioned
When Elliott formerly was re-
fused confirmation by the Senate
FOR district attorney it was due to
Senator Kittredge's opposition.
Formal charges were not made
then, but there was more or less
talk in Senate circles about Elliott's
course with respect to certain
large land holdings he acquired in
South Dakota.
What is being done now is that
progressive senator's are having an
inquiry made to ascertain whether
Elliott's land deals and his employ
ment as general counsel in South
Dakota for the Milwaukee consti-
tute sufficient ground to make a
fight against his confirmation.
Until the progressives satisfy
themselves as to these matters, it
may be expected confirmation will
be held back.
Senator La Toilette is among
those who are not satisfied over
the Elliott appointment. At the
same time it is impossible to pre-
dict at this date how far the op-
position will go.
| One thing that will hurt Elliott
if there is a fight is the failure OF
the Senate in the past to confirm
him. This will weigh much with
senator's.
u 1t is the White House under.
standing that Senator Crawford
has promised not to fight confrma
ton.