The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1910-09-29
CABINET MEETS
Discussed Vacancies on
Supreme Bench.
HUGHES FOR CHIEF JUSTICE
Senator Sutherland Mentioned For a
Vacancy - President Taft Will
Stand by Ballinger to
the End.

Washington. Sept. q. - Governor
Hughes was the only one mentioned
for chief Justice of the supreme cour'
at the cabinet meeting. The governor
qualifications were discussed at con
siderable length, but nothing definite
came from 1t.
The names OF several other mel
were taken under consideration as pos
sibilties for other vacancies on the
supreme court bench. These included
United States Senator George Suther
land. OF Utah: Chancellor Pitman. oil
New Jersey, and Justice Swayze and
r. V. Lindabury. also of the latter
state The consideration OF these
names would seem to indicate tha'
the president desires to give the Third
and the Eighth judicial circuits direct
representation upon the supreme court
bench
This Is the first time that Senator
Sutherland has been mentioned as a
possibility The senator Is a member
of the Ballinger Pinchot investigating
committee. He was elected TO the
United States senate in 1904 and his
term will expire next March. Since the
retirement OF John c. Spooner from
the senate Mr.. Sutherland, together
with Elihu Root, has been acknowl
edged as the mainstay Of the Republic
can side in the argument OF constitu
tional questions.
Taft Will Stand by eallinger.
The Ballinger case didn't come for
mally before the cabinet. but as a re
suit OF the gathering Of Mr.. Taft and
his official advisers there Is no longer
any doubt Of the decided attitude that
the president has adopted in this mat
ter. Mr.. Taft wouldn't accept Secre
tary Ballinger's resignation now II II
were offered to him The president In
tends to stand steadfast'y by his sec
rotary of the interior. even II 1t jeopar'
dies his own political future. This, oil
course. is on the assumption that the
majority members OF the Ballinger
Pinchot investigating committee are
going to give Mr. Ballinger clean bill
OF health
The presidents attitude as his adj
yisers outline il since his return Ia
Washington is that he is satisfied that
Secretary Ballinger is the victim OF a
conspiracy and that it is time for the
president to show TO the American
people that an official cannot be
bounded out Of office unless the facts
warrant il and a case has been proven
against him.
While Mr. Taft's friends have never
doubted that he intended to stand by
Secretary Balllnger to the end, there
have been many reports that the sec
rotary would resign OF his own voll'
ton. The firm attitude that the presi.
dent has assumed in this matter
means. OF course, that Mr. BallingeT
has no thought OF retiring. Just when
the report OF the majority Of the Bal
linger. Pinchot committee will be made
public is uncertain.
One Of the other things that the
president and his advisers have talked
over since they arrived in Washington
is the Alaska situation. Attorney Gen
eral Wickersham and Secretary Nagel
made trip to Alaska for the purpose
Of investigating conditions there. 1t is
understood that the result of their
trip will probably be a renewal by
President Taft OF his recommendations
for the creation of a new form of gov
eminent for Alaska. The PRESIDENT
former recommendation contemplated
the appointment Of a governor and a
legislative council. who should be held
directly accountable to the department
Of the interior in Washington. His
recommendations aroused considerable
opposition in Alaska and also In con
gress.