Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1914-07-22
JUDICIAL NOMINATIONS
ARE VARI0USLY TAKEN
TN 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
proverbial lightning be-, vut 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. 1t is generally held to be
a victory for the Bar Association,
which indorsed Edings for the Maui
bench and gave quasi-indorsement to
Ashford for the first iudgeship.
Confirmation Expected.
No doubt exists that the two men
will be confirmed There may be a
protest, II Is felt here. for II Is known
that there is opposition to each, but
that this opposition will be success
ful is not believed.
Ashford, accoEdi1g -tb. the cable news,
is named to succeed Ii. Z. Cooper,
whose term expired March Z, 1914
Judge Cooper left the bench at the
exulfafion Of his term
Judge Edings is named to succeed
Judge Selden p. Kingsbury, OF Maui.
Judge Kingsbury's term expired on
February 8, 1913, but he has been
serving since In the absence of re
appointment or of a successor.
Governor Not Pleased.
Governor Pinkham, while declining
to discuss the appointments, is moi
pleased with the situation. He aas
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 for the McCarn.
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 1t is believed he recon-
mended Judge Edings also.
The fact that Onley is reported
from washington as adverse to Nc
earn Is taken to mean that the Ash.
ford -Edings appointments are not NC,
earn victories. Even McCarns friends
point out that McCarn is not upheld
by the investigator who recommended
Edings and Ashford.
Bar Association Members Gratified.
Members of the Bar Association are
gratified at the Presidents action, ac-
cording to a 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 a successor for Judge Cooper is
rather peculiar. During Judge Coop
er's absence on the mainland last fall
q report came out that he had re-
signed. The association thereupoD
named a committee to canvass the
field for a suitable successor. Attor
neys Ashford and !. M. Stainback
were both favorably mentioned, Ash
ford being noted as the senior of the
two.
A few weeks later Judge Cooper
returned from the mainland and made
il plain that he had not resigned. The
association naturally took no further
action to indorse a successor. The
judges term expired and no indorse.
Continued on page two)