The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-11-08
President Taft Seriously Con-
siders His Appointment to
Post of Chief Justice.
FILLING OF VACANCIES
CAUSE OF MUCH STUDY
Numerous Names Have Been
Suggested, Many Of Them
of Western Men.
Special 10 The Tribune


WASHINGTON, Nov. President
Taft is still disposed TO nominate
Charles E. Hughes Of New York as chief
Justice Of the supreme court. Mr..
Hughes took his scat in the court at
the beginning Of the fall term as an
associate Justice. From time to time
lit has been stated that the president
was considering the names of Associate
Justice Harlan, Associate Justice White
and Associate Justice Day for chief
justice to succeed the late Melville w.
Fuller.
When announcement was first made
of the president IS intention TO appoint
Governor Hughes associate justice the
statement was made incidently that
President Taft intended to elevate Gov
ernor Hughes to be chief Justice should
Chief Justice Fuller retire or vacancy
spite Of the speculation concerning 9TH
er names the president, it is said, still
adheres to his original plan to appoint
Hughes chief Justice.
Associate Justice White is a Demo
crat, He was serving III the senate as
a senator from Louisiana at the time
President Cleveland nominated him as
sociate justice. He is one Of the two
Catholics in the supreme court, the 9th
er being Associate Justice McKenna,
The fact that Mr. White is a Democrat
5 not necessarily disqualify him for
appointment as chief Justice In the pres
idcnt s estimation, say those who are
close to the White House. Associate
Justice Harlan is older in service, is a
Republican, has remarkable record
for continuous service on the bench,
having served thirtythree years and
being several years beyond the age for
voluntary retirement. Justice Harlan
has had au illustrious career on the
encb and if the president should take
any OF the present members of the court
for chief Justice he would hardly over
look Harlan.
There have been suggestions Of the
probable appointment Of Senator Root
and Attorney General Wickersham. If
the New York assembly should be Re
publican thus lnsuring the election Of
two Republican senators, President Taft
would offer the chief iusticcship or one
Of the two vacant associate justiceships
to Senator Root But it is doubtful if
the senator would accept. He is with
in few years of the age for retire
mcnt from the bench. has had labori-
our career and has been compelled
periodically TO 90 TO saritarlum to re.
store his health
Looks to West.
The president is very apt to look TO
the west and middle west for material
to fill the two vacancies on the bench.
Before Associate Justice Moody retired
Massachusetts had two members of the
court, Moody and Holmes. 1t is thought
hardly probable that the president Will
again 60 to New England for material
for the supreme bench.
The state OF Newly ork has generally
had one place in the court. Before JUS
tice Peck ham, Associate Justice Blatch-
ford was a member. At present Cover
nor Hughes is the representative Of the
Empire state on the supreme bench The
south has three places held respectively
by Harlan OF Kentucky. White of Louis.
lana aud Lurton of Tennessee.
President Taft has also considered
available material from west Of the Mis-.
sour river He had q talk few days
ago with ex-senator Chester ! Long of
Kansas, in which he cauvassed the
qualifications of u number of western
Judges, notable Circuit Judge Hook of
the Eighth circuit. who is n citizen of
Kansas. lie has also given some con
sidcratiop TO the pames of Judge Van
Devcntcr of the same circuit, who lives
~ Wyoming and Judge Sanboru of st.
Paul. Judge Sunhorn would probably
be favorably considered but for his
age. The president, however, ovor-
looked the age limit he has fixed when
nc considered the ease of Judge Lnrtou
and he may find it necessary to do so
when he weighs the qualifications of
Judge Sanborn.
Other Names Considered
The president is believed To have Civ.
en- serious consideration to tbe naming
of William j. Calhoun. present minister
to China Mr., Calhoun, whose home was
formerly al Danville, H.. had an OK
ccllcnt reputation as Il lawyer before he
entered the public service. He was
FIRST chosen by President Mckinley for
a special mission 10 Cuba. later per.
formed an important service for the
government in Venezuela. served as
member of Inc Interstate commerce
commission until he resigned TO enter
law firm in Chicago and gave up his
professional work ut the urgent solici- |
tatiou of President Taft to accept the
post Of minister 10 China.
Another pamc that is frequently |
heard favorab]y mentioned in conncc.
tiom with ore of the supreme court va
caucles is that of Frederick n. JudsUn
of ST. Louis. an able lawyer and long
time personal friend of President Taft, |
Secretary Nagel has also been consid !
cred.
There has been some speculation re-
ccutly as to whether Secretary Knox,
who is known 10 bc more or less dis. |
contcnted with the state department |
work, may bc offered the chief Justice
ship Having heretofore declIued Of
fcrs of appointment as associate jus
tice it is not believed that Secretary
Knox would accept any place on the su-
preme bench below tho chief Justice,
His closest friends doubt whether he
would care even TO have the higher
,N,co