The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-12-12

prss,oent Tafts selections fer appointments
b 10 supreme Court vacancies are such as to con-
bel eountry.Nlsie admiration On the threshold
e OF What night be called judicial crisis at 4
moment of vast political changes. he has e&htb'
tied in this matter only the caution ot delnef'
ation.-not uncertainty OF decision. White. as
Chief Justice and Lamar and Van DeVanter as
Assoca,es justices again illustrate that the real
h non partisan aud non.secttonal judiciary Is
one Of the prime objects toward which the
Presidents patriotic creed is directed,
The attempt at political jockeyine for the puE-
pose OF crowding the appointjye privilege IN this
most important matter has been creditahie 10
neither Of The factions Ia the Senate which, BY
persuasion tAinly yeneered ever threats. has
sought to make judicial place dependent upon
partisanshp upon public questions THE "lnsus-
gents plea fer radical appointees ALREADY pieds-
cd agans. appellants seeking decisions il the
hands Of the Court the arrogance of the stand
pat,ers" In preparing TO draw knives against
!. the confirmation Of ATTY man whose record gave
!. svidence 81 sympathy with the new Thought res
Psstiny ,rroeafe regulation and the penoefa'ie
son. ity parts were alike blind TO the
s tan o'it vas possible that the man with
H. he the appointments lay had conscience
kaing IN advance of the eApediency of the
~ bent in the mea selected, NJ taft
s1;sxers the .1nsurgent clars1r by The ap-
rpintmcnt Of Justice White to he Chief
#3ustice, he rebukes :ho "standpatters" bs
naming Judge Van Deyan'er. and TO the Dem
#pcratic clamor for party recognition he gives not
~ much heed as contempt in naming Demo
8sserat and ES-eonfederate - chief Justice and in
n rhoosing for Associate Justice Southern Dem
@ocrat from Georgia able no doubt. but scarcely
n known to the country at large. Evidence of Il
weakness as was the long drawn
Mronference between President and Senators as
kto what action he should take, the action 1t
b a1H seems to have been All the more courageous
6becausc ii was probably painful ia the fae
$@of the criticism it invites against man so
1ender Of criticism.
M When the men named up for considcra-
&4ion Ia the Senate their confirmation viii be
" accomplished only with continued and varying
\ eriticism. La Toilette viii feel his gorge rise
NM Justice White whose record has been omi-
nentiy upon the conservative side Of deycl
ISoping Supreme Court Jurisprudence Adsich
and his allies viii with difficulty stomach the
&xonhrInaton Of Van Bevanter who. Circuit
#s1ndge. has already sat upon and decided the
standard Oil case now marking the decision of
which OF two long approaching lines OF differ
entity directed thought shall avail over the other.
#But In the end both these factions viii be ~orccd
#an remember what it would perhaps have been
#tn0re digniled in Mir. Taft TO remember IN tho
@51exinning, that he appointment of Judges 's a
RresidentaI prerogatiye, and that failure 10
Nbontirm would simply result in the country hay
@lng. Mt the moment OF greatest need for a full
kench. depleted tribunal
s That Mr.. Tart believes in the judicial qnalt,
A mind is shown by his appointment Of Judge
1an Deyanter who. already ON record In 4
Etending case, is put forward 10 again hear the
Mqme cause, So hughes appointed after
ESxpfession Of opinion adverse 10 Tho Income Tax.
That he is ready 10 put oratory and sentiment
into practice is shown by his appointment as
thief Justice, Of a Southern man. Confederate
adler, and Roman Catholic Taken together
we're is nothing in either Of the these appoint
1ents TO indicate that the President, has done
eore than 70 choose - tho best Of his ability.
18th proper but not serYle regard for sectional
ines. and with utter disregard If not indner
nee. 70 the bearing OF tho appointments upon
IT'D own political future
With the new members Of the highest court
Aosen In this spirit, the Court itself should he
otab'y strengthened In public confidence.