The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1906-03-30
me court over % years. |.
Justice Brewer will be 60 years old
IN June, and has served on the su.

prcmc bench over 16 years. .... ..
Justice Peckham will be 6S next
! November. and he has served more
than ten years in the supreme court.
1t would be the last word of indeli-
cary for any aspirant 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
utterlng 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, dono
by the president, if those vacancies
occur during his term of office, are
really inspired at the White House, as
we arc told they arc. As if authority
might count upon death or resigna-
tion before a given date! That were
an nudacious indelicacy!
Thefour supreme court justices re-
ferrcd to have not the slightest idea Of
resigning, so far as their friends are
aware. On the contrary, they arc in
full possession of physical health and
mental power, and they intend to re-
main in service as long rs these for
tunatc 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 TINT 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 morc.'
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 rcvolu-
tionized, or reconstructed, or refor-
med (whatever the phrase is they
most affect,) but such opinions will
not engender an increased confidence
i'll them Oh the part Of the country,
nor will nny attempt to "pack" tho
court by enlarging it be received with
that popular favor which certain ad-
vccates Of such step appear inclin-
cd to believe
It may be that the president and
Senator Tillman would disclaim any
kinship of interest or temperament,
1. but, nevertheless, in certain respects
they are very much alike, except in
this that the cbullient South Carolin-
ian always makes frontal attacks.
When he assails his enemy the latter
is always within hearing. And then,
again, there is never any mistaking
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 PRESIDENT g
favorite measure, the railroad rate
bill, still appeals TO the country's
generous sense Of humor. 1t also
puzzles many excellent minds. There
were not wanting good reasons for
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 domocra-
tic member Of the committee. There
fore, in tho course Of q move 80 UNI
expected, the bill passing from the
hands Of ono party to the charge Of
another naturally enough would be
given to the senior member Of that
party on the committee. The repub-
Leans in placing upon the democrats
the responsibility for the bill, at the
same time gave it to the least respon-
sible. Democratic senator, or shall
we say the most erratic one. That
! he ShOnld also hopnao fo hn tho konn.