The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1915-03-19
SENATOR TILLMAN
ON new JUDGESHIP
TELLS OF NEAT PIECE OF s.LEGIS.
LATIVE LEGERDEMAIN."
Scores McGoWdn and Says That He
Is Not Seeking Jobs For Men,
bers OF His Family.
News and Courier.

News and Courier.
The News and Courier has received
ON Senator Ti!lman, with reques;
sr its publication, the following op(a
Efetter in which the senator tells how
He bill creating the Western district
vas gotten through congress and how
the distribution of the patronage has
been made:
l have just seen in Saturdays State
Mr.. McGowan's report of how jobs
caused by the creation of the Western
district were portioned ont as so9t
ot family affair"
Mr.. MCGOWAN insinuates that l am
tre most interested and that only taose
near to me, perhaps relative" OF
mine, will get the best plum-the
clerkship.
Much Credit Due ByrneS.
His statement is so full Of errors and
malice that l am constrained, against
my will, to tell just how the bill be-
came a law. 1t has the appearance Of
Dragging too much for me to enjoy it,
but the credit, if there be credit, for
this piece of legislation is due almost
entirely to Congressman Byrnes. He
got it through the house-this, too, by
my nelp-and perhaps 1 was the only
man in Washington who could have
accomplished it.
Wyatt Aiken introduced the bill
early last year, but it lay asleep in the
Judiciary committee of the house. I
introduced Aiken's bill in the Senate
and tried to get it out of tie judiciary
committee there, but failed because Of
an unfavorable report from the attor-
ney general and tie objection of a
Western senator whose State needed
a Judge much more than South Caro-
lima he said
Delegation Gets Together.
After the primary election was over
and all were safely reelected the mem
bers of the Sout- lCarolina delegation
in the house got busy on the court
bill. An agreement was reached among
themselves as to where the court
should be held. This was the rock upon
which the bill foundered once before.
Finley and Latimer could not agree as
TO where the courts should be held and
the bill died in conference after haV-
ing passed both houses.
Wien the court bill as amended by
Aiken was called up in the Louise and
unanimous consent asked for its con-
sideration, Mr.. Mann objected, which
put quietus on it for the time being.
Byrnes found out what Mann's griev-
ance was and reported to me. Mann
had selected as his candidate for Judge
Congressman Johnson, and was un-
willing to have the bill passed unless
johnson was to be made judge. Mann
had to De pacifed or tx bill would
never have become a law. 1 had in
troduced Aiken's bill in the senate the
day after he INTRODUCED it in the house.
Backed Johnson.
At the opening of congress l urged
Johnson on the president as a good
piece of judicial timber, looking to lis
appointment to a judgeship in the Dis
trict of Columbia or to a place on the
interstate commerce commission.
Therefore 1 did not hesitate to set in
motion instrumentalities to find out
what Mr.. Johnson's chances were in
case the court bill became law.
A cabinet officer, whose assistance 1
invoked, after talking the matter over
with President Wilson informed me
tiat the president liked Johnson and
would be most likely to appoint him.
Mr.. Byrnes called this cabinet officer
over the phone and got him in COM
munication with Mr.. Mann. Thus the
way was paved for the bill to pass the
house.
Bill Out of COMMITTEE.
By Eard work among my personal
friends On the senate judiciary COM
mittee I got the bill out of the COM
tnittee On March 2 with a favorable re-
port. 1 did not know whether to have
it put on the calendar and wait for
an opportunity to call it up or to hold