Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1912-01-01
IOWA JURIST WILL NOT GO TO
suPREME BENCH IF CORPORA.
TONS GAN PREVENT.
PROBABLY WILL HAVE WAY
WITH TAFT AS USUAL
President Very Recently Was Favor
ably Inclined to Iowa Man But infiu-
eness Which Control at WASH nston
Have Said No-corporations Pre-
vented Justice HarIan's Promotion.
Special to Times-Republican.

Special to Times-Repub lican.
Des Moines, Jan. If the railroad
and corporation interests have their
way at Washington, Judge Deemer, the
Iowa candidate for the vacancy on the
supreme bench, viii not be appointed
to succeed Justice Harlan. For the
same reason the appointee will be
neither Fred Lehman nor Frank B.
Kellogg.
There Is not particle Of doubt that
President Taft was personally favor
ably inclined toward the distinguished
Iowa jurist. At the time the Iowa dele
cation Of republicans and committee
Of the bar association called on the
president a month ago. the president
manifested the keenest interest in the
matter, and he asked that memoran
dun be sent him personally Of Judge
Deemer's decisions on questions affect
ing the state or federal constitution.
That he had it in mind to seriously
consider Deemer was shown by the
fact that he desired thus to make per-
sonal Investigation Of his decisions. At
the time Of the prior vacancy two
years ago, as published at the time,
corporate representatives who de-
sired to jnjure Deemer sent to Attor-
ney General Wickershan1. thru the
agency Of federal judge, copies Of
some Of Deemers earlier decisions and
other mater for his use. President
Taft did not at that time investigate
the matter
The fact that Secretary Hilles at one
time lived in Red Oak, the home Of
Judge Deemer. has caused him to take
q personal interest in the Iowa man.
Corporation Interests Busy.
This fact, however, is positively
known, that strong and influential cor
poration pressure has been brought to
bear to prevent the selection of Deemer
for the supreme bench Those who
know, say that they have no doubt
whatever it will be successful. 1t is
expected that some one like Judge
Hook will be named. tho the personal
preference Of the president is for
Nagle The only thing which stands in
the way Of the latter is said to be the
fact that he Il very ordinary lawyer.
A DISTINGUISHED Iowa judge, in dis
cussing the matter, said last week:
The one thing that convinces me
that Judge Deemer Will not be ap-
pointed is the record which shows the
influences .h2. contcc! ct Washington
at this time. If Justice Harlan had
been appointed chief justice, as he
should have been, he would be alive
today It was a terrible blow to him
to be passed over as he was. The
excuse was made that he was too old,
I but it was given a man Of 66 or more.
The choice lay between republican.
soldier for the union and pro-
testant on the one side; and on the
other a democrat who was rebel and
a Catholic-the latter was favored In
filling the other vacancies Vandeven-
ter was appointed who has always been
cared for by the Union Pacific and Jim
Hill interests, and another man was
appointed who was the counsel for the
Gulf railroad. neither Of them big law
yers. 1 am all puzzled to account for
these things, but they do indicate that
It Is hopeless for US to expect any
thing"
It is expected that this week the ap-
pointment will be made. Unless the
appointment Is better than some that
have been made it is possible there
will be trouble in securing confirma-
ton.
Friends Of Judge Deerner say they
would be willing to leave it with the
president personally but have never
felt that they could overcome the other
Influences which seem to be able to
control.