The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-02-22
Federal Judge Gives Up
Work of Life at Call
of His State.
GOSSIP ABOUT
HIS SUCCESSOR
Friends Will Present Name of
City Attorney Pollard-Vir-
ginia Likely to Get Appoint
ment-West Virginian Re-
grets His Election to
United States Senate.

| Rccogni@ing a call to duty in the
service of his State, Judge Nathan Goff.
of the United States Circuit Court of
Appeals. in Richmond yesterday morn
ing, siEnficd his acceptance of his cleo
ton United States Senator from
! the State of West Virginia The honor
comes to him after nearly half cen
tury OF public life. which has made the
distinguished jurist the leading citizen
| of his State. without a stain upon his
honor or his Official record. II comes
to him not only unsought. but distinct
ly undesired and over his earnest pro-
| test. II comes to him, bringing the
! necessity of leaving his home for long
! periods. and severing him from his
| work as a jurist which he loves and
/ which he could hold for the remainder
OF his life. New work comes to him
at seventy when most mems work is
! over.
II regret il very much Judge Goff
said to a reporter for The Times Dis
patch. II had much rather hold my
| present position in work which I enjoy
and for which most OF my life has
/ fitted me. But I recognize in this one
! OF those calls to duty that come in the
pathway of a mans life. Since the
! representatives of the people of West
| Virginia want me to serve them in the
! United States Senate, l feel that | must
| do it,
/ VIII Resign In March.
| Judge Goff further said that he would
not resign the judseship until he has
/ disposed of some very important cases
now in his hands These will. he said,
| probably occupy his time until the
middle of March. AS soon as they are
decided he will tender his resignation
! 10 President Wilson, and mt the open
| ing of the extra session of Congress
! he Will take his seat as a Senator from
! West Virginia He succeeds Senator
, Clarence w. watson, a Democrat, for
the full term beginning March 4.
When he arose at the jefferson
Hotel early yesterday morning, Judge
Golf was told that he was the ci1ofcs
of the Republican caucus OF the West
/ Virginia Legislature for the senator
| ship. Responding to numerous tele-
! grams. he notified his friends in Char
( lesion that IL elected by the Joint
session Of the Legislature. he would
! accept This election was had later
/ in the morning.
| He spent yesterday hearing a case
in the United States Circuit Court OF
Appeals and in consulting with his
associates regarding cases which have
/ previously been submitted
/ Takes II Duty.
/ Judge GoT was not especially sur
| priscd 10 learn that his election was
impending. In fact, he has had the
same honor rendered him so many
| times that it had lost its novelty. 1t
! is believed that he would not now ac-
/ cept but for the deadlocked position
/ in which the Legislature found itself
! complica ted with charges OF bribery
! and all sorts of political deals making
| it Impossible for the majority party
| TO agree on any other man than Judge
| Gof
Coming down town to the Fedora,
| Building early yesterday morning.
| Judge Con- received the congratula-
! tions of many friends and attaches OF
/ the courts. He acknowledged them
! modestiy. and with a tinge of regret
/ that he is asked to give up his labors
/ and his associations.
! Few men have lived lives so full OF
honors as those which have been the
| lot OF Nathan Golf. An officer in time
of war. holding representative posi-
| tons in the lawmaking bodies of his
State and of the United States. serving
as a Cabinet officer with President.
| twice candidate for Governor. and
at last judge, he has had the plea
sure of seeing his services to the peo-
| pie fully recognized
Long and Active Life.
Judge Goff was born at Clarksburg
w. Va, where he still lives on the
ninth day of this month he celebrated
his SEVENTEEN birthday. or course, at
the time of his birth he was in Vir-
ginia. for that was long before the
State was dismembered. He was edu-
Gated at the Northwestern Virginia
Academy, at Georgetown College and
at the University of the City of New
York. In 1899 Georgetown Univer-
sity conferred the LII. ID. degree upon
him.
He espoused the Federal cause i'm
the War Between the States, entering
the army as lieutenant and emerging
as major. He then completed his
law studies and was admitted to the
| bar in S66. One year later he was
elected to the West Virginia House of
Representatives. served through the
session and was appointed United
States district attorney for the Dis
trict of West Virginia. In this capac-
ity he served for thirteen years. In
$40 and 1874 he was the Republican
candidate for Congress. meeting de-
feat.
Served In Cabinet.
/ During the memorable Tilden- HAYES
Campaign of 1876 District Attorney
Goff became the Republican candidate e
for Governor of the State, but was de-
feated. Toward the close OF President
| Hayess term he appointed tho West
Virginan TO the position of Secretary
OF the Navy in his Cabinet, and to
take this for a short term he resigned
the district attorneyship. But he was
reappointed by President GARFIELD, and
held the place until 1882, when he be-
came successful in another race for
the House of Representatives. Here
he served four terms--from 1883 to
1882 Just before hislast term eNpired
or in 1883, he ran again for Governor
of West Virginia, being elected on the
face OF the returns by plurality of
$50 votes, but a successful contest was
brought by the Democratic candidate
who was seated by q majority vote OF
the Legislature.
On March IL. 1892, he was appointed
by President Harrison as Judge of the
Fourth Judicial Circuit. When he re-
tires he vii have served Just twenty
(Contlnucd on Third Pagc.)