Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-06-03
HARDW|CK BLOCKED
IN GOVERNMENT JOB
BY SENATOR HARRIS
Atlanta Journal News Bureau,
d0p EuapS RuiIdiDp
BY THEODORE TILLER

WASHINGTON, d. c.. June l.
1t was learned in senatorial circles
here Saturday afternoon that Sen
ator William J. Harris has blocked
the appointment of former Cover
nor Thomas w. Hardwick, of Geor.
gia. to a federal job under the pres
ent administration. This appoint
ment is understood to have been Of
fered to Governor Hardwick while
he was in Washington this week
The former senator and governor
was seen about the senate in con-
versation with his one time asso-
ciates. and is also understood to have
called upon Secretary Weeks, of the
war department.
Former Governor HardWick re-
Gently resigned as one of the special
attorneys of the department of JUS
tice, handling war fraud cases. This
position, however, did not require
confirmation by the senate. 1t is
known that the administration was
willing to give to Mr.. HardWick q
federal position which it is required
must go to some Democrat, but Sen
ator Harris informed the adminis-
tration through an emissary that he
could not consent to the confirma-
ton of Mr.. Hardwicl by the senate.
Senator Harris Silent
The appointment would be objec-
tionable to him, Senator Harris is
understood to have held, and, under
the rule of senatorial courtesy and
precedent, no confirmation could be
had in view of such objection.
Senator Harris himself had no
comment to make Saturday on the
report in senatorial circles that such
a situation had arisen. However, he
did not deny the report.
Persons in the confidence Of Sen
Eator Harris say that his attitude to-
day is the same as when he and the
late Senator Thomas r. Watson no
titled Senator OVerman then a Dem
ocratic conferee on the federal Judge
ship bill, that they objected to legisl@fsa
ton for another federal judge in
Georgia because they believed the
late President Harding and Attorney
General Daugherty intended to APP
point Mr.. Hardwick..
1t further is cited that the present
attitude of Senator Harris is not
without precedent, and that when
he was in the senate Mr.. HardwicI1
made objections to nominations to
the bench of Judge w. e. Thomas,
of Valdosta, and Judge y. V. Whip
pie, of Cordele. The same sort of
objections now, according to persons
who have talked over the matter
with Senator Harris, may aprevent
former Governor 'IardWick from
landing any federal appointment that
must be confirmed by the senate.
Would Withhold Consent
Senator Harris is said to have sent
word to the administration that if
it had an appointment for a Georgia
Democrat, he would be glad to make
a recommendation that would be ac-
ceptable to the state, but that he
could never consent to the appoint
ment of Mr.. HardWick.
Such a federal appointment, of
course, would have taken Mr.. Hard
wick out of Georgia politics, but
when this suggestion was made to
Senator Harris;~the latter is known
to have been unmOved by it.
1t is not known definitely here
what position the Coolidge admins
tration had in lind for Mr.. Hard
wick, but the fact that the name of
Secretary Weeks is mentioned in
connection with the story might in
dictate that it was one of importance;
possibly on some government com
mission where vacancies impend,
Mr.. Weeks and Mr.. Hardwick, al
though of different political faiths,
have been close personal friends
since their service together in the
house and then in the senate.