The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1874-01-21
THE CHIEF JUsTICE-sHIP.
What Ohio Thinks of Mr.. Waite.

TOLEDO, Jan. 2O-The nomination of Judge
Waite for Chief Justice is received with ex-
nressions of great satisfaction by all parties A
s sketch of Judge Waite's life shows that he is
tne son OF the late Chief Justice Waite of Con-
H Eoa1e one of the leading jurists of New
England. He is now in his 5Sth year. He
&c" a' Yale College at the age of twenty
s mT ssa 1aw Nth 1888 he came to Toledo and
with whom he practiced for eighteen wears. He
has for many years stood at the head Of the
bar of Northwestern Ohio. In 1s49 he was
elected a member of the Legislature serving
with distinction. In 1862 he was cand i',ate
for Congress, and though defeated, receiv, 4 >
majority of 1900 in Toledo In December. 1871.
he was appointed as Counsel at Geneva, which
position he filled with honor. He is now serv-
ing as member and President of the Ohio
Constitutional Convention, to which position
he was chosen by unanimous vote of both
parties.
The present appointment. like all others of
pubic honor, has come to him without the
slightest seeking on his part, he having dis
couraged his personal friends from their efforts
to secure the place for him. His ueighbors feel
every assurance that in this, as in every other
trust, ne will abundantly justify the confidence
reposed in him. -,
Comments Of the New York Papers.
New York, Jan. 2O.-All the papers this
morning have more or less to say about the
Presidents latest nomination for Chief JUS
tice. II. 1900
The Sun says that Mr.. Waite is we'll spoken
OF by those who are acquainted with him. but
the fact that he is not generally known to the
country, Will render his nomination for Chief
wise.
The Worlds SAYS that If President Grants
third selection for Chief Justice had happened
to be his first, the appointment of Mr.. Waite
would have been received with wonder by the
country and disappointment and regret by that
portion Of the bar who ever had any pr actice
in the Supreme Court. eve haye."it saws.
mo doubt that Mr.. Waite possesses some very
good negative qualities" but comes to the con-
clusion ''that the eight Associate Justices can
decide every case as ably without Mr.. Waite as
with him, and the Senate would serve the coun-
try by keeping the Chief Justceshp vacant
until we get President who has some appre-
clatlon OF the qualifications requisite for that
The Herald says that no other reason is ap-
parent for the nomination of Mr.. Waite save
that President Grant is determined to nominate
a man he considers best and not man the
country considers best.
The Tribune says of course Mr. Waite is not
the best man who could be named for the place.
but there is no good reason why he should not
be promptly confirmed. To that great mass of
serious people who believe in the principles for
winch we went to war, and who regard it as
the duty OF the national Legislature to fortify
and defend these principles by statute and the
duty OF the judiciary to take care that they re-
ceve no detriment through hostile construc-
ton OF the law or the constitution, the correct
political antecedents Of Mr. Waite will seem
1ar more important than all the learning and
brilliant ability of Gen. Gushing.
The Times says the nomination of Mr.. Waite
to the post of Chief Justice to the Supreme
Court is thoroughly respectable one, and will
probably meet with little opposition from any
quarter. He is a man of very high personal
character, of recognized ability and Of quite
sufficient standing in his profession to Justify
the belief that he will make good Chief JUS
tice In nominating Mr.. Waite the President
has shown an earnest desire to discharge the
very difficult duty in a conscientious manner
and without reference to party or the private
wishes of any clique in Washington or else