The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-12-14
CHIEF JUSTICE WHITE.

Brooklyn Standard Union: So the
| Washington correspondents were wrong
in sending in the nomination OF Justice
Hughes for Chief Justice. and an old
and able member of the Supreme Court
is advanced 10 its highest dignity by
President Taft. Mr.. Justice Whites
powerful mind would have been weighty
IN the courts deliberations in any event;
but this recognition OF him. as an alter
native TO crowding hOnors upon a MEM
Der Of the bench unuied in judicial
duties, viii give general satisfaction.
New York Evening Post: In deciding
TO appoint Judge White as Chief Justice
OF the Supreme Court, the President has
seemingly been swayed by the argument
that. if promotion was to be made
within the court itself. the youngest as
sociate justice ought not to be put over
the heads of judges OF longer service.
And there viii undeniably be a feeling
that Republican President has at least
shown spirit Of fairness in naming a
Democrat as Chief Justice Judge White
is highly thought OF by both bench and
bar as good lawyer OF judicial habit of
mind, who has a vigorous and incisive in
tellect and is master OF a clear and
forcible style
Boston Transcript: But it would have
been decidedly unusual to promote
Hughes after he had served on the bench
such short time In the opinion of
lawyers who have experience before the
Supreme Court. Justice White is its
ablest man. He was appointed in the
first place because he came from Louis
lana, which is one OF the civil law States.
whereas in most OF the States OF the
Union the old English common law IS
the basis OF the judicial system. This
made his knowledge of the civil law par
tieuiarly valuable in a number Of cases
that were about to come before the Su-
preme Court in Mr.. Cleveland's time. and
he has shown himself able and learned in
other branches of the law.
New York Sun: Those who know what
influence and power Mr. Justice White
has exerted in recent years in the delib-
erations of the highest tribunal, and what
loyal and vigorous supporter he is of
the fundamental principles and judicial
traditions on which depends the perma-
regard his appointment to be Chief Jus
tice as one of the finest acts OF Presi-
dent Taft's career. The nomination
shows discernment justifying the exE
pectation that when the time came the
President would do the best thing Tor
the court and the country. It is a for
tunate selection from every point of
view. The Senate's prompt confirmation
has transferred to the central place on
the venerated bench one of the greatest
jurists in the history OF the Supreme
Court.
New York Journal of Commerce: Jus
tice White has been for sixteen years on
the bench of the Supreme Court and had
previously had judicial experience in the
State of louisiana That he is a South
ern man and a Democrat in politics
should not be considered as weighing
against him. in view of the present con-
sutuuon OF the court. a considerable
majority of whose members are North
ern man and Republicans His ability
and learning have been fully tested. and
there seems TO De no question thai he is
highly qualified for the position to which
he is to be advanced. OF his personal
character and judicial integrity no doubt
can be raised. Reports since the death
Of Chief Justice Fuller had been very
generally favorable TO the advancement
of the new and youngest associate JUS
ues, eX-&ov- Hughes, of this State; but
that could not have given such general
satisfaction Gov. Hughes was an able
and experienced lawyer; he made a ca
pable executive osicer. and he is a pro-
gressiye and high minded man. but he
had never attained great eminence at the