The Washington times., 1910-04-26
APPOINTMENT OF GOVERNOR
HUGHES TO SUPREME BENCH.

President Taft has appointed Cover
nor Charles E. Hughes of New York to
I'll the vacancy on the Supreme Court
which was left by the death Of JUS
tice David J. Brewer. Governor Hughes,
70 the surprise of many of his friends,
not to mention his enemies, has &C
cepted the appointment. In due course
of time, before the end of this session
Of Congress, the Senate VIII confirm
the nomination, doubtless without dis
sent.
In many respects, the appointment OF
Governor Hughes to the Supreme Court
IS one Of the most important selections
to office President Taft has made, and
1t is one that is interesting from many
viewpoints
It Is needless to say the appointment
viii be widely commended Governor
Hughes. as chief executive Of the State
Of New York, has made a record Of
which any man might be proud He
was a lawyer Of ability and prominence
before he became governor. HIS services
TO the State in the investigation Of the
insurance scandals in 1905 we're great.
II was largely because Of what he did
then that the nomination for governor
came TO him unsolicited in 1905. He
was triumphantIy elected He is now
serving his second term He has fought
a courageous and intelligent fight IS
governor, and because Of what he has
done the old corrupt Republican ma
chine Of New York State is badly
wrecked Politics IN the State OF New
York and IN the country Is on a higher
plane because Of the work done BY
Hughes at Albany. In some respects
II IS q misfortune that a man Of his
cast should be removed from active
politics TO the bench.
Governor Hughes was looked on By
the country as Of Presidential size. and
in the last Presidential campaign he
contributed greatly by his speeches tc
the success Of the Republican ticket.
The voters everywhere were anxious to
hear him, and his utJerances exerted in
fiuence-
A tireless worker, a man Of energy
and persistence, a conscientious man,
and one yet in the very prime Of his
powers, a highly capable lawyer, Gov
ernor Hughes VIII be a aiding figure on
the Supreme Court He viii IN the
natural course Of things have many
years to serve on that tribunal
But while there are no end Of things
to be said in COMMUNICATION OF Governor
Hughes. the fact remains that be has
yet his record to make as justice Of the
Supreme Court, The real test OF him
as & judge viii come when he has to
pass on the great trust and corporation
cases and other great causes before the
Supreme Court. VIII his bent Of mind
incline him to the side OF the liberal OF
the narrow constructionists This is
the real question, the question Of vital
interest 70 the country. It Is not
the past record Of Governor Hughes.
It Is clear that already there Is some
inclination to believe that Governor
Hughes, because Of his stand against
the income tax amendment t. the Con
stitutiOn and because OF his veto Of the
two-eent fare bill viii, as q justice,
align himself with the ultra conserva-
tives- TT this Is true, It viii be uu-
fortunate. and it Is to be hoped 1t Is
not true. and that as a member OF the
bench Governor Hughes viii exhibi,
the same fearless and progressive ten
denotes that distinguished much of his
course as governor Of his State. He
viii be on the bench as one Of the rus
tees in the Standard Oil and Tobacco
trust cases, and by his attitude IN those
the public VIII have a good opportunity
to Judge what viii be his trend a. a
jurist-