Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-10-21
At THE WHITE HOUSE
Two important Conferences
Yesterday Afternoon.
SUPREME COURT JUSTICE
To Fill the Vacancy on That Bench
Discussed.
WORK ON THE IsTHMIAN CANAL
Looked INTO by President, Who Wants
to Be Thoroughly Informed Be-
fore He Goes to Panama.
WORK ON THE ISTHMIAN CANAL

There were two conferences of more than
ordinary interest at the White House yes
terday afternoon one of them lasting so
long that the President did not indulge in
his usual afternoon game Of tennis or
walk or horseback ride.
For some time the objects of the visits Of
Secretaries Taft and Root and Justices Day.
Harlan and White of the United States Su-
preme Court remained a mystery and at
tracted great attention. 1t was supposed
that the five men were in conference at the
same time with the President, which would
have left no doubt that the object was the
filling OF the vacancy on the bench Of the
Supreme Court that has existed for some
time because OF the retirement Of Justice
Brown. 1t was learned later. however. that
the President received the three justices
separately from the two cabinet officers.
and it was also learned that he had sent
for the three eminent jurists to discuss with
them the names of some men who have
been laid before him for the vacancy on
the bench. AS Justice Brown. the retiring
member Of the court, is a western man,
having been appointed from Michigan, 1t Is
said to be the intention of the President to
go in that direction for his successor. The
three justices who were consulted are from
the south and west. Justice White being q
democrat from Louisiana.
The President has under consideration the
filling OF the vacancy before he goes to
Panama. as the court is now In session and
needs the help Of a new man.
There are number Of men the President
has In mind, but one OF the leading ones is
Judge H. H. Lurton OF the sixth judicial
circuit Of the United States. This circuit
comprises Kentucky. Michigan. Ohio and
Tennessee. Curiously enough. Justice Day
is from Ohio. Justice Harlan from Ken
lucky and Justice White from Louisiana,
pretty close to the sixth circuit.
The main object the President would
have in a consultation with justices of the
Supreme Court would be to ascertain their
views to the legal qualifications Of GER
tain men he has in view for selection to the
bench.
The other conference in which the CEN
trail figures. besides the President, were
Secretaries Root and Taft. had to do with
the Panama canal, especially the letting OF
a huge contract for the construction OF the
great waterway While the conference was
In progress Secretary Bishop and Attorney
Rogers Of the canal commission were sent
for and took with them number of
papers. The conference lasted for more
than two hours The administration re-
CARDS Of the utmost importance the care
full letting Of contracts and the President
and his chief advisers talked over every
side of the question.
Will Leave November 8.
The President has definitely decided that
he will go to Panama on the 9Th of No
vember He will leave New York on that
date on the Louisiana. He has also de-
cided that he will not be able to spend
as much time on the canal as he had
wished. owing to the nearness of the ap-
proach of the session of Congress. He will
stay in the canal zone just three days but
in that time he will be able to learn much.
Mrs. Roosevelt will accompany him. as
she has at no time felt like letting the
President go without her. Secretary Taft
will try to accompany the President II he
can, but it is now the understanding that
the President has decided to leave Mr.. Taft
here and put him on the lid in his absence.
By reason Of successes in holding down
governmental lids the President does not
feel that he would be justified in looking
up a substitute for Mr.. Taft.
About five days will be consumed in going
to Panama and as many coming back
This with the three days in Panama, will
put the President out of the country about
thirteen or fourteen days possibly little
longer If the trip down and up should take
more than five days Some estimates place
the trip each way at six days.
To Succeed Magoon.
1t was announced at the State Depart
ment today that Mr.. Herbert g. Squiers Of
New York had been selected to be Ameri-