Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-12-12

hughes already Is very pOpuldi "hioH=.
the judges Of the supreme court and It
is not believed they took any part in
the arguments placed before the Presi-
dent.
| Eliminating Justice Hughes from pro-
motion, and eliminating all suggestions
made from. outside the court, President
| Taft. it is said, turned naturally to JUS
| tice White In doing SO he disregarded
all political considerations. Justice
] White is a Democrat and was born in
Louisiana. He was appointed to the SUI
preme court by Grover Cleveland and IS
s. years Of age
| So far as Washington could recall to-
| night this is the first time that chiel
| justice of the political faith opposite 10
that of the administration has ever been
| appointed.
Justice White was strongly urged
lupon the President for promotion. In
fOctober last, Just as the President was
llea wing the summer capital at Beverly.
lit became known that he was seriously
considering the appointment of Justice
White as chief justice. The fact was
sent out in dispatches at the time.
When he was again in Washington,
however, the Hughes sentiment seemed
| tc grow strong again and all other can
IdidateS practically were eliminated
Iron consideration.
| As a member of the supreme court,
Justice White has participated in some
Iof the most famous cases in the his
tory of the tribunal. Although Con-
lfederate soldier and a Democrat he is
id to hold probably the most clearly
marked ideas Of federalism of any Of
the supreme court justices. He was
with the government in all of the So
called insular cases involving the
Philippines and other island possess
sions. He rendered minority opinion
IagainSt the governments contentious
| in the Northern Securities case and al
so was with the minority in voting to
sustain the constitutionality of the in
come tax law. Justice White has been
on the supreme court for Is years and
lis now the oldest justice in commits
sion whose age is less than 20. He
was graduated from Georgetown Uni
lversity. He served in the Louisiana
Legislature as a senator, served for a
number Of years on the state supreme
|court bench and subsequently, was
/
was serving his first term in that body
lWhcn President Cleveland appointed
him to the supreme court.
| Judge Van Dcventer who is pretty
generally conceded tonight to be one
of President Taft's selections as an
associate justice of the supreme court.
is regarded as a high authority in land
cases. He served on the Wyoming
supreme court for number of years
| and for seven years was an associate
| attorney general.
| Judge Lamar Of Georgia, tn" DEM
| ocrat who is said to have been select
ed. has personally been known to the
Pr esident for number of years. Mr..
Taft early decided that one of the new
associate justices should be Demo-
cIat. Judge Lamar served two and
half years on the supreme court OF
| Georgia and now is one of the leading
| members OF the Southern bar. His APP
continent vii! bring the Democratic
| representation ON the supreme court
up to three members, the others being
| the new chief justice. Mr. White. and
Justice Lurton of Tennessee.
\ final cabinet conference on the jul
| Gicial appointments was held at the
White House late today 1t vas at
tended by the lawyer members. Secre-
tarieS Knox, Dickinson. Nagcl and At
torney General Wickersham. II was
said TO have been Mr.. Knox'S influence
which finally turned the tide in favor
vi Judge Van Deventer as against
Judge William c. Hook. also Of the
eighth district
reports that Presiden, Taft would
| be sWayed by faction considerations In
liz; own party in making the supreme
| court appointments were quickly end
ed tonight when the slate became pub
lie. Mr.. TAFT has been exceedingly res
tive under these reports and it was
sal tonight that twice during the past
week he was on the verge of giving
uut statements in rcfutation OF some
of the more radical reports that have
appeared in print. In his consideration
Of the entire subject of supreme court
appointments the President invited 80
senator's to the White House. This
" IS because the recommended Candi-
dates repre- scented Is states. All of the
senators responded to the Presidents
invitation with the exception of Sena-
tor La Toilette of Wisconsin. one of
tNC Insurgents. Ihe presence OF Stna-
tor CumminS of Ohio, Senator Borah
and others Of the Insurgcnt wing of
the party at the White House caused q
great deal OF comment at the time. The
President. however, felt that he could
not draw either party or fractional lines
| at an investigation of the scope that he
desired his supreme court inquiry to be.
1t was said that none OF the senatorial
| confere was for the purpose OF
deciding on the final slate. Through
them the President was seeking infor-
nation as to certain men strongly
| urged. Many of these names soon were
eliminated from consideration.
Washington. Dec. 1l.-Justice Ed
ward Douglass White was. strictly
speaking. the lone representative OF the
South on tho bench for a number of