Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1910-11-11
GOVERNOR SLATED ~
TAFT FOR HEAD or ouPREME
COURT.
BEST FITTED FOR DUTIES,
PREsIpENr TAFT BELIEVES
huess' AGE Q Strong Factor in His Fa.
vor Root, White and Harlan Given
Consideration For Place Naming
Of Hughes Would Be Popular With
ceuntry-oniy 20 Years Of Age.

Washington, Nov. IL Charles E.
Hughes is President Tafts choice for
chief Justice Of the supreme court. The
president has been inclined toward him
from the first, and the longer he has
! considered available material the
stronger has become his belief that Mr..
Hughes Is the man for the place. The
appointment still is held open, but there
no longer Is much doubt but that
Hughes Will! be named.
There has been a disposition In some
quarters to regard Mr.. Hughes as too
incorporating and also q little too
progressive in his views for the place
OF chief Justice. The first criticism has
been voiced by one or two members Of
the presidents cabinet The second
comes from business men who appar-
emily have in mind Mr.. Hughes stand
for direct primaries and similar legis-
lation. The president has carefully con-
sidered both these so-called objections.
but they have NOT affected the favor
with which he regards New York's
former governor.
The president has satisfied himself
Mr.. Hughes is sound on fundamental
that is. on his views of the constitution
and that consideration IS placed be-
fore everything else in the selection OF
a member Of the supreme bench.
Others Under Consideration.
Elihu Root, Associate Justice Edward
ID White, and Associate Justice Harlan
are the most prominent among the
other chief justiceship possibilities All
OF them were seriously under consid-
Grafton at one time, but their ages were
against them. Mr. Harlan is now over
20 and eligible TO retire Mr.. Root and
Mr. White are each S5 years old.
The president has made up his mind
that he wants a man at the head OF the
court who can give fifteen or twenty
years OF hard service to the country.
He desires some one who can devote
his energy 70 bringing about reforms in
civil procedure in the federal courts.
The president often has voiced his de-
sire for such reforms and has formally
recommended that congress appoint
commission for studying the subject.
He has said:
Speaking generally, Improvement OF
the administration OF Justice civilly
and criminally. in the matter Of its
prompt dispatch and chespening it's
use for the poor man. is the most I'M
portant question before the American
people"
1t is understood It IS the presidents
hope the new chief justice Will devote
himself to wcrking reforms in equity
procedure
hushe. Of Suitable Age.
Mr.. Hughes fits In with Mr. Taft's
plan He is only 4s years old and has
twenty two years ahead OF him before
he will have reached the eligible re-
trement age and his capacity for work
is well known The president will ex-
pect his appointee to continue the
work OF reform even after the present
administration is over
There is another consideration that
has caused the president to turn to Mr.
Hughes He desires to name man
for the chief justiceship whose APP
pointment will be popular. He believes.
It is said that the naming of MI
Hughes would strike popular chord
and also that it might offset recent
criticisms Of the court.
The president will not announce any
Of his judicial appointments until he
sends them to the senate early in De-
cember He will have only about two
weeks after his return from Panama
until congress reconvenes and it is be-
lieved he has his mind pretty we'll
made up on other judicial possibiN
ties