The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1906-03-30
me- court over % years.
Justice Brewer will be SO years old
in June, and has served on the su<

Justice Brewer Will be o9 years OLD
in June, and has served on the su<
rrcmc hcnc! over 16 years.
Justice Peckham will be Is next
November. and he has served more
than ten years in the supreme court.
It would be the last werd of inieli-
cary for any asplrant to the supreme
bench to proclaim his ambition while
these distinguished men retain. their
places. Imagine any man urging, be-
fore the event, upon the president, or
uttering through the press, or other
wise, his desire to succeed, say, chief
Justice Fuller. or Mr.. Justice Harlan,
should either Of those jurists resign,
or die in office! Would he not earn
deserved contumely? Can we believe,
then, that the interesting speculations
as TO what will be, or should be, done
by the president, if those vacancies
occur during his term Of office, are
really inspired at the White House, as
we are told they are. AS if authority
might count upon death or resigna-
tion before a given date! That were
an audacious indelicacy!
Thefour supreme court justices re-
ferred to have not the slightest idea Of
resigning. so far as their friends areN
aware. On the contrary, they are in
full possession Of physical health and
mental power, and they intend to re-
main in service as long as. these for
tunate conditions continue. If the
president desires to ''make record"
Three appointments to the supreme
bench they are not likely willingly to
crafty that ambition. Nor are specu-
lations of that nature likely to crafty
men of their dignity and character.
Three appointments to the supreme
court have already fallen to President
Roosevelt. Surely he cannot desire to
have four more.
Any Attempt TO Pack The Court
Would be- Unpopular.
The president, and Senator Tillman
and other radicals, may think that
the supreme court should be revolu-
tionized, or reconstructed, or retor-
med (#hatever the: phrase is they
most. affect,) but such opinions will
not engender an increased confidence
in them on the part Of the country,
nor will any attempt to '|pack" the
court by enfarging it be received with
that popular favor which certain adj
vceates of such step appear lnclln-
ed to believe.
It may be that the president and
Senator Tillman would disclaim any
kinsllip Of interest or temperament,
but, nevertheless, in certain respects
they are very much alike, except IN
this that the ebullient South Carolln-
ian always makes frontal attacks.
When be assails his enemy the latter
is always within hearing. And then,
again, there is never Any mistaklng
what Senator Tillman means. You
may not like it, but you understand
it.
The irony Of politics which made
the South Carolina senator the godfa-
ther and guardian of the presidents
favorite measure, the railroad rate
bill. still appeals to the eountry's
generous sense Of humor. 1t also
puzzles many excellent minds. There
were net wanting good reasons Ter
this quaint turn
The senate committee in charge OF
the bill could not agree upon any
amendment. That was the one fact
they we're certain Of. So it was de-
cided to report the bill to the senate,
and let the issues be fought out there
Senator Dolliver had made himself,
let US say, somewhat unpopular in the
committee, so the qualification of in
PRODUCING the bill to the senate was
denied him by throwing it into the
hands of Senator Tillman,
Mr.. Tillman is the senior democra-
tic member Of the committee. There
fore. in the course Of move so un-
expected, the bill passing from the
hands of one party to the charge OF
another naturally enough would be
given to the senior member Of that