South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1921-02-19
FEBRUARY I9. 1921
JUDGE VERNON w. VAN FLEET AS
FIRST ASSISTANT ATTORNEY GENERAL.

Unofficial announcement that Judge Vernon W.
Van Fleet be first assistant to the attorney
general under the next president awakens welcome
anticpations ia South Bend regardless Of rarity af-
flations. To the minds Of us whether Of his
party not, Judge Van Fleet as Indiana manager
Tor Sen. Harding deserves this-or better Though
the Harding vote was light in The spring primary.
and Wood and johnson were far in the lead Of him,
the judge proved his political gencralship at Chi
and the Indiana delegation was among the first
70 get behind the winner The result in the fan cleo
lion even more emphatic. Judge Van Fleet is an
able lawyer experienced as a jurst high minded,
the only regrets locally viii be that If this APP
Bointmept comes to him, it viii Ilace him second 10
superior this particularly regrettable If that SUI
perior is 10 be Mr. Harry NJ. Daugherty of Ohio.
Mr.. Daughertys record as given in another
column today. under the heading other Editors
Than ours" indicates that in all probability when
Il comes 10 matters OF vital Importance particular
" involving big business interests the assistant at
torneys general and particularly assistant
viii have 10 be attorney general if the people get
Justice Perhaps no better man could be chosen for
the purpose than Judge Van Fleet but why should
BE have the honors that go along with it? Why,
doing the work, should other man get the
glory? We would congratulate Judge Van Fleet upon
everything in connection with such appointment
except on the good work that he will be called upon
not in qualifications, but in political prominence.
In other words. it is Judgment that Judge Van
Fleet deserves first place; a at the cabinet
table. We predicate this legal as distin-
tuished from Mr. Daugherty whose chief qualification
seems to be his proven ability prophet the man
Vho could tell with an uncanny prescience exactly
Low the Chicago nomination was to take place from
a table in a Chicago hotel at an early hour Of the
morning. the choice of a few. professional tired
politicians OF course Mr.. Will Hays republican ma
tionaI chairman. is also from Indiana and being
listed the reports run. for the postmaster-g:n-
eralship the presiden: can hardly be expected
10 place two Indianians in his cabine- even though
"pivito" state. 1t probably explains the op-
pontment Of the Judge to a second place Politics
: politics, you know rcgardless of techn:ca. it-
nesses. and nave frequently been told of he eff
forts that the telect is making play
ne tune Of the best minds"
II is a splendid compliment to Judge Van Fleet
genius loyalty party and to the new presi-
dent. if he accepts the appointments He is con
scientious. hard worker an able practitioner; ex-
acty the sort of first assistant that ATTY. Gen"
Dsugherty will need Precedent almost compelling
the new president TO lass the postmaster general
ship to the republican national chairman and Mr.
Daugherty being entitled to anything he might ask
though like saome of old it might be the head of
John the Baptist on a charger,-the best rninds"
could have contrved better for the sake of the
department of justice. than have picked man of
ability and conscience like Judge Van Fleet for the
attorney generals chief advisor
Should the appointment materalize Judge Van
Fleet viii so to washington. highly congratulated
by local friends conscious that his presence there
VIII much. only to the department but
10 the country, and TO the good report of the
Daugherty administration