Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-12-10
THE SUPREME BENCH
FRIENDS OF JUDGE TAFT HOPE TO
SEE HIM THERE.
Not Believed He Will Return to This
Country for Several
Months.

Friends of William H. Taft governor OF
the Philippines have put his name before
the President as most suitable man to fill
the next vacancy in the Supreme Court OF
the United States, and the President has
the name of the distinguished chief eXecu-
tive of the Philippines under consideration.
Seven or eight other men of prominence
are also under consdera ton. Ever since
Judge Taft resigned from the circuit
bench of the United States to be-
come governor OF the Philippines. the I'M
Outstanding has been general. and has often
been published. that he would be rewarded
by position on the Supreme Court bench.
President Mckinley intended to SO reward
him. The probab BILE resignation of Justice
Shiras within short time causes revival
of the story. President Roosevelt is known
to have most kindly feeling for Judge
Taft and intends to some day confer upon
him an honor in keeping with his tastes
and wishes. Should Judge Tafts work in
the Philippines be in condition to leave
there when Justice Shiras hands in his
resignation the chances of his appointment
are good those of any man whose
name is before the President.
The feeling of Judge Tafts intimate
friends is that he does not consider that he
could now leave the Philippines and would
rather close up important work begun by
him there. 1t is believed that Judge Tafts
friends would prefer to press him for chief
justice of the Supreme Court. Chief Justice
Fuller is eligible for retirement early next
year, and in the course of a few years may
feel that he wants to leave the bench. This
would be the opportunity that Judge Taft's
friends would desire to press for They
consider that his eminent services and his
high place as a lawyer would entitie him to
the place.
View at the War Department.
War Department officials familiar with
ha ,ra M rx.,;Sb Of IA Y
they have no reason to expect his return
from the Philippines until he has accom-
plished the important work he has laid out
for himself, which would keep him there
for more than year at the least eaicula-
ton -..-.....
In addition to the complete establishment
of civil government, he is personally inter-
ested in securing satisfactory settlement
of the controversy over the friars' lands.
the negotiations for which bid fair to last
several months yet.
Governor Taft's eventual transfer to the
United States Supreme bench as d partial
reward for his valuable services to his coun-
try is looked upon by all foregone COLI
clusion, but that such II change Is immi-
nent is generally considered as highly i'm
probable.
His recall to the United States within the
next few months, 1t is said would seriously
interfere with his own plans and might
POSSIBLY retarQ the progress OF the import
ant movements he has so successfully I'M
dertaken
A high official said to Star reporter to-
day that while Judge Taft is unquestion-
ably destined to a seat on the Supreme
bench in the future, his coming home with
in the next few months would more likely
be for the purpose of taking the war port
folio than to succeed Associate Justice
Shiras.
This assertion was based on the generally
accepted rImor that Secretary Root will
sever his connection with the cabinet after
the adjournment of the present Congress