The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-04-26
Governor viii Not Assume
: Robes of Office Until
October
TAFT'TS APPOINTMENT
GENERALLY PLEASING
cessor Is Surprise to the Re-
publican Leaders of New
York State

Washington, April 26-President Taft
late today received from Gov. Charles e.
Hughes of New York a letter accepting
!. rendered appointment as associate JUS
tice of the supreme court of the United
States. Five minutes after the letter was
handed to the President. the nomination
of Governor Hughes was on its way to
the Senate. That body had adjourned for
the day, however. and the Senate will
mot hear officially the designation of
Governor Hughes to succeed the late JUS
tice David j. Brewer until tomorrow
While 1t is expected that Governor
Hughes will be confirmed with little or
no delay, 1t is understood here that he
will remain as the chief executive of the
state Of New York until next October and
will not take the oath of office until the
fall term of the supreme court, which
opens the second Monday in that month
President Taft has been anxious to
cure the best man he could for the SUI
preme court vacancy, and he feels that he
has done so. He was much elated over
the success of his tender to Governor
Hughes. and tonight said:
Il am very much delighted to secure
Governor Hughes for the bench. He is a
man of wide experience and marked
ability, ana it is mighty valuable thing
TO have on the great bench of the SUI
|, preme court man OF. affairs. Governor
/ Hughes is IS years of age. think, and
even If he should retire at 70, he will have
had % years of solid usefulness on the
r BENCH
Appointment Pleases
The appointment of Governor Hughes
was received throughout Washington with
Nthe greatest satisfaction. The announce
f1nent, however, came something of a
7 surprise, despite the fact that 1t had been
generally understood for days that the
position was to be rendered him.
The first overtures regarding the ap-
pointment are said to have been conduct
ed through Senator Root of New York
1t was not until Friday last that the
President wrote formal letter offering
the place to the governor That fact was
carefully guarded. Governor Hughes de-
liberated over the matter for final day,
and yesterday wrote his acceptance. The
letter reached the White House this aft
ernoon as the President was preparing to
leave. He delayed his departure long
enough to see that the nomination be
sent to the Senate and directed that the
following official statement be prepared:
1.-THE President by letter on April % ten
dered the appointment to the supreme
bench to succeed Justice Brewer to Gov
ernor Hughes of New York BY letter of
April "a Governor Hughes accepted. In
this Presidents letter to Governor Hughes
he told him that as the supreme court
would adjourn it's hearings this week. the
person appointed would not be called upon
to discharge any judicial functions until
tho opening of the October term on the
second Monday in October, and that
therefore, If Governor Hughes could ac-
10 .,{<rt,t tr,,,a 70 III
duties as governor until his qualifica-
, tion on the day of the opening of the
court In October next. This was a ma
terial factor in Governor Hughes accept
ance. Accordingly, II the nomination is
confirmed, as there is every reason to
!. believe it will be. Governor Hughes quail
ification will not take place until Octo-
ber."
Out of State Campaign
The general opinion here is that the
appointment of Governor Hughes will
eliminate him from the state campaign
this fall. The campaign will be only
fairly under way at the time the gov
error will be called on to take the oath
of office and enter upon his judicial
duties.
The news of the acceptance of Gov
ernor Hughes reached the justices just
as they were adjourning for the day
They were all surprised and all pleased
''I am delighted" said Chief Justice
Fuller.
"A fine appointment" said Justice Har-
Ian
II am delighted to hear it," declared
Justice White.
Governor Hughes is a man of high
character and great ability" JUS
ticc McKenna's comment.
Senator Root declared:
'Tt Is a most admirable selection. Gov
ernor Hughes is a very valuable man
and measures up to the high standard
Of the court
3 Senator Depew said the appointment
vas good one, but declined to com
ment further the ground that he is
member of the Senate judiciary committee
which will pass upon the appointment.
''It is an excellent nomination, but
am sorrv indeed to see Govern ~ - $
leave New York." said Representative
Hamilton Fish.
Representatives Alexander and Olcott
expressed themselves similarly, as did
Representative Bennett fs
Speaker Cannon declared that he could
not comment on the appointment, but
Representative Champ Clark said, 'It
was a good appointment"
B "Governor Hughes is strong man."
said Mr.. Clark
william J. Brynn's Comment
Lincoln, Neb.. April 25.-William J.
Bryan commented today on the appoint
ment of Governor Hughes as associate
Justice of the supreme court as fol-
lows:
''The appointment of Governor
Hughes to the supreme court bench will
be regarded by many as popular ap-
pointment. He has been put forward
As reformer and seems to be con-
eidered one by a great many people
Is a real reformer. But his official
acts show much of the individual in
the reforms. No one who examines
his record can doubt that he is in
close sympathy with the exploiting cor
porations.
"It will be remembered that he ve-
toed the bill for the reduction of rail-
road rates after New York legisla-
\ ture-and republican legislature at
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