Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1910-12-20
RECEIVES HONOR NEVER
UNKNOWN TO COUNTRY
First Time in History Judge Has Been
So Promited From Lower Office and
Placed on Exalted Bench by Presi-
dent and Senate of Same Political
Faith to Member Rival Party.
by Associated Press)

WASH NGTON, d. C., Dec. f9.-lD
the presence of a distinguished gath
ering in the little court room, Edward
Douglass White was today elevated
from associate justice in the Supreme
Court of the United States TO the
chief justiceship.
The climax of the ceremonies when
Associate Justice Harlan. as senior
member of the court, administered ~
the new chief justice The judicial oath.
II was subscribed to on the bench
itself, instead OF at the clerk S desk.
as is ordinarily the case. Chief JUS
tice White, while taking the oath.
held in his hand a Bible which had
been used by nearly every chief JUS
tice and associate Justice en- similar
occasions during the last century. but
unlike most OF them, he kissed the
book at the conclusion of the oath.
For the first time in history an as
socia'e justice has been elevated to
the chief justiceship, and fer the first
time president and senate of one
political faith has honOred a mem
Der of rival party by placing him at
the head OF the highest court of the
land.
Because of the overwhelming
modesty of Chief Justice White. Off
Gals of the court were uncertain as
TO the exact details of the ceremony
of the day until they had actually
occurred. In general way. the broad
customs attending the induction into
Office of the head OF the court were
followed.
All H. IS IDro
dent as the head of the coordinate
branch of the government. the Undue
ton into Office of a chief justice of
the United States has always been a
comparatively transformations occa-
sion. Instead of an escort from the
capitol to the White House. com
posed of gaily attired civic organize
tions and seasoned military COM
mands. a row chief justice has only
his black robed brethren on the bench
in procession from the robing room
to the court room: instead of his ap-
preach being heralGed by the loud
huzzas of cheering thousands. the adj
vance to power OF new chief JUS
tice is announced by nothing more
than the solitary tones of the court
crier: instead of an inaugural adj
QTtcS his pCutito tuc Oillr
utterauce of a new chief justice is
the solemn words of his oath of Of
flee.
Dignity Not Disturbed.
The dignity resting in the customs
founded on tic swearing into Office
of John Jay. John RutIedge Oliver
Ellsworth. and John Marshall. and
perfected in the days of Robcr r.
fancy. Salmon p Chase. Morrison r.
Waite and Melville W. Fuller was
not materially disturbed today by
radical innovations.
The ceremonies OF elevating an as
sociate justice of the court into the
chief justiceship of the nation began
in the secret confines Of the courts
robing room. II is here that the oath
of allegiance is administered. Just be-
fore the court takes its place on the
bench The oath prepared for to-
days occasion. followed the form
prescribed by law II read:
Oath Administered.
Il. Edward Douglass White. do
solemnly swear that ] win support
and defend the Constitution of the
United States against all enemies.
foreign and domestic: that ] will
hear true faith and allegiance 20 the
same: that take this obligation
freely without any mental reseTva-
ton OF purpose Of evasion. and tina;
! will wcil and faithfully discharge
the dstles Of the Office on which !
am about 10 enter. So help me
God
" was a similar oath OF allegiance
that created such a tempest in the
court. back in reconstruction days. ]
Hence unusual interest was conferred
IN fts administration today TO the
sTst chief justice. who had borne
arms IN the cause OF the ConfeJcra-
cy by The senior associate justice Of
The court. Justice Harlan. who rad
borne arms az the same time In the
cause Of the nation.
Doubt had existed before The ccrc-
monies as TO vbctber the new chief
Justice would halt az the clerks desk
IN The cour; room 10 take the oath
there a. most Of the men who nave
occupied positions on The beach have
done. or whether. he would assure
his usual place on the bench aud
la.c TIC oaih there a. Chi~f Justice
t-hae~ did Tkcsc was doubt also -
- --N.ITf.~a. - rrr.alIf hold ~ his