Evening star., 1949-06-26
New Patronage Fight
Faces Truman After
Attack By Gillette

AHdCk Dy UIlIeHe
President Truman faces a new
patronage fight with members oi
his own party in the Senate.
Senator Gilletts. Democrat. OF
Iowa. announced yesterday he will
oppose Carroll O.. Switzer. who
was nominated to be q Federal
Judge In Iowa three weeks ago
in preference to TWO other Iowans
the Senator had recommended.
In a statement bristling with
resentment. Senator Gillette called
the appointment a personal af-
'front.'" and notified the Senate
Judiciary Committee he wants to
be heard when the nomination IL
considered.
Since the impending fight in
wolves the time-honored issue OF
senatoria, voice in filling high
ranking Federal posts in the
States, 1t is safe to assume Sena-
tor Gillette will find support on
both sides of the aisle, If the
nomination reaches the Senate
floor for action.
McCarran Indicates Stand.
The nomination is in the Judi
ciary Committee. and Chairman
McCarran. Democrat. Of Nevada
has not fixed q date for its con-
sideration. Commenting last night
on Senator Gillette's statement,
Senator McCarran told reporters:
Where a man can win election
on the Democratic ticket in a
Republican State, he certainly
should be consulted on appoint
ments in that State, and certainly
none should be appointed who are
opposed by the Senator.
The object of the Constitution
IN providing for the advice and
consent of the Senate on these
appointments was a salutary one,
and q Senator who knows his
State we'll enough to carry it when
1t otherwise has gone Republican,
deserves consideration. AS to the
controversy in the matter. ! have
IN open mind"
SecretariaI Error Blamed.
Senator McGrath Of Rhode Is
land, chairman Of the Democratic
National Committee, said in Des
Moines recently that failure to
advise Senator Gillette in advance
Of the Switzer nomination was due
TO "a secretarial error" Mr..
6witZer was endorsed for the ap-
pointment by the Iowa Democratic
chairman, the vice chairman. the
National committeeman and Ma
tional committeewoman.
Senator Gillette demonstrated
his vote drawing. power In Iowa
last November, when he won the
senatorial race by q majority of
162. .448 over former Republican
Senator Wilson. President Tru-
man carried the State over Gov.
Dewey by 28,362. and Mr.. Switzer,
the Democratic nominee for Gov
ernor. was defeated by 10000
votes by Republican Governor
Beardsley.
Senator Gillette described Mr..
switzer as "a man of high char
scter, clean and honest" He said
Mr.. Switzer made creditable
record as q county prosecutor and
conducted "a strong and forceful
campaign for Governor"
Lists Three Reasons.
The Senator notified Judiciary
Chairman McCarran, however,
that he will oppose confirmation
for these three reasons:
II. He does not In my opinion
possess the training, experience
and professional background to
properly fit him for service on the
Federal District bench.
-. His recommendation to the
President for selection as nominee
was not made on the basis Of fair
comparison Of his qualifications
with more than a score of other
aspirants for the same position.
IS. His nomination was made
not only without the approval of
the United States Senators from
Iowa but over the strong objection
Of the undersigned and with some
evidence Of intentional, If not dis
courteous. by-passing Of the con-
stitutional rights and prerogatives
Of the United States Senate in
appointments Of this type"
Senator Gillette dug back into
the records and recalled that when
President Truman was a Senator
10 years ago he Joined II other
Senators in helping to defeat a
nominee who had been chosen by
President Roosevelt for a judge
ship in Virginia over the opposi-
tion Of the two Virginia Senators.
In that case the nominee was
Floyd H. Roberts. Senator. Byrd
and the late Senator Glass Joined
In opposing confirmation, and the
Senate backed them up. 72 to 8.
Rejected Place for Himself.
Senator Gillette also revealed
that he has twice turned down
offers Of appointment to the bench
because he did not feel that he
could qualify under the essential
standards which I felt must per-
tain to these Offices" He said
President Roosevelt once offered
him a place on the Circuit Court
Of Appeals. and that later Presi-
dent Truman offered him a judge
ship.
The Senator said that in max
Ing two recommendations for the
current vacancy he annIied the