The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1910-12-06
THE PRESIDENT
STANDS FOR PEACE
Not Seeking to Offend the In
surgents in Supreme Court
Appointments

of white house day. given over to a
series Of conferences, attended by both
regular and insurgent Republicans,
Senator Cummins of Iowa, leader of
the senate insurgents, after an alb
sence of more than year from the
executive offices, yesterday visited the
president, at the latters invitation.
With him was Senator Borah of Ida
no, one Of the militant insurgents of
the upper house. The president con-
ferred with the two senators, and
later spoke a short time with each of
them alone.
Although the conference was her.
aided by those not entirely familiar
with what actually occurred, as an
important step toward cementing the
Republican factions in congress, it
could not be given that exact inter-
pretation. While it may prove to be
the initial move on the part of the
president to bring about more har-
lnonious relations between the admin
istration and the insurgent element,
the fact of the matter is, that when
the president summoned Cummins,
Senator Borah and Senator Bristow,
it was for the purpose primarily of
comforting with them upon supreme
court appointments.
Such discussion as took place con-
corning legislation was subordinate,
and even may have been incidental to
the main purpose.
Still the fact that Mr. Taft called in
men conspicuous in the insurgent
movement may reasonably be de-
scribed as the extension of the olive
hronnh fn Of
can party which has not been cooper
ating to any appreciable extent with
the main body of the party or with
the administration. Senator Cummins
and Senator Borah accepted the invi-
tation, but Senator Bristow did not ap-
pear, although the reason was not dis
closed; it may be, however, that he
was not reached in time to call when
his colleagues had their talk with Mr..
Taft. The president himself author
lied the announcement that he had
summoned the senators named for the
purpose Of discussing judicial appoint
ments.
Justfceskips Discussed.
In the western section of the coun-
try live eight or ten men who are am
bilious to become members of the su-
preme court, and quite naturally the
president does not wish to invite op-
position to the confirmation of any
appointee to the bench from such a
powerful coterie of senators as the
insurgents. or progressives, as they
prefer to be denominated.
The insurgents are displaying a
lively interest in the manner in which
Mr.. Taft is going to fill the two va
cancies, chiefly for the reason that
they are concerned over the passage
of progressive legislation, whose con-
stitutionality will have to be passed
upon by the supreme court.
Senator Borah, for example, has
long been an ardent advocate of an
income tax, and he would object to the
appointment of a new justice whose
known views are to the effect, that
such a tax would not be valid. 1t
happens that several men who have
been mentioned for the bench, have
expressed definite opinions on this
subject, which are at variance with
those entertained by Borah, as we'll as
other senators who are not classified
as conservatives. The Idaho senator
availed himself of the opportunity Of
fered yesterday to express his objec-
tion to certain men ON the list which
was canvassed during the conference.
Cummins also has favored an income
tax, not through the medium of con-
stitutional amendment, but without
recourse to such a method. on the
theory that congress now possesses
the power to make such levy.
Since the president does not desire
to antagonize such senators in the
filling of the supreme court vacancies,
1t is quite likely that several names
were scratched off the list of eligibles,
after his talk with Senators Borah
and Cummins. although no informa-
tion as to their identity has as yet
been vouchsafed.
However, the president himself is
not keen about appointing men to the
bench who would be likely to be re-
dictionary in their Interpretation of
laws which have been or will be
passed during this administration
consequently. he manifested a SYM
pathetic interest in the demurrer of
his senatorial callers to the aspira-
tions of certain conspicuous western
men, one of whom is a we'll known
senator, and another a we'll known
Judge.