Evening star., 1946-11-05
New u. S. Attorney

It is doubtful that the District mas
ever had a United States Attorney
known to so few members OF the
local bench and bar as is George
Morris Fay, picked by Attorney Gen
eral Clark to succeed Edward M.
Curran.
Those who do know Mr.. Fay speak
well of his personal qualities. He is
described as being honest, sincere,
loyal, conscientious and a hard
worker" One respected member OF
the bar who knows him well predicts
that Mr.. Fay will do a good job as
District Attorney.
But that is about all that can be
said in favor of this appointment.
To the vast majority of the Districts
lawyers and judges, the 37-year-old
Mr.. Fay is an unknown. His service
in the Department of Justice, which
represents almost his whole ex-
perience and about which little is
known, appears to have been credit
able but not outstanding. Even by
stretching q point, 1t cannot be said
that he has made record which
normally would qualify one for seri-
pus consideration for the important
post of District Attorney in the Ma
tion's Capital.
What, then, were the reasons
which prompted this appointment?
About year ago the Attorney Gen
eral made a speech to the District
Bar Association in which he urged
the appointment of local men to the
local bench, pointing to the unusual
Importance of the work Of the local
courts and the desirability OF stating
them with men familiar with local
conditions. Certainly the logic of
that applies with equal, If not
greater, force to the post OF United
States Attorney. Yet in this in
stance it is apparent that Mr.. Clark
gave not the slightest consideration
TO the recommendation of the local
bar. For Mr.. Fay's appointment was
announced from the White House
Just few minutes after delegation
from the bar had called upon the
Attorney General to present to him,
as the bars sole recommendation,
the name of George E. Mcneil, senior
assistant District Attorney under
Mr.. Curran. From this timing, 1t is
obvious that Mr.. Clark had pushed
through the nomination of Mr.. Fay,
who is described as a protege of his,
without even waiting for the recon-
mendation from the local bar, which
he knew was coming. It is doubtful
that Mr.. Clark intended this to be a
calculated affront to the District Bar
Association, but it could hardly have
been more pointed if it had been so
intended.
The chances are that the timing
Of the announcement of Mr.. Fay's
selection was essentially political. He
maintains legal residence in Penn
sylvania and he had strong political
backing from that State. Thus, it is
more reasonable to believe that the
Attorney General, instead of delib-
erately seeking to offend the sensibi-
1ties of the local bar, was merely
announcing the appointment on the
eve of the election so that Mr.. Fay's
Democratic hackers in Pennsylvania
could profit from whatever slight
political advantage there might be
In 1t.
There is a lesson in this for the
people of the District, as they go to
the polls today to cast their vote for
the right to vote. Without intend
ing any reflection on Mr.. Fay's per-
sonal qualities, his appointment is
the sort of thing that would happen
only in a community that is politi-
cally impotent. And it will continue
TO happen here as long as the Dis
trict is held in its present state of
political bondage.