Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-12-28
HARLAN VACANCY
FOR KANSAS man
William Gather Hook Likely to
Be Named Supreme Court
Justice.
IS THE CHOICE OF TAFT
Judge Carpenter May Succeed Gross
cup on Chicago Federal Cir
cult Bench.

Washington, Dec. 2S.-William
Gather Hook of Kansas, United
States judge for the Eighth judicial
circuit, in all probability will be ap-
pointed to fill the vacancy on the
| United States supreme court created
! by the death of Associate Justice
Harlan.
President Taft called upon Chief
Justice White and is understood to
have discussed with him the advis-
ability of nominating Judge Hook.
The chief justice offered no objec-
ton. Unless events arise in the
next few days to change the presi-
dents decision, Judge Hooks nom
nation will be sent to the senate i'm
mediately after congress reconvenes
next week.
Judge Hooks selection drops
from the running for this important
post Secretary of Commerce and La
! Dor Nagel, Frank B. Kellogg of st.
Paul and other lawyers of reputa-
ton.
Mr.. Nagel was backed by Attorney
General Wickersham and by large
number of prominent men who re
garded him as eminently qualified to
sit in the highest court In the land
KELLOGG FOUND TOO AGGRESSIVE
Mr.. Kellogg never was a candi-
date for the Office, but his friends
Throughout the country deluged the
president with recommendations fol
his appointment In view of the
way Mr.. Kellogg handled the Stan
dard Oil case and other matters in
trusted to him by the government
!. and the frequent calls the presiden
made upon him for advice in con
nection with proposed or pending
legislation, it was not necessary tt
convince Mr.. Taft Of his capacity
But Mr.. Kellogg is too progressive
for the standpat interests of the
party.
! MIR. Hook, on the other hand, il
acceptable to both sides. When hi
was a candidate for the supreme
court a year ago he had the indorse
ment of Senator Bristow of Kansas
and other progressives. During
these last few weeks representative
of railroads, including the Santa F.
and the Chicago and Northwestern
are said to have been in Washing
ton in Judge Hooks interest.
SOME SIGNS OF OPPOSITION.
Judge Hooks friends say h,
knew nothing of what the railroad
were doing, but the matter has beel
called to the attention of the pro
gressives and may cause them to con
slider the advisability of withdrawing
their recommendation, or at leas
opposing the nomination should i
be transmitted.
Judge Hook was born in Waynes
burg, Pa, in 1857, and is thus wei
within the limit of so years fixed OF
: iginally by President Roosevelt an,
assented to by President Taft as tn,
maximum age for supreme court ap
pointees. Mr.. Taft violated thi
, rule only once and that for the bene
ht of his lifelong friend. Associate
, Justice Lurton.
Mr. Hook practiced law in Kan
sas for ,21 years and from 1899 Il
1908 was United States distric
Judge for the district of Kansas. H
was promoted to a United State.
circuit judgeship for the judicia
circuit In 1903.
NO CHANCE FOR ILLINOIS MAN.
His appointment would leave tn
states CT Illinois, Indiana and WIS
consin, comprising the Seventh ju
dicial circuit, without representa-
tive on the supreme bench. Thi
circuit is presided over by Justic
Day, vac is a native of Ohio. /
was fssired by the president tina