Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1914-07-22
JUDICIAL NOMINATIONS
ARE VARI0USLY TAKEN
IN VARIOUS QUARTERS

Two Hawaiian appointments, made
In Washington this afternoon by Pres.
ident Wilson, came with the sudden.
ness-and almost the surprise-of the
proyerbial lightning be-. .ut of the
clear sky.
The president has gone into action
after a long delay In the matter OF
judicial appointments, with the nomi
nation Of Attorneys Ashford and Ed
ings to circuit bench positions. An
Associated Press wireless dispatch to
the Star-Bulletin shortly before IL
o'clock this morning came almost ST..
multaneously with a special cable
message from this papers Washing.
ton correspondent. The Star-Bulletin
Immediately informed the appointees
OF the presidents action.
The news OF the appointment OF
Attorneys Ashford and Edings has
been yariously interpreted in various
quarters. II is generally held to be
q victory for the Bar Association,
which Endorsed Edings for the Maui
bench and gave quasi-indorsement to
Ashford for the first judgeship.
Confirmation Expected.
No doubt exists that the two men
viii be confirmed. There may be a
protest II is felt here, for 1t is known
that there Is opposition to each, but
that this opposition viii be success.
ful is not believed
Ashford, according to the cable news,
Is named TO succeed H. z. Cooper
whose term expired March z. 1914.
Judge Cooper left the bench at the
expiration OF his term.
Judge EdinGs IL named to succeed
Judge Selden r. Kingsbury. of Maui.
Judge Kingsbufy's term expired on
February 9. 1918. but he has been
serving since In the absence OF re
appointment or OF successor.
Governor Not Pleased.
Governor Pinkham, while declining
to discuss the appointments, Is moi
pleased with the situation. He has
not favored either of the men men
toned for the positions to which they
are now appointed. To this extent
his friends feel that he has failed to
get support from Washington for his
plans and policies in Hawaii
In the McCarn camp, the appoint
ment of Edings and Ashford is hailed
as an evidence that the district at
torney is vindicated, as both of the
men are his supporters. Both have
appeared as his counsel in fighting
the territorial and FEDERAL indictments
brought against MIN TOR the Mccain.
Mcbride ARRAY.
offiey Gets Action.
One thing generally recognized is
that the president is taking action on
the advice Of w. NJ Offley, the quiet,
lynx-eyed investigator sent here by
the department OF Justice to probe
the local situation.
Offley, declare those on the inside,
recommended the appointment Of Mr.
Ashford. and II Is believed he recon
mended Judge Edings also.
The fact that Offley is reported
from Washington as adverse to Nc
earn is taken to mean that the Ash.
ford -Edings appointments are not Nc.
earn victories. hven McCarn's friends
point out that McCarn is not upheld
by the investigator who recommended
Edlngs and Ashford
Bar Association Members Gratified.
Members Of the Bar Association are
gratified at the Presidents action, ac-
cording to leader OF the local bar
On January 16 the association indors-
ed Judge Edings for the Maui bench.
The stand taken by the association
upon successor for Judge Cooper is
rather peculiar. During Judge Coop
eris absence on the mainland last fall
a report came out that he had re-
signed. The association thereupoD
named q committee to canvass the
field for a suitable successor. Attor-
neys Ashford and ]. NJ. Stainback
we're both favorably mentioned, Ash
ford being noted as the senior OF the
two.
A few weeks later Judge Cooper
from the mainland and made
il plain that he had not resigned. The
association naturally took no further
action TO indorse successor The
judges term expired and no iniorse.