Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-01-08
RACE EPR0BLEMUP
OVER D. c. JUDGES
Whether Negro Shall Succeed
Terrell Has Become a
Live Issue.
TERMS OF FOUR EXPIRE;
MUST QUIT JANUARY II
President Expected to Take Matter
UP When He Returns
Next Week.

Next Week.
| 1he most interesting feature of the
| nsht over the appointment of judges of
| the Municipal Court of the District, now
| before the administration, is what is to
be done with Judge Robert H. Terrell,
the only colored judge on the bench. In
determining this problem something of
the attitude of the administration toward
the negroes of the country may be
Shown. Judge Terrell was appointed as
a republican. it is stated.
His friends assert that he has proven
himself able and digniiied and that his
| work on the bench will rank with that
OF the other judges. That he has enc
mics is also shown by letters objecting
to his appointment.
Negro Appointments Avoided.
The present administration has made
no appointments of negroes to high fed
eral positions. Prominent negroes who
supported the President have pleaded at
the White House and in the departments
for recognition, but SO far nothing has
been done. A large delegation of COL
ored men went to President Wilson with
charges of discrimination and segrega-
promised to take the matter up with
heads of departments, at the same time
indicating his belief that there had not
been discrimination.
Ihat the President, though, is entirely
willing to give recognition to responsible
and worthy colored men there is said to
be no doubt by those familiar with his
attitude to the race, but during the ex-
ira session of Congress, when vitality big
national problems were pending, Mr.. Will
not desire ia ho cit
uation by injecting the negro question
into the Senate, where Senator Varda-
man of Mississippi had given public
warning that he would oppose the con-
hrmation of any negro submitted to that
body.
There were indications also that other
southern senators would join with Mr..
Vardaman. Friends of the President
have test of the matter at that time.
What view the President will take of
the situation now is not known.
Senate Opposition Expected.
Senator vardaman will undoubtedly
oppose Judge Terrell If he is nominated
again. not only on the ground that he
is negro, but that he is a republican,
1t is said.
a prominent negro democrat nominated
in his place, the presumption IS that
Senator Vardaman would follow the same
course. bringing to the front the issue of
the colored man in Office. There are
many other big questions for the Presi-
dent to decide, but this one is highly i'm
portant. 1t was recognized today. The
precedent of appointing colored lawyer
to this minor bench will make the fight
of colored democrats for q position there
all the stronger and there will be regret
among colored men if one of their race is
not recognized.
Friends of Judge Terrell contend that
his former politics ought not to enter into
the appointment now and that his nomi-
nation for another term would be Just as
much a recognition of the race as If a
colored democrat were named If he has
made good on the bench he ought to be
named again, they urge, just as other
judges are reappointed when their work
has been satisfactory.
Appointments Coming Soon.
Attorney General McReynolds today be-
gan work In earnest in the direction of
having recommendations for judges of
the Municipal Court ready for President
Wilson early next week, so that if the
PRESIDENT can find the time to go over
the papers he will be able to send the
nominations to the Senate. Mr.. Nc
Reynolds is himself unable to tell lust
when he will be prepared to make rec
concentrations to the White House.
With barely minute to spare from the
important trust and other cases before
his department. the loss Of time in set
tling the Municipal Court appointments
will be serious. Mr.. McReynolds recog-
nizes, however, that serious situation
may arise If the appointments are delay
ed. The terms of four of the five judges
of the court expire January II. Sunday,
and the court must be conducted after
that by Justice George C. Aukum. whose
term does not expire until next Decem-
Der.
There may be a number of weeks that
the court will exist only with one judge
at work. and this situation will be ex-
planned to the President when the papers
are submitted to him by the Attorney
General
The judges whose terms expire Sunday
are Charles S. Bundy. Thomas II. Callan,
Luke c. Strider and Robert H. Terrell.
Lawyers Visit McReynolds.
committee from the LAWYERS Club
of the District called on Mr.. McReynolds
today and conferred with him some time.
They did not wish to discuss their visit
or what passed between them and the
Attorney General.
They would not say whether they pro-
posed to make recommendations, but in
| timated that they were prepared to give
the Attorney General statement of
| conditions and of qualifications of can
| ddates IL he desired to have this infor-
| nation.
James Easby-Smth who was connected
| with the Department of Justice for
| many years and Is prominent local
| democrat and lawyer. also saw the At
| torney General, who will see other Dis
| trict lawyers in the next few days. il
| he has time to do SO.
There are said to be thirty or forty
candidates for the Municipal Court places,
| but most of them have not filed formal
applications. The list of applicants now
| before the department is as follows:
| Charles S. Bundy tretention,, Thomas
l II. Callan. Daniel O'C Callasbau. VIII
| liam A. Coombe. Edward b. KinrbaII
J. A. Moriarty. Joseph Sslomon, Luke &,
Strlder Cretention). Joseph L. Topper.
Robert II. Terrell Cretention), Richard Nj.
| Thomas and Victor Ill IHaNacr,