Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-12-19
WHITE HEADS BENCH CHARLTON IN COURT
Sworn in as Chief Justice of Self Confessed Wife Slayer
the Supreme Court. Resists Extradtion.
CEREMONY SIMPLE ONE ITALYS PRACTICE CITED
Accused
eJuste Harlan. Surrendered Here.
vows TO UPHOLD CONSTITUTION ERROR IN RULING CLAIMED
judicial
Father May Con-
n
Sworn in as Chief Justice OF
the Supreme Court.
CEREMONY SIMPLE ONE
Oaths Administered in Courtroom by
Associate Justice Harlan.
vows TO UPHOLD CONSTITUTION
Oath of Allegiance and the Judicial
Oath Both Administered
in Open Court.

in Open Court.
years an associate justice of the Supreme
Court of the United States. today be
came the ninth chief justice of the ma
tion. The simple public ceremonies OF
installation We're held in the presence OF
the bench and a distinguished gathering
that filled every available inch Of space
in the little courtroom.
The oath of allegiance was administered
By Associate Justice Harlan just before
the court took its place on the bench
The new head of the court, obviously
embarrassed. marched into the courtroom
to his usual place on the bench in his
capacity as an associate justice. AS he
took his seat he smiled at his wife, who
sat in a reserved seat alongside his
brother. James White, of this city, and
other relatives.
Announced by Justice Harlan.
Presiding Justice Harlan. who has
headed the tribunal since the death of
Chief Justice Fuller last July, announced
after orders Of the day had been made
pointed Chief justice of the United States.
was present and ready to take the oath.
He extended the congratulations Of the
court to the new Chief Justice, and direct
ed Clerk Mckenney to read his commits
sion. This done. the presiding justice
turned to his right, where sat the new
Chief Justice, and in the presence of the
gathering, standing, administered the 1u-
dicial oath. The senior justice bowed the
Chief Justice into the chair at the head
OF the court. extended his personal con-
Gfatulations. and himself resumed his Old
seat at the right of the Chief Justice.
For the first time in history an asso-
ciate justice had been elevated to the
chief justiceship. and for the first time
President and Senate of one political
party had honored a member of a rival
party by placing him at the head of the
highest court in the land.
Simplicity Marks Ceremony.
Because of the overwhelming modesty Of
Chief Justice White, officials of the court
were uncertain as to the exact details OF
the ceremony of the day until they had
actually occurred. In general way, the
broad customs attending the induction
into Office of the head of the court were
followed
Unlike the inauguration of a President
a. the head of the coordinate branch of
the government, the induction into office
has always been a comparatively unOS-
teDtatious occasion instead of an escorts
from The Capitol to the White House
composed of gayly atfired civic organiZa-
new Chief Justice has only his black rober
brethren on the bench in procession
from the robing room to the courtroom.
Instead OF his approach being heralded by
the loud huzzas of cheering thousands.
the advance to power of a new Chief
Justice is announced by nothing more
than the solitary tenor OF the court crier.
instead of an inaugural address Outlin-
ing his policies, the only utterance of a
new Chief Justice is the solemn words of
his oath of office.
The dignity resting in the customs
founded the swearing into Office of
John Jay. John Rutledge, Oliver Ellis
worth and John Marshall. and perfected
in the days of Roger B. Taney. Salmon P.
Chase. Morrison r. Waite and Melville
". Fuller. was not materially disturbed
today by radical innovations.
The ceremonies of elevating an associate
Justice of the court into the chief Justice
ship OF the nation began in the secret
confines Of the courts robing room 1t
is here that the oath of allegiance is ad-
mnistered just before the court takes its
place on the bench.
Form of the Oath.
The oath prepared for today's occasion
followed the form prescribed by law. 1t
read:
Il. Edward Douglass White. do SOL
EMMY swear that i will support and de-
fend tine Constitution of the United states
against all enemies. foreign and domestic:
that ! will bear true faith and allegiance
20 the same: that I take this obligation
freely. without any mental reservation
or purpose OF evasion. and that will well
and faithfully discharge the duties of the
office which / am about TO enter. So
help me God.
II was similar oath of allegiance that
created such tempest in the court back
In reconstruction days. Hence unusual
interest was centered in its administra-
tion today to the first Chief Justice who
had borne arms in the cause of the Con-
federacy by the senior associate justice
of the court. Justice Harlan, who had
borne arms at the same time in the cause
~ the nation.
The oath which the new Chief Justice
subscribed to in the open court is known
Is the judicial oath. distinguished
from the oath of allegiance. II read:
u. Edward Douglass White. do solemn
w swear that / will administer justice
without respect to persons and do equal
rights to the poor and To the rich. and
that ] will faithfully and impartialIy dis
charge and perform all the duties incum-
bent on me as Chief Justice of the United
States according TO the best of my abil-
tiles and understanding, agreeably 10 the
Constitution and laws OF the United
states. SO help me God.
President Taft's Commission.
President Tafts commission To Chief
Justice White was as follows
William Howard Taft
president of the United States of
America
To all who shall see these presents.
greeting:
know ye: That. reposing special
trust and confidence in the wisdom
uprightness and learning of Edward
Douglass White of Louisiana I have
nominated. and. by and with the ad-
vice and consent of the Senate do ap-
point him Chief Justice of the United
states. and do authorize and empower
him TO execute and fulfill the duties of
that Office according to the Constitu-
tion and laws of the said United
States. and to have and to hold the
said office, with all the powers priyi
leges and emoluments To the same of
right apIsertdining unto him. the said
Edward Douglass White, during his
good behavior.
TN testimony whereof | have caused
these letters To be made patent and the
seal of the Department of Justice to be
hcreuntO affixed.
Given under my hand at the city of
Washington the twelfth day of Decem-
ber. In the year of our Lord one thou
sand nine hundred and ten. and of the
Independence of the United States of
America the one hundred and thirty