Evening star., 1915-11-25
Facts Are Well Known.

The facts concerning the, appointment
of Judge Jones are we'll known here
and at Washington The President was
unable to find republican of sufficient
ability and experience for the Office.
He determined to appoint democrat-
democrat with such a record that he
could not be attacked. He appointed
former Gov. Jones According to the
lamented Senator PettuS of Alabama,
it was 'the best appointment of ju-
dicial officer made in the south by
President since the civil war;.
A few years ago when a, designing
dema gogue was attempting to prejudice
the people of Alabama against Judge
Jones by charging that he was appoint
ed to the bench at the instance of the
railroads. Mr.. Roosevelt wired my fa-
ther as follows: No railroad and no
railroad official had anything to do. di-
rectly or indirectly, with suggesting
your appointment to me. You were
suggested to me first by ex-President
Grover Cleveland in personal letter to
me-" a.s Er'
While Gov. Jones' name was under
consideration, though unknown to him,
Gen. Stewart l.. Woodford. former min
lister to Spain, the friend of both Mr..
Roosevelt and my father: Justice John
NJ. Harlan of the United States Supreme
Court. Gen. John b. Gordon, on whose
staff Gov Jones served during the civil
war: Senators John T. Morgan and Ed
mund w. Pettus. both my fathers
warm personal friends. and others were
urging his appointment. Booker Wash
ington made no trip to Alabama and
had no talk with my father about the
judgeship. My father first knew that
he was being considered for the office
when the Rev. Edgar 6. Murphy. for
merly the beloved rector of st. Johns
Episcopal Church at Montgomery. my
fathers and MIR. Rooseve1t's friend, in
ffpJrp1 1a1 his 1,+ l,~ y 4
have the Office if he wished it. A day
or two later my father was appointed
to the Office. p
Approved by Washington.
Booker Washington, while talking
with the President, shortly before the
appointment was made, about welfare
work for the negroes, learned that Gov.
Jones name was being considered, and
he told the President what he knew of
Gov. Jones' character and qualifica-
tions. This is the only possible founda-
tion for the erroneous and incorrect
statements made by the unknown
author of The Evening Star article.
In this connection I might add that
few years ago when an unscrupu1ous
politician had made a TRADE against
my father because Washington had
told the President that Gov. Jones' ap-
pointment would be welcomed by both
whites and blacks. my father, in a pub
lie interview, said: .:If it was a slur at
Washington becaus he favored the ap-s
pointment, it is slur also at all who
approved the appointment. aud there
was universal approval of it by our
senators. Morgan and Pettus: state Of
ficials, Supreme Court judges and the
press and bar throughout the state
If it was intended as a slur at me be-
cause great negro thought my life
and conduct was such that I could be
trusted to enforce the rights the law
gave an humber race, it will be with
out any force among decent people, for
it can never be matter of reproa ch
to a man that his character and life
are such that the humble as weH as
the influential trust to his sense of
justice. WALTER B. JONES, -
Montgomery, Ala.