The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1921-08-11
WRITES OF APPOINTMENT.
Puts No Faith in Possibility Of White
Republican Party in State.

uS 1OllON iuS Sle'lSAiiSAtH - AAA~No
public by William J. Thurmond:
April %, 1915 l qualified as Uni
ted States attorney for the western
district of South Carolina, and was
reappointed b. President Wilson
twice to that Office, but my tenure
ended the 4th instant, when my Re-
publican successor qualified for that
position.
My sincere appreciation is hereby
extended for the courtestes shown
me by those with whom l have been
associated while in office, especially
to the agents of the different depart
ments and the lawyers of the dis
trict.
1t is more than pleasing to me to
be able to say that my relations with
all court officials, prohibition agents,
and the lawyers who have had busi-
ness in the court, are generally cor
dial.
AS retire to private life, 1 will
make few observations:
President Wilson sent my name to
the senate for reappointment on jan
uary 2S, 1920, and, if had been con-
frmed in due course, I would have
held the position until January,
1924, but Senator Dial opposed my
reappointment, which opposition re-
suited in ousting me at this time for
a Republican.
The Republican attorney general
has announced his policy to be that
he will not interfere with officers
who have been confirmed until they
have served their regular term.
A brief history of the fight made
by Senator Dial against me, as I am
informed, is substantially as. fol-
lows:
He endeavored to prevent the at
torney general from sending my
name to the senate, when he learned
that it was the purpose of President
Wilson to reappoint me, but was mott
fed by the attorney general that my
record as district attorney was ex-
cellent and that my name would be
sent to the senate for confirmation.
Senator Dial then went to the White
House, after my nomination had been
made and sent to the senate, and
urged the president to withdraw my
nomination on the ground that it was
embarrassing to him, Dial. However,
the president, after investigation, de-
clined to comply with his request.
Later the senator had a conference
with the attorney general and insist
ed that my name be recalled from the
senate, giving as his reason, that I
had voted for Tillman against him in
1912, and the attorney general stated
to him in reply that my name would
not be withdrawn from the senate
and it was up to him to have in re-
jected by the senate, if he could.
Senator Dial knew that he could
not do this, and saw that his only
hope was to have my name pigeon
holed in the committee, and with
this intention he went to Senator
Overman, the ranking Democrat Of
that committee, and urged him to
hold up the confirmation of my ap-
pointment on the ground that I was
J Objectionable to him, and senatorial
courtesy prompted Senator Overman
to hold my nomination in the COM
mittee; and since the expiration of
my term in February, 1920, have
discharged the duties of the office
under the law which provides that I
should do so until my successor is
appointed, and qualities,
When Senator Dial was at Edge
field in the campaign of 1918 he din
ed with me in my home and he and
Ills uduS luS 1upl SSSlOO OA
me and my friends that all would be
well with me, if he was elected.
Senator Dial recommended in 1920,
the appointment of Thomas P. Goth
ran for the position I held, but Mr..
Cothran did not care for the place
Che aspired to the district judgeship)
and after Senator Dial had nominated
him, Mr.. Cothran, with so odd other
members of the Greenvil1e bar, rec
commended my reappointment and
many business men assured him of
the satisfaction had given in the dis
charge of the duties of the office, yet
his hatred for Senator Tillman and
his friends prompted him to ignore
all recommendations in my behalf, re,
sulting in supplanting me with Re-
publican.
In the summer of 1920, before con-
gress adjourned, the opinion was