Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1909-10-25
Some Speculation
AS to His Sue
CeSSOr
DECEASED WAS DEMOCRAT
Succumbed to disease That
First Manifested Itself
Six Years Ago.

Albany, n. Y, Oct 25.-Rufus w
Peckham, justice of the supreme
court of the United States, died at his
summer home at Altamont, at SIS
| last night
Death was due to a complication OF
diseases-heart trouble, Brights dis,
ease and hardening of the arteries
! contributing. Justice Peckham had
| been in i'll health for some time, but
his condition was not considered
| serious until recently. Following ad
! iournment of the May term OF the
| United States supreme court he came
on from Washington with Mrs. Peck.
ham to spend the summer at Alta.
| mont, expecting to return for the be
ginning of the October term.
A few days ago his condition be.
came such that his physicians said he
was likely to die any time or might
linger for several months. Up to a
| few days ago Justice Peckham ex-
hibited considerable strength and was
| able to be about the house. The cir
culatory disturbance which contrib.
uted to his death was first noticed
about six years ago.
Governor Hughes expressed deep
| regret when informed of the death of
Justice Peckham.
Justice Peckham,' he said. was
j one of the greatest jurists this coun,
! try has produced. In ability and
| strength of character he was worthy
! of the best traditions of the bench.
His service in the supreme court is
! one of the finest contributions he has
made TO the nation.
Who Will Be Successor?
Washington, Oct. 25.-None of the
officials would discuss the probable
/ successor to Judge Peckham, each de
claring that it would be a violation O
the proprieties. The names of Fred
erlck n. JudsOn of st. Louis, former
Secretary of War Luke E. Wright, the
present Secretary J. NJ. Dickinson
Henry NJ. Hoyt counsel for the state
department and solicitor general il
the Roosevelt administration anc
Solicitor General Bowers have beer
prominently mentioned.
Mr.. Judson is known to command
and respect and firm friendship o
President Taft. He was appointed
by President Roosevelt to investigate
rebates on the Atchison, Topeka anC
Santa Fe railroad, in company will
| the present governor of Ohio, Judsol
Harmon. The finding and recon
mendations of the two investigator
did not meet with the complete an
proval of President Roosevelt an,
they resigned.
Shortly before the opening of tn,
campaign last year Mr.. Judson wrot
a magazine article explaining and az
plauding Mr.. Taft's decisions in labo
cases. Although a Democrat Mr.. Jud
son gave Mr.. Taft all the credit fo
the decisions, which he maintaine,
were models of lucity and estabIishe,
clear line of judicial procedure t.
/ be followed in disputes between labo
and capital The article later wa
, used as Republican campaign docu
: ment.
+ The names of Counsellor Hoyt
/ Dickinson and Solicitor General Bow
J ers have been suggested whenever tn
report has arisen concerning the prct
able retirement Of certain justices eI
titled to honorable withdrawal fror
active duty Three of the men ow
their entrance into public life t
President Taft, while he has f~
quently voiced his administration c
Mr.. Hoyt's legal acumen
Although there is no rule to gov
ern the appointment, the vacancy b
p precedent, will probably go to a Den
, ocrat. In this event Hoyt and Bow
! ers would be eliminated No actio
. will be taken until after Mr.. Taft
return.