The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1910-04-28
ENDORSING TAFT.

Even such a rabid insurgent publ
cation as The st. Paul Dispatch finds
something nice to say about President
TAFT because of his appointment Of
Governor Hughes to the supreme
bench. In a recent editorial, the fol-
lowing was used:
1t Is difficult not to indulge in super
latives of enthusiasm, and declare
'the country is saved since President
Taft has seen the wisdom and found
the way, to make 1t Mr.. Justice
Hughes" But if this seems over
statement it decidedly Is not too
much to say that the country is safe,
II not saved-as safe as the presence
of one man can make it, in a most
important place, in a supreme position.
For the next twenty-five years,
providence confirming the republic,
the supreme court of the United States
will be stamped with the personality
Of Charles Evan Hughes. 1t will make
some difference what appointments
have preceded his and what appoint
ments may come after his. But with
Hughes on the supreme bench, what
whatever the bias of any choice, there
will be one man there whose appoint
ment Is worthy the best choice of those
master appointers, Cleveland and Har-
rison. President Taft has placed him
self in the class with these presidents
in supreme court appointments in the
selection Of Governor Hughes.
The country loses, to gain. There
has been an increasingly large number
of citizens who regarded Governor
Hughes as an admirable candidate for
the presidency. His visit to the west
two years ago. his visit to the far
west year ago, persuaded the people
that he was one Of them, a man among
men, If a leader of men. His work as
governor of the state of New York
the one position which tests a man in
only less degree than the presidency of
the United States--has compelled the
admiration of the entire nation, and
has entered into the knowledge of the
entire nation. Single handed he fought
a fight for the governorship of New
York against an implacable machine.
Single handed he fought legislative
battles against such evils as race track
gambling, and won
Again he fought the battle for elec-
ton, with his first term prestige to
aid him, but IL more bitter opposition,
within and without his party, again
he won. And he did not cease to fight
the legislative battles. He has never
feared to force through a right bill
against any wrong odds, and he has
never feared to veto wrong bill in
the face of any misunderstanding
the two-cent rate, approved by the
people, the income amendment, in
dorsed by Root-upon these Governor
Hughes exercised the right of his
judgment and the superior right of his
position.
He has won in New York and in
the nation. He might have achieved
higher place. through election. That
is as may be. Certainly few people
have doubted that he would have
made a president equal to the great
intellectual, the great legal presidents
of the SOS. But the people at this par
ticular moment in time which is
charged with huge suspense, recognize
that the strength, the integrity of the
people of the republic. must be ex-
pressed in the supreme court
1t is difficult to get the people to APP
preciate legal matters, above elective
But gradually the people, through that
slow but sure process of thinking
which Hughes has aided and abetted
as much as any public man--believe
at this moment. that the supreme
court Is the very center of the right
eousness of the nation, charged with