The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-07-05
RENEWING THE COURT.

IEN EN Inv LIE \OCNA
The country does not consider President latt
the ideal Executive He lacks the quality OF
quick decision. He lacks the confidence of his
opinion. He is decidedly wanting in the power
to judge men, to examine motive, to determine
his course quickly and follow il with persistence
One thing, however, President Taft, in the eyes
Of the country, surely is. He is good Judge.
He is of equitable temperament He stands tor
the prominence Of the law, whether he is to be
trusted in framing the law or not. lie is here
neither sophist nor anarchist. In this capacity
he is just and to be trusted.
1t happens, therefore, that it is kind Fate
that lets him be President at this time. He Is
Judge himself lie can be rusted to choose
Judges The Supreme Court of the United
States is being renewed by time. President
Taft is the instrument through which it shall be
renewed. He is thus the agent through whom
the Nation is 10 get the infusion of blood which
it needs to continue to survive for the Supreme
Court, when all is said, is the instrument where,
by the law is given value and whereby the Democ-
racv of the people is sustained.
The death of Chief Justice Fuller puts upon
the President the greatest responsibility incident
10 his position. In everything else of anywhere
equal Importance he acts, more or less, by and
with the consent and advice Of the Congress In
this appointment TO position of equal i'm
portance with his own, of power great as that
of Senate and House combined, he must rely
upon his own judgment. He must select man
who will embodv the spirit of people.
The belief that in choosing successor to the
Chief Justice, the President will act in accord
ance with the broadest patriotism is justified by
his two other Observation-Disclosures Lurton,
Governor Hughes. In these instances-especial-
! ~ in the case of Governor Hughes-the Presi-
dent showed that he was large enough not to let
even an expression Of opinion at variance with
his own influence his choice. That he should
have named Hughes after the latter had in the
case of the Income Tax Amendment, showed
that he disagreed with the President in
dication that the President was man who con-
sidered the Law thing superior to personal opin-
ion or personal ambition. The probability that
he will be called upon to appoint vet other JUS
tees robs the impending change in the person
mel of the court of much of its seriousness.
The Supreme Court is at this time Of special
significance in the life of the country. It will
be called on to make epoch-making decisions to
lay down anew in the light of new conditions the
rights Of property and the rights of man. It il
! therefore Of the utmost Importance that its
Judges be men of the judicial quality, men con-
Ivorsant. with conditions and vet not demagogues,
men brave, but not rash, fair but not afraid.
Roosevelt for instance, would have packed the
Supreme Court without conjunction. Indeed.
his action in suggesting Hughes resignation
shows that he is not above the desire to pack it.
even now. We are certain that President Taft
will neither pack it, not permit its packing. We
feel certain. also, that his appointments will GO
to men in whom the country has confidence ard
men who are of that quality which, confident in
itself is vet able to see out of self and to gain
a comprehensive view of the immense field which
the decisions of this highest court on earth must
necessarily embrace.