The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-03-14
TAFT IS STILL UNDECIDED.
FRIENDS SAY HE'S ALMOST GER
TAIN TO TAKE JUSTICESHIP.
He's Coming Here To-day to Confer with
His Brothers, Who Have the Presidency
in Mind for Him, While He Prefers TO
stick Where He Is anu Finish the Canal.

stick Where He Is anu Finish the Canal.
WASHINGTON, March 19.-Those who are
close to Secretary Taft and with whom
he has consulted In regard to the offer OF
President Roosevelt to appoint him to the
prospective vacancy In the United States
Supreme Court say that Il is almost certain
that Mr.. Taft will succeed Justice Brown.
1t is learned authoritatively, however &,
that although Mr.. Taft may look with greater
c~omplacency upon the prospect than he
did a few days ago, he has not determined
what his course will be and will not give
the President his final answer until Friday
He will leave Washington for New York
tomorrow to have a conference With his
brothers, Horace B. Taft Of Watertown,
Conn; Henry W. Taft OF New York and
Charles p. Taft OF Cincinnati. Upon the
result of this family council will probably
depend the action of the Secretary Of War
1t ia understood here that Mr.. Taft
brothers believe he should not accept the
place. They are represented ae o~ontending
that he should enain in political life, and
as confident that II he does 10 he will become
President Of the United States.
There Ia reason to believe that the purely
political phase OF the question which has
been placed before him for decision has
not appealed to Mr.. Taft as strongly as
another eide of the case. There is no man
in the country. it is asserted, who has a
higher regard than Mr.. Taft for the dignity
and the honor Of a. Supreme Court Justice
ship and who could feel that membership
on that tribunal was not the very highest
compliment within the gin Of the Ex-
ecutive.
MIR. Taft twice declined the prefer of
a justiceship, however, and or both occa-
sions from a sense Of duty. He was then
at the head Of the Philippines Govern
ment and felt that he was needed In the
Far East. The situation is somewhat diff
ferent now, although the question of duty,
emphasized by considerations OF pride,
is still to the front in Mr.. Taft's mind.
MIR. Taft, according to those who know
his views, personally prefers to remain
at the head of the War Department, but he
holds that it Ia for the President and not
for himself TO determine whether he can
be spared from the Cabinet. His admins
tration of Panama Canal affairs has been
severely attacked and to a limited extent
is still under fire, and there are other prof.
.ects within the exercise of his authority
which he has q keen desire to see fulfilled
in his term of Office, or at least well adj
vanced TOWARD fulilment through his
action.
In these circumstances, and particularly
on account of his desire to show that the
Panama project. Ia being carried out honestly
and efficiently, Mr.. Taft for the present
would rather remain as Secretary Of War.
But should the President believe that the
existing opportunity Of comforting upon
Mr.. Taft the much coveted honor OF mem
bership on the highest tribunal should not
be overlooked Mr.. Taft will, 1t is under-
stood, not decline to become a Supreme
Court Justice.
In the meantime the President is not Civ
ing any serious confederation to the names
of the seven or eight other distinguished
lawyers which have been brought to his
attention in connection with filing the
voc ~. Mr.. Taft expects to be back here
J-iday morning and the unde rstanding
to-day is that a definite announcement
will be made not later thar Saturday.
Friends OF some of these lawyers. most
of them ~jurists, whose qualifications for Jus
tice Browns place are known to be under
consideration by the President. are engaged
dCllNSly Ia bOOLluiB the CoiioidhVSS' So-
licitor-General Hoyt has especially strong
backing, and as he Is a comparatively
young man his chances, in the event that
Mr.. Taft retains the military portfolio, will
be regarded as very good.
A good deal of comment is heard here
over the peculiar situation In which Mr..
Taft has been placed. In the understanding
that he personally prefers to remain as
Secretary Of War, many of his friends be-
lieve that he should be eliminated from
consideration for the Supreme Court va
cancy.