Evening star., 1914-06-08

President Wilson this afternoon sent
sentative ]. Harry Covington of the first
congressional district Of Maryland. as
chief justice of the Supreme Court of the
District of Columbia, to fill the vacancy
made by the death of Chief Justice C1a-
baugh, who was also a Maryland man.
The nomination was not a surprise to
many who are acquainted with President
Wilson'S high opinion of Mr.. Covington
and of his desire to show him honor The
President, however. felt that Mr.. Gov
ington s. .uld remain in Congress, where
his services had been of value to his
party.
He had become acquainted with the
legal knowledge of Mr.. Covington through
conferences with the Marylander and
other democrats on the trust bills now
pending In Congress, especially on the
Interstate trade commission. which was
framed by Mr.. Covington. who Is chair
man of the subcommittee Of the House
committee on interstate and foreign COM
merce. Mr.. Covington had shown such a
clear head in his work upon this bill.
1t is said. and such a comprehensive
grasp of trust questions generally as. to
win for himself at once the admiration
and regard of the President and Attorney
ago, however. the President had stuck
to his original decision not to remove
Mr. Covtngton from Congress.
Nomination a Personal One.
Politically Mr.. Covington has affiliated
to some extent in Maryland politics with
Senator Smith Of Maryland. but the
Maryland senator was not responsible in
any way for the selection of the repre-
sentative of the first district. which was
absolutely personal with the President
and the Attorney General.
1t was not known at the White House
today whether Mr.. Covington will i'm
mediately retire from Congress to take
up the work upon the District bench.
where business has piled up exceeding
ly high in the last few months, owing
to the death of Justice Clabaugh
In several instances where representa-
tives have been named to federal offices
the understanding has been that they
would remain in the House until this ses-
sion of Congress ends.
Representative Clayton of Alabama,
however, who was nominated to the fed
eral bench in that state. left Congress
promptly after confirmation. Owing to
the pressure of work in the court the
President may consent to Mr.. Covington
resigning from the House without delay
If he does not the condition of business
on the Supreme bench will become seri-
Gus, it is said, owing to the congestion
of cases.
Senator Blair Lee has fought hard for
the selection of George Lamar, one Of
his closest friends. but will make no OBJ
lection to the confirmation Of Representa-
tive Covington.
1t is not regarded as likely that a nomi-
nation to succeed Justice Barnard, who
retired from the court today, will be made
soon, as the Attorney General has been
''up in the air" for some time over filling
the vacancy that was settled today.
Mr.. Covington's Career.
J. Harry Covington Is one of the big
men in Maryland politics He served two
terms as states attorney for Talbot coun-
ty. and has been in three Congresses of
the United States.
Democratic party leaders In Maryland
regret that he is Withdrawing from active
party politics. He has been persistently
mentioned for the governorship of Mary
land and for the United States Senate.
During the present Congress he has led
the administration fight for the trade
commission and anti-tolls measures.
Mr.. Covington represents the first
Maryland district in the national
House. He was born at Easton, Md.
May 3. 1870, and has always resided
there. He received an academic edu-
cation in the public schools of Talbot
county and at the Maryland Military
Academy. He entered the law depart
ment of the University of Pennsyl-
vania in 1891. and at the same time
attended special lectures in history.
literature and economics. and was gradu-
ated with the degree Of LII. B. in 1894.
Since that time he has continuously
practiced his profession at Easton. He
was elected states attorney for Talbot
years, and was reelected in 1907 He
was elected to the Sixty first and Sixty
second Congresses and reelected to
the Sixty-third Congress, receiving
II. .6O6 votes to 2.303 for Robert B.
Grier, progressive. and IA for Charles
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