The evening world., 1922-01-31
HARDING BREAKS
| BLOC BY PUTTING
| KENYON ON BENCH
Militant 1nsurgent Named and
Confirmed To-Day as Cir
cult Court Judge.
|CONGRESS SURPRISED.
One of Most Troublesome Of
the Independents Now Out
of Regulars Path.
CONGRESS SURPRISED.
(From a Staff Correspondent Of The
EVENING Worldly

WASHINGTON, Jan. 81. .- The
nomination of Senator Kenyon to-day
TO the Federal bench came as a sur
prise. II was known that the Iowa
Senator had been offered an appoint
ment as Federal Judge in his own
State some months ago, but at that
time he declined. 1t was believed that
this ast -tteiy clossd the u,S,,e"r, Int
1t develops that ttiJ President lad
never givenu y hope of inducing him
20 take a place on the bench. He was
nominated to-day as Judge of the
Eighth Judicial Circuit and confirmed
by unanimous consent in open session
OF the Senate, which is frequently
done where Senators are nominated
for Presidential appointments.
The appointment removes the man
usually considered the head of the
Farm Bloc in the Senate, and one of
the most militant insurgents on the
Republican side. Kenyon has been in
the Senate since 1911. He came into
prominence in the successful fight he
made to oust William Lorimer of Illi-
y
when fraud was proved in his cleo
ton. Kenyon has never been amen
able to party discipline where prin-
ciples were involved, and he has been
recognized as one Of the big minds
of the Senate.
It has been his ambition for life
time to go on the Federal bench, his
friends say. As n young man he
made a reputation in Iowa as a Judge
OF one of the inferior courts.
The real significance of the ap-
pointment, in view Of the lack OF
harmony between Kenyon and the
Administration, is the desire of the
President to weed out the recalcitrant
Senators, and restore a semblance OF
Old Guard control of the Republican
aide.
Kenyon would not place himself
under the imputation of quitting the
Newberry fight for a Federal appoint
ment, and before casting his vote
against Newberry. he delivered a
|. scathing Indictment of the Republi-
can majority which he predicted
would seat the Michigan Senator.
After to-day" he said with scorn,
mo one can ever lower the dignity
Of the Senate"
His friends believe that Kenyon S
unwillingness to serve in a body
where a majority Of his own party
! voted for q whitewash such as was
given Newberry caused him TO re-
consider his refusal of the Federal
judicial appointment
The President also made overture;
10 Senator Borah. another thorn ir
tho side of the Republican majority
short time ago, it is learned, offer
ing, according to one report, to pu
Administration measures in the hands
of Borah and thus give him the Off
.Cial leadership on the Republican side
You have a great personal follow
ing in the country" the President Is
"A reported TO have said TO Borah, where
upon the Idiho insurgent replied:
Yes, and 1t is precisely because
pursue an independent course anC
hold aloof from commitments OF thi'
kind that I have a following"
This terminated the interview.
Many regulars on the Republican
side are jubilant over Kenyon's resig
nation, as they believe it is the be
ginning OF the end OF the farm bloc
which has been so militant in th'
Senate in blocking Administration
policies.