The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1884-03-17

pIimentary Words for All the Candidates
Of Roth Parties-His Views ON the Re-
organization of the Supreme Court.
Special Corresp lndence of the Press)
WASHINGTON, March 1S.
Mr.. Justice Field. of the Supreme Court is one of
those Democrats who think that their paSty is max
ing great mistake in maning the tariff so promi-
nent an issue just at this time. Mr. Field is hard
man to interview. A life position with life salary
at $4,000 year, comfortable and in every way
delightful home overlooking the Capitol grounds,
every comfort and convenience and luxury which
position and strong intellect can bring, naturally
make one somewhat independent of the interview
err and so to got the views of Mr. Justice Field on
current political events is somewhat difficult. 81
do not want to be interviewed" he said to your cor
respondent, as he sat in his spacious ana well
filled ibIary room in the old Capitol prison build-
ing His home is part Of this old building erect
ed years ago to serve as a capitol during the re-
building OF The Capitol building after its destruc
ton b. the British, and later it used az pris-
on for noted Southern sympathzers and rebels dur
ing the late war The stories those walls could tell
over there said Justice Field, pointing to an adj
Joining room, "Henry Clay sat as Speak of the
House of Representatives. Just below on the first
floor. was the Senate chamber. In my dining room
below have entertained many men of distinction
who were prisoners within these walls during the
late At one time they we're three of them at
ny table. From the window in the you may
see he spot where Wirtz. of AndeTsonville fame
was hanged do not want to be interviewed hs
said again, and don't any good ieason why
should be. | am not a prophet nor the son of a
prophet. am not politician. ! have the honor
to be one of the justices of the Supreme Court of
the United States.
"But YOU take an interest, Judge in public af-
fairs. and in the work that Congress is doing,
what you think the duty of Congress and the whole
party ought to be at this important period?"
Il.
this Congress ought to be very careful how it con
ducts itself on the free trade policy 1t should go
slow on the tariff reform question. Probably the
tarIn may need reforming in some sense. There
are inequalities perhaps to be removed, but don't
think the people OF this country will favor
sent to sweeping tariff reduction or general free
trade policy. There 600 600 voters interested
In Keeping the manufacturing industries Of this
country in such condition that they earn
comfortable living through them. We have no
commercial marine, and the people Of this country
are dependent upon other countries for nothing.
we can manufacture here hing that We need,
and fear that policy platform which would
look large tariff reductions would be fatal TO our
party or to any party.
Regarding the Presidential candidates Mr..
Field was even more disinclined to talk. He
thought the time difficult one in which to make
predictions or even to express opinion. Public
sentiment had not yet sufficiently crystallized to
enable one to make an intelligent prediction. OF
one thing, he was able, he said, to speak positively
and that was that the of his name in that con-
nection was quite uncaIled for. Being asked If he
was in any sense candidate he replied frankly
and unreservedly that he was not Pressed for his
views regarding the standing and chances of the
various candidates and others whose names had
been mentioned as such, he ran hurriedly over the
list. On the Democratic side he thought the only
man in the W est with any considerable strength
was Mcdonald. Morrison, he thought, although a
man Of unquestioned ability, would have little
stfength outside of his own State-Ilinois Nc
Donald was an able man, and strong in some of the
y estcrn States, aud should Western and the
free trade element control the convention be
thought it quite probab that he would be the
nominee. If Tilden had the strength to endure a
campaign he believed he would be nominated by
the convention by acciamation. The feeling is
very strong throughout the whole country reach
ing beyond the lines of the Democratic party that
fden most shamefully defrsuded out of nis
just election eight years ago. 81 was" said MIR.
rieid, "a member OF the Electoral Commission
and cannot think now, or at any other time of
the work it did without feeling that great wrong
WAS done both to him and to the country. If MIR.
Tilden is Bile and wi ling to be candidate, he will
undoubtedly he nominated. After Tilden there
were in the East Bayard. Randall, Hancock, and
Payne. The last named gentleman he thought
would have a considerable following from The
conservative views he is known to have He is a
pure al able man AID would make an excellent
President TIE unquestioned Integrity and ability
of Mr. Bay srd coup ed with his consistent and con-
seryative course in his long political life make him
very strong ith tho desiring safe man at the
head of the party. The south and East would give
strong support. Randall he lookei upon as
very abe man, one who would have the conf
dence of all and the support of those who op-
posed to interfering with the tariff. If nomnatesi
and elected he would wortpily fill the position.
General Hansock he thought had host of
friends and an excellent reputation as soldier and
gentlem Ian OF ability and would make an excellent
candidate. Ex-senator Thurman has he said
many warm admirers but they are scattered and he
could not probably claim the united support of any
State unless 1t would re California where he is
more popular than any man except Tilden Flow
er and Cleveland, and Dorsheimer, he thought
are all IA of great promise. but all youpg enough
both In years and in public life, to wait another
term or to take second place this years ticket
should the first place 90 to the West.
hliAnF, ofIn has u.
probably the hearts OF a laager number of voters
than any one man. Now that he is out of the field
apparently and making no effort in that line it is
difficult to predict what the resuls may be- bus
nothing would be surprising. Coaklng is a man of
great ability but he has ceased to take m.eh in
terest in political movements. He is now making
a great reputation in his profession and he did NOT
think he would actively enter into this contest. He
is splendid advocate and in arguing complicated
case he has no superiors and few are his equals.
General Grant would be very popular but nothing
could now add to his reputation as a statesman OF
military man and he would probably not take any
steps In tuat dlrectl m Edmunds he looked upon
as very available candidate and spoke of him as a
man essentially lawyer with sharp keen intellect
and powers OF analysis and an ability to make
great judge to fill ably the highest position in the
gift # the people. Logan. he thought warm and
magnetic man whose nomina ion would be especial
ly gratifying to the soldier element with which he
would be very strong. Senator sherman, he thought
would have considerable following from the
South and would be strong in the East where his
ability as hnancier is held in high esteem. He
has not the popular qualities, which his brother
the General, possesses and would not DOLL more
than the party vote. General Sherman, however
he thought Is beloved by men of all parties. Genial
frank open-hearted, and always ready to assist his
friends, he thought he would poll much larger
vote Vote than an mat & oi his own party President
from men OF all parties since his advent to the
Presidential chair" He characterized him as a
gen leman in the highest sense, charming all who
knew him by his manners, and having many per-
son4l friends in the Democratic party So Success
full had he been as President, and so popular as
tlnfh he. al N1R s.
nomination would practically lie between him and
Blaine and Logan.
Speaking of the Supreme Court he said. 'The
system of the administration of justice in this
country ought to be eh aDged. Such reform should
be instituted that a case would be enabled to 90
through every appellate court and be finally deeid-
ed within years The delaying of justice Is the de-
NAL of justice. and the courts should prevent the
one they are intended TO prevent the other Some
change must be made in the Supreme Court. Years
ago the present system WAS able to settle all the
business. But within the past two three decades
an entire change has taken place in the legal busi
ness OF the country. New interests have spruuk
intosexistence before:undreamed of and the great
lawyer who would practice now in the same cases
as his brother did few years ago would be a poor
man. The railroad the telegraph and other such
great corporate create large part of the bust
ness before the courts. and new questions TO be
settled daily. Toere m lst be change"
'.What do pou think Of the Supreme Court bill
before the last Congress-
1T lie good enough far as it goes, but docs not
60 far enough"
''what plan would you advise
81 would make division of the business into
three classes; cases of equity patent and admiralty
cases, and cases under the common law | would
Increase the number of supreme Court Judges to
twenty-one, and these 1 would divide also into
three divisions one division of Judges to sit
upon o tch Of the above classes of cases When
questions of an International or constitutional ma
ture come before the court the twenty one Judges
should sit as whole, but otherwise the section
should have supreme jurisdiction the classes of
cases 10 which ihey assigned, Any other method
than that OF division according to the subject mat
ter am convinced will not remedy the pre-
sent evil The court is too small HThe hi hest courts
OF other nations are much larger. III 4 of France
is male up of f.rty-eight judges and that of Eng
land is also very large Business is increasing eyey
year. and such a system should be adopted as wi i
not need to be changed when We have population
four times as great as now"
Partlaud n,Srhtl,Ou.a