Los Angeles herald., 1910-12-12
WHITE NAMED As
CHIEF JUSTICE BY
TAFT IS REPORT
Associate on Bench Said to Beat
Hughes After Pressure Is
Brought
APPOINTMENTS COME TODAY
Judges Vandeventer of Wyoming
and Lamar of Georgia May
Fill Vacancies
APPOINTMENTS COME TODAY
Associated Pressl

WASHINGTON, Dec. 11.-Associate
Justice Edward Douglass White of the
United States supreme court is to be
elevated to the chief justiceship.
President Taft will send the nomi-
nation to the senate tomorrow at noon.
1t is said that two new associate JUS
tices to fill vacancies on the bench
also will be named tomorrow
1t is reported tonight, though neither
confirmation nor denial was obtainable
at the White House, that President
Taft will name as associate justices
Judge Willis Vandeventer of Cheyenne,
Wyo., now a federal judge in the
eighth circuit, and Joseph Rucker La
mar of Georgia, Democrat and former
justice Of the Georgia supreme court.
1t also was reported tonight, like
wise without confirmation, that the
new court of commerce will be named
by the president tomorrow and will
consist of:
Martin A. Knapp of New York, at
present chairman of the interstate
merce commission.
Robert w. Archibald, at present
United States judge of the middle dis
trict of Pennsylvania.
William H. Hunt of Montana, now
a judge of the court of customs ap-
peals
Arthur c. Denison of Michigan, at
present judge of the western district
of that state.
Julian w. Mack of Chicago, now
judge of the appellate court, First Illi-
nois district. Mr.. Mack is a Demo-
crat.
CHANGES IN COMMISSION
To fill vacancies on the interstate
commerce commission, in place of Mr..
Knapp and former Senator Cockrell of
Missouri, who retires on December 81,
it was reported tonight that the presi-
dent will name B. H. Myer of Wiscon-
sin and c. c. McChord of Kentucky.
The announcement that Justice
White will be the new chief justice
undoubtedly will cause some surprise,
because it had been generally under
stood that Justice Charles E. Hughes
was slated for that honor.
In the last three days, however, 1t
became known that change in the
head of the supreme court slate might
be made. Some of the presidents
closest advisers argued with him that
Justice Hughes experience at the bar
had not been sufficient to warrant his
promotion at this time to the highest
judicial position in the land. They
claimed that Mr.. Hughes reputation
as a lawyer had been gained pr1n-
cipally in his conduct of two legisla-
tive Investigations.
They agree with the president that
everything QOlll6Q " d IilOSI
career on the bench for the former
governor. At the same time they Of
fered the argument that Justice Hughes
was the youngest man on the bench
and that his opportunity for promotion
would come later when he would have
the advantage of maturing experience.
HUGHES CHANCES LOOKED GOOD
1t is said the president sees In Mr..
Hughes the qualities that he believes
essential in a chief justice. Young,
vigorous, possessing great executive
ability and with progressive ideas, Mr.
Hughes was looked upon as the man
who could do much to bring about re-
form a Judicial procedure in thls
country.
The opposition to Mr.. Hughes at
this time, on the ground of inexperl-
ence, came not only from the pres1-
dents ADVISORS In washington, out
also from the bar and from the pudges
of the various courts.
Justice White Is a Democrat, and
was born in Louisiana. He was ap-
pointed to the supreme court by Gro
yer Cleveland and is 65 years old. so
far as Washington could recall To-
night, this is the first time that a
chief justice of a political faith op-
posite to that of the administration
has ever been appointed.
AlIHOuRQ- u OOHltuCi db0 e1iiO
a Democrat, he is said to hold prob
ably the most clearly marked ideas of
federalism of any justice. He was with
the government in all the So-called
insular cases involving the Philippines
and other island possessions. He rem
dered a minority opinion against the
governments contentious in the North
ern Securities case and also with the
minority in voting to sustain the in
come tax Justice White has been
on the supreme bench for 16 years.
He graduated from Georgetown uni
Versity. In addition to practicing law
in Louisiana, he was sugar planter.
He served in the Louisiana legisla-
ture as a. senator, served for several
bench and later went to the United
States senate.
PASSED ON OIL CASE
Judge Vandeventer, who is generally
conceded to be one of President Taft's
selections as an associate justice, par
ticipated In the now famous Standard
Oil decision rendered in the Eighth
circuit. Mr.. Taft debated for some
time as to the propriety of taking a
judge from this circuit and elevating
him to the supreme court, where he
might pass again upon these cases.
But as courts often reverse them
selves, Mr. Taft felt if new evidence
justified such course man might
also reverse himself. Judge Vandeven-
ter is regarded as a high authority in
land cases. He ser U .n Inc Wy oming
supreme court ben several RS and
for seven years was Gu assistant at
torney general.
Judge Lamar o. Georgia the Demo-
crat who is said 10 l-f- been selected,
has personally been itnoWu % ne presi-
dent for several years.. mr Z ift early
decided that one or tire new associate
justices should be Der tctat. Judge
Lamar served Two ana alf years
on the suprem' court ~ tit orgla ana
,,ox, is n loo dir l.t.r-i.r of he south