New-York tribune., 1922-02-01
Appointment Stirs Politi-
cal Circles and Charges
of Efforts TO Break I]p
Farm Bloc Are Denied
I May Take
Place as Chairman
Upper House Confirms
the Nomination; Iowan
Tired of Legislative Life

''o" ''' 'ffbunc'S Washington Rurcru
WASHINGTON, Jan. President
Harding to-day appointed Senator Will
nam ;. Kenyon. of Iowa. chairman or
the agricultural bloc Of the Senate 40
a Judge of the Circuit Court Of Ap
peals for the Eighth Circuit. The nomi
nation was accepted by Senator Ken
yon and was sent TO the Sonata this
a'ternoon In accordance with the
practice when Senator is nominated
Tor an appointvc office. Senator Ken
ycn was at once confirmed hv
unanimous vote IN open session. on
motion Of his colleague. Senator Cum
Minis.
The appointment of Senator KENYON
FOR the Federal bench came as a great
surprise to tho Senate and to political
circles in Washington. While there
had been mention of his name in con-
ncctlon with the place. It had not Keen
believed generally that he you'd ac.
cept Several months ago he turned
down protfer of a place on the
Federal district bench. on the ground
that he deemed his work in the senate
more important. Recently Judge Wal
ter l. Smith. Of Council Bluffs, a mem
Der Of the Circuit Court OF Appeals.
died and it is the vacancy left by his
death that Senator Kenyon will fill.
The Eighth Circuit comprises thirteen
states IN the Middle " est and South
west.
Effort to Break Up Bloc Denied
hp int o. I
caused a furorc Of political discussion
in and out Of the Senate. because in
many quarters it was looked on as an
effort Of the Administration and of the
regular Republican leaders to break up
the agricultural bloc. Senator Kenyon
himself said that President Harding
mad been moved by no such motive.
Senator C'mmins, colleague of Sena-
tor Kenyon, sand he had advised Sena
tor Kenyon not to leave the Senate,
but when Senator Kenyon told him he
wanted the position. he did all possible
to obtain the appointment.
1t was said at the White House to-
day that the President in naming Sena-
tor Kenyon to the bench did 80 from
motives of personal regard for the
Senator ard with the knowledge that
th4 latte was very anxious to 20 on
the bench fr9m the Senate 1t was said
here to-day that the Senator first con
fcrred with the President concerniog g
the naming Of a friend Of the Senator'S
to the vacancy At that time Senator
kenyon is renortcd to have said that
he would not object to sitting on the
bench himself The President asked
if he meant it and granted Senator
Kenvons request for two days in
which 10 think it over. The present
appointment is the result.
Senator kenyon said to-day:
"The President mas known since our
service together in the Senate that
POLITICAL life did not appeal to me and
that my ambition WAS to serve on the
Federal bench When a vacancy oc-
CURED last fall in the Federal district
judgcship in my state some of my
friends suggested my name to him ard
he indicated his willingness to appoint
me. The Legislative situation was such
then that it seemed to me | could not
accept The situation is somewhat
different now. as the West Virginia
investigation is out Of the way; like
wise the Newberry case. and large
portion Of the agricultural program
has been put through. The question
is presented to me again as to the
Circuit judgeship in the Sth Judicial
Circuit and the President. knowing my
ambition and desire for service on the
Federal bench, and at the solicitation
of some of my friends. has rendered me
the appointment of Circuit Judge for
tnc circuit, which | am pleased to az
cept and have so notified him. am
deeply appreciativc of the act of the
Pres dent in appointing me to this po-
stion."
Disguised Over Newberry Case
Scnatp Kenyon expressed himself to-
day as being weary Of legislative life. -
and especially as being anxious to quit
the Senate in view Of the action Of
that body in the Newberry case, which
he said "disgusted" him.
AN independent course in the Senate
is provocative Of criticism" he said.
"althougn | have no apologies to make
for the course I have taken IN respect
to questions before the Senate"
Senators Harrison and Hefin, Demo
crats. said the people would think that
the purpose of the appointment was to
crush the agricultural bloc Senator
Harrison, after commencing Senator
Kenyon IN a speech as progressive and
4 man of "splendd qualities" said:
- am led to believe that the Presi-
dent made the appointment because
Of the judicial Doisc and the splendid
egal requirements OF Senator Kenyon.
He has had long experience S a lawyer
CONTINUED next pasO