The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1920-11-17
WASHINGTON NEWS
GOSSIP G5z CHARLES sa2oKs sMI1a]

few years most Of his judicial du'
ties have been discharged by judB.
es from other jurisdictions. He 10
likely TO be among the first. II not
actually the first, designations tO
be laid before President Harding.
who will also have, at the same
time, the duty Of appointing a sue
cessor to the late Judge Dayton to
preside over the court in the North
ern District Of West Virginia,
Should President Wilson mako that
appointment, the Senate will not
confirm 1t. There is much discus
sion OF names OF men for these two
judgeshiPs among West Virginians
both in Washington and back in the
State. The desirability Of these ap-
.polntments from the lawyers stand
point Of high judicial honor and
power is too obvious to all to be
dwelt upon. There are few II any
lawyers in the state, who would
turn down the offer OF appointment
If it we're made him. Today's dis
cussIng' Of a probable successor
to Judge Kellar developed the
name OF Congressman Wells Goody-
koontz, Of the Fifth district, as first
rate judicial material and q prob
able tentative applicant. Mr.. GoOdy-
koontZ is not in the city. and In.
curry made at the office OF his pri-
vatc secretary. Il. Brown linn, ellie.
tied the reply that this was the first
intimation OF the kind that had
come TO his cars. It Is more than
likely that il Is merely gossip Of
the politicians There Is al abund.
.ance of gossip here now in regard
to appointments under the Hard
ing administration and has little.
II any, foundation Of fact to rest
upon. Congressman Goodykoontz,
his friends assert, Is more OF Il law
yer than II politician. He rose to q
high position at the West Virginia
bar and waB h0nored by it's mem
bership with election as President
of the State Bar Association for one
term. He is a member of the pow
erful committee on the judiciary OF
the Honse and MS a result OF the
recent election, and his own re-elec-
ton. advances nearer to the top OF
that committee in the Forthcoming
Congress Many federal Judges
have been taken from that commit
tee. President Wilson made sever
al of his judicial appointments from
II. 1t Is not known whether Con
srcssnlal. Goodykoontz would care
to resign from Congress for a place
on the bench. Probably he knows
nothing about the discussion of his
name by the West Virginia state
members in the capital in connec
tiOn with this high position.
West Virginia, in view Of the cf-
forts made by radical leaders to
p~nliticaliZe organized labor in their
state and use It as a lever with
which to secure control Of the State
government, will be interested In
the news that the initial effort Dt
organized labor to free itself frOH.
radical leaders Of tha FOster-Fltz-
patrick type. has started. Samuel
.Gompers fired the first gun at a
public meeting here. The fight lg
to go on TO a finish, and either the
American Federation OF Labor will
fSlI into full charge and control Of
the uitra-radiCal element of its lead.
2rs or the conservative group. typi-
fed by Gompers, will save 1t. III
HE latter event. the expectation
thai the Federation will be rcorgRr.
izad and rebuIldcd upon mort con
servat;ve. certainly o Amer
lean" lines than have ever char"C
terized It.. is generally held here
IN Washington. where it has its M.
tional headquarters and where ia
personnel and Policies r perhaps