Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1915-08-15

they are entitled to f every political Job. for
vacancy that opens up. and while the tight for the
| spoils today appear fierce. they are mild by com
parison with some that have passed into history II
OF these holly waged patronage contests that
resulted in the unexpected elevation Of the late judge
W. ". Munger TO the federal bench whose eighteen
year judicial career has been terminated by the grim
reaper
Before he was appointed nobody, probably not
even Judge Munger himself had the remotest idea
that he stood any chance OF landing this most de-
sirabe appontive plum When his predecessor. Judge
Dundy died in the fall OF 1896 most peculiar situa-
ton presented. Grover Cleveland was president
elected democrat, but deserted by his party on
the free silver and already precestined to de
liver over the executive office in March republican
In the person of Mr.. Mckinley. Democrats in Ne
braska who had wandered away after Bryan and
other strange gods had claims for favor with the
powers at Washington The only loyal dyed-in-the.
wool Grover Cleveland supporters In Nebraska were
the so-caled gold democrats, who had been battling
desperately IN the political trenches with certainty Of
defeat staring them In the face II Grover Cleveland
had the appointment, the judge bound to he
gold democrat and the prospect Of any other loavcs
and fishes for the faithful nil.
Under such conditions nothing TO be gained by
delay With the help of j. Sterling Morton, then
quickly arranged that the position on the federal
bench should TO william ID. McIIugh Of Omaha,
then only 81 years old, and a commission was duly
issued to him a appontee. Part OF the deaf
90 Il was commonly understood was that the highly
desirable and lucrative berth OF clerk Of the court
IN which Judge Dundys son. p. s Dundy, jr., was
McTIugh mounted the bench and there was much
jubiauon in the small, but select camp Of gold
democrat political orphans.
But the gaiety was not long-lasting. The board
Of strategy that planned the appointment had
neglected include confirmation by the senate in the
specifications and at that important turn of the road
they helpesA On one side was United States
Senator Allen a popuist and a Bryanite from whom
they could hope for help. and the other side,
United States Senator Thurston, republican who
h. off The
OF McHugh until the end Of the session. it would lapse
and the filling of the vacancy would devolve upon
President Mckinley, who. In view OF the senator's
activity in connection with his nomination and sub
seduent campaign would unquestionaby harken to his
suggestion. II developed. too, that Senator
Thurston was only alive to his opportunity, but
had preferred Judge OF his in reserve, being
none other than his law partner the late Richard s.
Hall Senatorial courtesy, then stronger than now,
afforded the leverage 20 hang up indefinitely the
McHugh commission. Every effort TO bulge It, and
have Il reported out, proved unavailing, and the
hands of the clock kept creeping constantly nearer
and the fatefuI fourth OF March, which was
the dead-no all unconfirmed Grover Cleveland ap-
pointments
Desperate eases. we told demand desperate
remedies and this certainly was desperate, for II
looked like nothing but watchful waiting game Tor
the senator TO win hands down. to the intense dis
confiture of his opponents. But here Is where one
Of the shrewdes pieces of political maneuverng ever
pulled OFF on the chessboard came into play. Under
pressure Senator Thurston prevailed upon to de-
that his refusal TO accept McttuBn was paAeu
on personal and politicai grounds, and that an
| otherwise unobjecuonable democrat might be ac-
ceptabie Incidentally. number OF names among them
/ that Of w. H. Munger. were mentioned as possibly
providng satisfactory material and Thurston. con-
| fldent that McIIugh would stick had automatically
indicated that ne objections them. Quickly
| Judge McIIugh jumped into the breach with a re-
quest 20 the president to withdraw his nomination,
which was done fast with the substitution OF the
| Munger name that no had time to draw extra
| breath Though II already the closing hours OF
| the Cleveland regime Senator Thurston held to his
| word and agreed TO confirmation without reference
| 10 a COMMITTEES. McTIugh stepped down from his few
months tudecahp. while Munger took the seat which
he retained tin
II was the way OF fate that the next turn Of the
whiriIgg politics should knock out the rest of the
original deal The hint not directly OF course,
/ but from somewhere-that ex-Presdent Cleveland
would be very much pleased 70 have the position OF
clerk OF the court 60 70 brother-n-law, Richard
| IToyt who happened to be resident OF Nebraska,
living at Beatrice. The expectant Spraten would not
stand IN the way, Hoyt installed and is today
the efficient clerk of the court In both instances,
defeat OF political ambition spelled success in other
fields with a smile McIiugh bucked down TO the
! law and is reputed to have made In single case
more than the salary drawn by Judge Munger In all
| those years spratlen. then cashier In bank that
| later lauidated became attached to the Burlington
road and has gone up to place in headquarters at
| Chicago in which he is OF the mainstays Of the
| presidents office.