Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-05-21

hour however, letter went to the President stating
that its writer could produce information to prove that
such appointment should not be made. Mr.. Taft
summoned the letter writer to the White House one
evening eight o'clock and talked the matter with
him for than three hours The next day the
mental machinery put into motion, an investigation
made, and the appointment went to the Senate
Instances of this pansaking care in choosing Judges
could be multiplied. From it has the Presidents
record of having appointed about many Democrats
as he has Republicans to the bench.
Western Senator called on him one day and began by
asking mir President is it true that political influence
has weight with you in the selection of for the
bench?'
at is replied Mr.. Taft
The Senator silent for moment, and then said in
tone of entreaty aWel anyway Mr. President l hope
you will at least name man from my State. | don't
ask that he be Republican. Just make him from
State
When Gordon RUSSELL then Democratic member of
the House. made United States District Judge in
Texas, Colonel Cecil Lyon, Republican national COM
mtteeman of the State shed bitter and laented
that the President had killed the hopes of the party
the South. But Taft, figuring that he had chosen the
best man for the place, was unmoved by the hows of
regret that rent the air.
No Pull or Friendship
THE President is as determined to keep personal OBJ
legation and affection out of his judicial cacuationsa
he is to disregard political pull in the matter. When he
announced the appointment of Horace H. Lurton of
Tennessee the Supreme Court of the United States
he said his only hesitation not making the selection
earlier had been his fear that unknd critics might
tribute the appointment to the lifelong friendship be-
tween them. He added that this fear had been over
come by his conviction that in Lurton he had found the
proper man for the honored post.
No man, more than Taft, dislike poor Judge.
But, having himself been Judge he believes going
to the limit in defense of members of the judiciary
who discharge their duties honestly and WELL This was
strkngly demonstrated in his speeches during the
pagn for the presidency He bitterly attacked be-
of of his decisions which had been construed
unfair to organized labor. Late one evening in
autumn, late that it almost dark he stood up in
his carriage in factory town in New York and spoke to
great crowd of union What he said in effect,
that he had handed down those decisions because
they right according to law that he had done his
duty constituting the law he had read it. and that
if votes refused him for doing his duty as an up
right and conscientious Judge, he did not have
the presidency
Those who made the campaign with him say that
speech the most effective he delivered
"You see, he explained, Il had my heart in it. be-
lieve in the law and the Judiciary
In the speech in which he described the appoint
of the United States Supreme Court as his
sacred function he voiced his theory of how Judges
should feel toward the and men brought before
them He said, Il believe that with all, Democrats and
Republicans, Republicans and Insurgents, who are
patriotic citizens, all tha-we are in favor
of having upon that bench who foes of nothing
but what wrong and in favor of equal justice every
whether that be organization of doing bust
under the law and using the nstrumentality of
corporation to promote the industries of the country
the humbest citizen struggling with his hands to
livelihood for his family"
Sizing Up Judicial Candidates
was pointed out the beginning of this article tits
only by going behind the at the White House
that anyone appreciate the great volume of work
President does for the country best men as
Judges More than he has sent for and said
to him.
"You are the only one in your district whom con-
No flo,