The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-12-12
Taft May Not Give Supreme
Bench Appointment to
Judge Lurton.
HELD TO BE ENEMY
OF UNION CAUSE
Opposition to Tennessee Democrat
Said TO Have Appeared
In the Cabinet.

me great number Of protests which
president Taft has received against the
appointment Of Judge Lurton. Of Ton
nessee, to be Supreme Court justice. MAJ,
yet turn the President from his mr.
pose.
There is high Administration authority
Tor the statement that the President has
been seriously moved by the protests
that have come to him, especially those
which represent organized labor
A long list Of these have been sent TO
the White House, representing men who
supported Mr.. Taft in the campaign last
year, and who urge the President tbat
while not asking the selection of a
labor judge" they want one who can
be regarded as not inImicd 10 the as
pirations and interests Ct labor. The
President is assured that Judge Lurton
is regarded as distinctly of the class
antagonistic TO what labor conceives to
be its interests.
Said To Be Settled.
II is said that az one time the ap-
pointment OF Judge LUrton was as
definitely settled as it could 3e, short
OF the actual sending OF the name TO the
Senate. The opposition at that period
lost all hope, and was ready to give UP
the struggle so far as the President was
concerned, and transfer its activities to
The Senate.
But the President concluded not TO
send the nomination with his first list
for the session, and the initial list was
finally made up entirely Of recess ap-
pOintments.
Although the matter has been handled
quietly and no undue publicity mas been
given 20 it, organized labor all over the
country has united in a remarkable
demonstration OF opposition to Judge
LUCton.
The unamimlty with which officials
of organizations have addressed letters
10 the President on the subject is only
eqUaled by the earnestness with which
TIE writer's have insisted that judge
Lurton is not the kind OF Judge with
whom labor wants to entrust its inter
ests or its hopes FOR liberal construction
Of the labor legislation which Congress
IS nowadays passing. Some OF his cor
respondents have gone so far as 10 re-
mind him that they urged in his favor,
during the campaign, his especial fitness
: 10 select Federal judges. and they pro
test uSit their assurances viii not be
vindicated II Judge Lurton IS named
Opposition of Labor.
II is not possible to determine 70 what
extent the element Of uncertainty has
been introduced by the opposition of
labor. and TO what degree il represents
the influence OF Congressional antagon-
ism; but IL Is stated very positively that
Judge LUrtOn's nomination IS now high
y problematical. and that some of the
Presidents most influential advisers
have gone so far as TO tell him that he
viii make a mistake II he names Lur-
ton. This sentiment. indeed, Is credited
10 some OF the Cabinet advisers.
President Taft didn't originally intend
20 advise with anybody about appoiat-
ments to the Supreme Bench. He felt
that he knew that particular business
quite as well as anybody else did
But he couldn't keep away from adj
vice which volunteered itself from the
outside. Ultimately the Cabinet has
been drawn into the matter and 10 is
now said that Attorney General Wick
ersham is opposed 20 Judge Lurton, and
urging that another selection be made.
Difficult For Taft.
The situation is a difficult one for
the President. because ne is being urged