New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-10-14
WILL JUSTICE FIELD RETIRE.
NO OFFICIAL CONFIRMATION OF THE
REPORTS
THE AGED JuRIsT LIKELY TO SEEK WELL.
EARNED REPOSE SOON, HOwEvER-THE
GOssIPs HAVE ALREADY SELECTED
ATTORNEY GENERAL MKENNA
TO SUCCEED HIN

TO SUCCEED HIM
fry TELEGRAPH TO THE rnIsuSy1
Washington. Oct 13.--The publica tons respect.
Ing the early retirement OF Associate Justice FIELD
of the Supreme Court are for the most mart
repetition Of stories that have been current 70,
months past-in fact, might say for severn:
years past. Most II all Of these reports havs
been circulated without the knowledge Of Justice
Field. and all of them certainly without his war
want or consent. To add 10 the former reports ths
statement that on May |. or at any other time he
formally sgDihed his desire TO President McKinev
to be- relieved from duty on December l. or at anv
other future date. does not strengthen them IN tho
least IN the estimation OF men who know Jnstics
Field well II is pretty safe to say that no such
information has been obtained from him or ths
President.
or course. everybody knows and nobodv
better than himself that the retirement OF Justice
Field from the office that he has long and ~
honoiab.y filed cannot be much longer post
poned While his intellect is undimmed and hi.
mental powers are apparently unmpaired he feels
the weight OF years and the burden OF physical
inirmities which at last admonish him to res,
from the activities OF the bench No member a,
that court ever retired with a clearer conscience
and consciousness OF duty well and faithfully and
feariessly done than will be his. As his life has al
ready reached longer span than that allotted 10
most men. so has his official tenure exceeded nv
some months that of the venerable Chief Justice
marshall. who had kept his place on the bench
longer than any other member OF the Supreme
court. and who died I'm the harness. so 10 SPEAK
The worthy and natural ambition OF Justice Field
10 serve longer than any of his predecessors has
never been disguised. and the fact that II has been
gratied lends air Of greater probability 10 tn,
report that he will seek repose from official life
and thai his successor will be appointed within the
next two or three months. That report may turn
out To be true
- r-e'1 !,
Supreme Court who appointed before or dur.
ing the War OF the Rebellion and a. a member ~
that tribunal ne has had voice In every decision
ot questions arising of the for the preser-
vaton of the Union. His appoin tment In the midst
OF the civil War was recognition by President
Lincoln. no; only OF his abilities and qualifications
~ lawyer and Jurist, but Of his steadfast I'M
swerving loyalty TO the Union and the Constitu.
ton ami Of the political importance OF the Pacific
Coast from National point OF view. Tha, Presi.
dent Lincoln made a wise choice nearly everybody
conceded at the time: and that Justice Field sur
rendered none Of his rugged independence 0.
thought and character when he accepted the APP
p'intment every body long since learned;
tired si or officially ssnIded bis desire to that
cessor He Is Attorney General McKenna
\ reporter called at Justice Fields house to-day
word that he not feeling well. Mrs Field would
neither confirm nor deny the report. although CIV
ins, an impression that retirement was at least
Court IT was said that nothing was known there
come from Justice Field himself
The belief that Justice Field is seriously contem-
plating early retirement strengthened to-day BY
the postponement u several important until
the first Monday In January. Among these were
suits involving the constitutonality OF the Anti
Trust law OF Texas and several cases appealed from
the Court OF Private Land Claims dealing with
Spanish grants. The postponement In the Texas
was made on the statement TO the Court by
the attorneys that ii involved constitutions.
al question. rendering IL desirable that IL should be
considered by full bench. The Chief Justice. In
consultations with members OF the bar makes no
direct reference 10 A probable change in the per-
sonnet OF the Court. but his manner and the fac,
that he insists on the postponement OF important
cases leave little room for doubt that he believes
there will be change