1909- U.S. District Attorney Skinner discusses President Taft

U.S. District Attorney Harry Skinner discusses President Taft's address and judicial appointments at the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence celebrations.

Charlotte Daily Observer 5/21/1909, p.8

PRESIDENT ACTED WELL  

SO SAYS COL. HARRY SKINNER

United States District Attorney Skinner Highly Pleased With President Taft’s Address at the Auditorium and Expressed Himself in Sympathy With the Motives Which Actuated Him to Make Eastern Carolina Judgeship Appointment as He Did—Will Work Out For the Best Interest of the Party—A Significant Statement.  

Early yesterday District Attorney A. E. Holton told an Observer representative that Col. Harry Skinner, one of the best known Republicans of eastern North Carolina, and one who was prominently mentioned for the eastern judgeship, had a communication or an interview in regard to the judgeship, which was in the nature of a strong endorsement of the stand of President Taft.  Mr. Holton said that this was about the strongest endorsement that he had seen, and urged the newspaper men to print the interview in its entirety.  Soon after the President had delivered his speech at the Auditorium yesterday afternoon, a representative of the paper sought Colonel Skinner for the purpose of securing the interview for this morning’s Observer.  He and Mr. Holton were found together.  They were delighted with President Taft’s speech, but when Colonel Skinner was asked for the interview, he refused to give it out, saying that it was so nearly in line with the President’s remarks that it was unnecessary.  

Colonel Skinner was seen later in the afternoon and asked to make a statement in regard to the speech and also the appointment of Judge H. G. Connor, as judge of the eastern judicial district.  He said that he was delighted with the speech, and that it was just in line with some interviews that he had had with the President before the judgeship appointment was made.  He thought the sentiments expressed in the speech in regard to the judgeship and other appointments should meet with the hearty approbation of all patriotic citizens.  

In regard to the judgeship he said that having been a candidate for the position naturally he would have liked for the honor to have come his way, but that he was satisfied with the appointment.  He said that he felt the President had acted wisely and well in making the selection of Judge Purnell’s successor.  He thought that President Taft was not actuated by any political motives in making the appointment, but wished to secure the best man for the place regardless of politics.  He said that although the President had no political motive in view, still he thought the party would in the coming years be strengthened by the President’s action in the judgeship matter.  He said that he knew that a number of the members of the party were just a little sore and disappointed about the appointment at this time, but that they, the rank and file, would soon forget about it, and realize that the President had acted for the best.  He felt that numerically the party would be helped.  He didn’t think that the leaders in the Democratic party, Judge Connor, Charles B. Aycock, Josephus Daniels, and others, would become Republicans because of this appointment, but he did think that many men in the Democratic party who think, would in time come to realize that the President had done a wise thing in making the appointment, and that a few more appointments of the kind would eventually result in numerical growth to the Republican party.  

In a word, Colonel Skinner was delighted with the President’s speech and he is satisfied that the President acted wisely and well in the judgeship appointment.  

District Attorney Holton was well pleased with the speech, and he had no word of censure to offer in regard to the judgeship appointment.  He was struck with the absence of a number of Republican leaders, naming over a list of those that were most conspicuous because of their absence.  He remarked that it was evidently not a postmasters’ convention that has been held in Charlotte on this occasion.