The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1911-05-04
Story of Whites Elevation

that a vacancy upon the bench OF the
Supreme court had occurred. and the
president determined TO send into the
senate at the extra session the nom
ination Of q lawyer to Ill that va
cancy.
Taking counsel solely with himself.
he sent In the nomination OF William
ID. Hornbiower of New York. The SEN
ate did not act upon the nomination
at the special session, and so as con-
gress adjourned without confirming
the appointment, II was necessary for
the president to make a new nomina-
ton when congress met In December.
II was suggested TO him that he send
some other name than that of Mr..
Hornblower TO the senate. In fact.
Mr. Hornblower himself made this
suggestion. But Grover Cleveland
would not have been the man he was
had he agreed to suggestion OF that
kind Your nomination will go TO
tho senate again, and will stay there
until II is confirmed or rejected" he
said to Mr.. Hornblower. The nomina-
ton was again made, and David b.
Hill. then a senator. caused II to be
rejected.
A day or two later President Cleve
land sent to the senate the nomina-
ton OF Wheeler ii. Peckham of New
York for associate justice. Senator
Hin made this nomination a personal
issue. He had urged the senate to re-
ject Hornblower on the ground that he
was not loyal Democrat But Wheel.
er II. Peckham was a personal as well
as a political enemy. Mr. Hill there
fore appealed to the custom known as
senatorial courtesy. and in that way
he secured the rejection Of the nomi-
nation of Peckham for justice.
Thereupon Grover Cleveland deter.
mined 80 to act as to put an end to
the playing fast and loose with his
nominations to the Supreme court
bench. Il am going to get as far away
from New York state as possible" he
declared. The senators from New
YORK appear not to want New York
man to I'LL the vacancy upon the bench
caused by the death Of justice who
was nominated from New York. Well.
I think I can accommodate them"
The president asked one or two
friends to sound the senators quietly
respecting the availability OF Edward
ID. White. senator from Louisiana, as
associate justice. Those friends told
President Cleveland that Senator
White came from an old Louisiana
Whig family.
We'll. there isn't any Wing party
now; Senator White was elected as
Democrat and he Is Democrat" was
the reply,
Would there be the slightest objec.
ton to his appointment" And the
answer was that II he sent Senator
Whites name to the senate for asso-
ciate justice that body would confirm
the appointment within ten minutes.
While this consultation was going
on Senator White was ignorant of
what was In the presidents mind. A
few hours before his nomination was
sent to the senate a friend said TO
senator White: President Cleveland
is going TO Louisiana for his Supreme
court justice. He says he Is going to
get as far away from New York state
as possible. because the New York
senators don't want q New York man
appointed"
THAT would be a great honor for
louisiana" Senator White said.
Whether Just previously he had a
more direct intimation Of the presi
dents purpose is not known. but his
nomination was speedily confirmed
and Il was confirmed unanimously and
with such evidence of cordial appre-
citation that Senator Wnite was deeply
touched.
copyright. 1910. by y. J. Edwards. Al.
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