Smyrna times., 1921-06-08
SENATOR WOLCOTT HAS NOT
VIOLATED HIS HIGH HONOR
HON. GEORGE GRAY STANDS BY
HIM IN HIS AMBITION
Senator WOlcOtt Declined the Honor
to Save the Criticism Against the
Judiciary-His Act Admired


In letter to Governor William D.
Denney> last, Friday, United States
Senator Josiah o. Wolcott asked that
the Governor withdraw his name as
the nominee for Chancellor. Follow
ing the announcement last week by
Governor Denney that he had nomi-
mated Senator Wolcott, it was learned
that the Senator, before consenting to
the nomination, has consulted
number of friends, one of whom was
being assumed by the friends that he
had consulted that it would be proper
to accept the appointment, he gave
his consent to the Governor and the
nomination . followed. Being re-
quested for an interview after it was
learned that he was one of the men
| consulted by the Senator regarding
the Chancellorship, Judge Gray issued
the following statement: at is true,
SenatorW olcott, about week or more
before the announcement was made,
| called upon me and told me that he had
been creditably informed that if he
would like to be Chancellor, the COVER
nor would appoint him on the ex-
piration of Chancellor Curtis term.
Senator Wolcott said that he was
much surprised at the information
and had at first refused to consider it,
and, upon being spoken to again upon
the subject, he had said that if Chan
cellor Curtis was to be displaced
solely to make him Chancellor he
would not futher consider the pro-
position. He said he was then assur-
ed that such was not the case and that
others whose terms expired at the
same time would not be reappointedi
that he had then consulted the chair
man of the Democratic State Commit
tee, as we'll as others who were active
party leaders, as to how it struck
them from a party point of view
Upon receiving their approval he haC
come to me for counsel, stating tha
place on the bench had long beer
his ambition, and asking me what
thought of the propriety of hi
accepting the offer of such an appoint
ment.
81 asked him how the suggestion
of his leaving the Senate would b
received by his Democratic colleague
there. He told me that those to whor
he had spoken on the subject, VIII
: were not a few, all thought he woul
be justified in accepting the positio
offered.
GAS the situation then presente
itself to Senator Wolcott, l though
and so told him, that he would be
justified in accepting an appointmer
that would result in a thing so dc
sirable as a non-partisan bench.
did not occur to either him or m
that in so doing his action would /
misinterpreted. by any whose opinio
he regarded, or that public sent
ment largely due to the whole
some and justified feeling that judge
who had made good should be real
pointed. In an opinion of this kir
he and l agreed, but as l have a
ready said, this policy of reappoin
ment, Senator Wolcott was informe
was not to be pursured.
"The manifestation of public fee
ing which took place immediate
after the announcement by the go
ernor of his proposed appointment
to the bench was unexpected by eth
him or me. Senator Wolcott, as "
know, Immediately responded in Il
letter which does him so much cred
l which was in keeping with his his
character and honorable sensitivene
\ to public opinion. He has not viola
\ ed those high standards of honor al
y propriety that, to my knowlede
X have always governed him, and
Z will, l believe, continue to receive t
y admiration and respect of all W