Evening star., 1928-03-17
President Said to Have vir.
tuaIIy Decided on U. S.
Attorney Nomination.
SELECTION is DELAYED
PENDING JUDGESHlP VOTE
Confirmation of Gordon Is Held
Certain in White House
Circles.

President Coolidge has virtually de.
cided to appoint James NJ. Proctor, fol
more than 20 years, a practicing attor.
ney here. as United States attorney. tc
succeed Peyton Gordon, only recentl,
nominated to be an associate justice oi
the District Supreme Court.
This was learned today from ar
authoritative source. but 1t is thought
doubtful II any formal announcement
will be forthcoming from the White
House prior to the resignation Of Mr.
Gordon. Hts nomination Is now being
considered by the judiciary committee
of the Senate and his resignation a.
attorney will not be turned in until he
has been confirmed. The White House
is known to feel confident that the Sen
ate will act favorably upon Mr.. Gordon q
nomination, and for that reason the
President Is ready to make public the
new United States attorney as soon as
Mr.. Gordon's resignation Is received.
Three Candidates in Field.
In centering his attention upon Mr.
Proctor for the attorneyShip the PreSi-
dent is represented as having put aside
the names OF Leo A. Rover, who Is at
present Assistant United States Attor-
ney for the District. and John Lewis
Smith, former president OF the District
Bar Association, who, along with MIR
Proctor, have been the three most
seriously considered by the President
for this important local post.
Mr.. Proctor IL understood to have
been more or less of an added starter
to the field Of candidates and inasmuch
as 1t was first reported that Mr.. Rover
was likely to be the choice as Mai.
Gordon's successor. the fact that the
Presidents attention Is now centered
upon him will no doubt come as some
what OF a surprise. Mr.. Proctor was
not a voluntary candidate. His name
was first presented to the White House
by the executive committee OF the Re.
publican State committee In and for
The District Of Columbia and since
then many Inducements OF him have
been received at the White House.
Aside from his long legal practice In
this city MIR. Proctor is represented as
being especially well equipped for the
United States &ttorneyship because OF
the seven years he spent as assistant
United States attorney.
Attorney General Sargent, who has
personally investigated the various can
didates for this ONCE and who has
made known his opinion 10 the Presi-
dent. Is understood TO have looked very
favorably upon Mr.. Proctor.
Opposition 70 Rover.
II Is known that there was opposition
10 Mr.. Rover's selection on the part OF
local Republicans because Of allegations
that he formerly had been a Democrat.
In response to this Mr.. Rover said that
while he was favorable to the nomina-
ton OF the late Champ Clark as the
Democratic nominee in 1912. he always
has considered himself OF the Republi-
can faith. although his residence In the
District OF Columbia made 1t impossible
for him TO vote the Republican ticket
MIR. Smith. the other candidate who
has been seriously considered, like Mr..
Proctor and MIR. Rover, has had the
experience OF serving as assistant
United States attorney for the District