The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-06-24

most innocent-appearing of
 An instance of this was one line White House communication the other day, placing before the Senate the nomination of Tom c. Trimble for federal judge of the eastern district of Arkansas. The . item appeared to be 8 routine ap- peintment, and beyond perfume tory glance neither the Senate nor the press gallery paid any further attention to 1t.
 It warranted closer scrutiny. Be- hind the appointment was one of those wheels within wheels irl- trigues that so frequently accom- pany the filling of an important government position.
 The behind the scenes actors in this case were Harvey Couch, former member of the REC and Arkansas No. l utility and rail- road tycoon; some Arkansas la- bor leaders violently hostile to Couch; c. Hamilton Moses, a Couch attorney; Senator Joe Robinson, former law partner of Moses; and Mrs. Hattie Car away, Arkansas junior U. s. Senator.
 whether Trimble was Robin- sons first choice is not known. Certainly he was not Couch's. Moses was his man.
 Unofficial Appointment
 Following the death of the in- cumbent, John E. Martineau, nu- merous stories appeared in Arkan- sas papers reporting Moses practi- cally certain to succeed him. So authoritative and positive were these dispatches that other aspir- ants threw up their hands and re- tired from the scene.
 The White House, however, re- mained strangely silent.
 Whereupon Couch came east, followed a little later by Moses. They were preceded by heated barrage of letters from Arkansas labor leaders to the President, to Robinson, to Mrs. Caraway and to all the members of the Senate Judiciary Committee, bitterly de- nouncing and opposing Moses selection.
 It is not known whether both Couch and Moses conferred with the President. Couch did, but several days before he went to the White House, a new de- velOpment entered the picture. Justice Van Devanter an- n0unced his resignation from the Supreme Court and over night Robinson blossOmed into the leading candidate for the vacancy.
 Couch got no satisfaction from the President. At the same time Robinson, his eyes fixed on the Supreme Court, cooled off per- ceptibly toward the ambitions of his one-time partner. To back the appointment of corporation and utility lawyer would do Joe's own aspirations no good.
 When Was Moses?
 Mrs. Caraway, in her quiet, in conspicuous way, also dropped a pointed hint where it would the most good that she did not favor the selection of Moses.
 It was clearly apparent to in- siders that Moses once bright prospects were as dead as last yera's p0sies. He wasted no more breath on his vanished hopes. He returned to Arkansas and let it be known that he had decided he didn't want the job after all.
 With the atmosphere thus cleared and Couch pushed into the background, Joe went to bat for Trimble, another former partner and son of the man who started Joe in the practice of law.
 Trimble s no No Dealer. Ffty- seven years old, he one of the ablest and most widely respected lawyers in Arkansas, has never done any corporation practice, and has had considerable bench expe- Tience as a special judge in the state courts.
 Diplomacy
 Mrs. Warren Delano Robbins, widow of the former Minister to Canada, found herself seated at dinner next to the Canadian min- ister to the United States, Sir Her. bert Marler.
 As the oysters were passed, Sir Herbert initiated the conversation. "Mrs. Robbins" he said, after scanning her place card, T want you to tell me who you are. Just what do you do in Washington"
 She hesitated. Well, I'm Mrs. Warren DelanO Robbins"
 The Minister looked blank.
 Then she added, My husband was United States Minister to Canada"
 "Oh, I see," said Sir Herbert, munching an oyster. "I never knew him. Mo-" Then he added, with more zest, But why don't you come around to the Legation, and we can get acquainted" Fathers Day
 Professional advocates of Fath- l..L A -EN