Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-01-05
PRESIDENT ASKED
TO APPOINT SMITH
CoIIaday ard Lawyers Call
at White House to Urge
Him for Judge.

President Coolidge today received
Edward F. ColladaN Republican ma
tional committeeman from the District
of Columbia. William T. Galliher, Re-
publican State committeeman from the
District of Columbia. and committee
representing the District Bar Associa-
ton. who called to urge the appoint
ment of John Lewis Smith to the new
Supreme Court iudgeship created by a
recent act of Congress for the District.
This delegation described Mr.. Smith
as being eminently qualified for this
judicial appointment, and reminded the
President that Mr. Smith had been
Endorsed by the local Bar Association,
of which he was at one time president
viii Consider Request.
Mr.. Smith also has been recommend
ed by the Republican State committee.
The President was represented as not
committing himself, but assuring his
callers that he would take under con-
Sideration what they had said regarding
Mr.. Smith. The President gave no in
dication that he has made up his mind
in the matter of making this appoint
ment, or that he intends to be in any
great hurry in reaching conclusion.
He is extremely anxious to obtain the
services of an outstanding lawyer. and
he proposes looking over the field OF
available attorneys very carefully in the
hope of finding the best qualified one
for this bench appointment.
A number of names of local lawyers
have been presented to the President
to be considered. Among these are
George P. Barse, general counselor for
the controller of the currency; Dale
Drain, William w. Bride, corpora
ton counsel for the District, and Paul
E. Lesh.
It is understood that George C. Butte
of Texas, a special assistant to the
Attorney General and formerly attorney
general for Porto Rico, Is being con-
eral other attorneys not residents Of
Washington.
Texan Is Considered.
While the President is known to pre-
Ter making a. selection from among the
Washington lawyers, it is thought that
he will not hesitate to reach out into
the States in his desire to obtain the
services of lawyer of the capacity and
standards such as he is seeking for
his bench appointments.
MI. BuGle is known TO nave been Ser1-
ously considered for appointment to the
Supreme Court of the District when the
President was casting about for some
one to succeed Justice Hoehling when
he resigned last year.
AS has been his practice in making
appointments to the Judiciary, Mr.. Cool
idge is leaving the matter of investigat-
ing the records of the various aspirants
to Attorney General Sargent. and there
fore the recommendations of the latter
will necessarily be influential when the
time comes for the President to make a
decision.
While the President gives no indica-
ton that he will make the appointment
any time soon, the feeling about the
White House is that the appointment
OF United States attorney for the
District to succeed Peyton Gordon, who
has been appointed to the Supreme
Court bench to succeed Justice Hoeh-
ling, will be made very shortly. The
general impression is that Leo A. Rover,
who was assistant United States at
torney when he was appointed by the
court to serve as attorney until the
President made an appointment, will
be given this post by Mr.. Coolidge.