The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-12-21
HOOK LIKELY TO
SUCCEED HARLAN.
Kansas Jurist Favored by Taft
for Supreme Court
Vacancy.

| VoSutSJ.
! Washington, December 19-lnforma.
ton from trustworthy sources 10 day
| Is to the effect that President Taft has
practically determined to appoint Judga
William c. Hook, Of Kansas. now ON
The bench of the Eighth United States
Circuit. to the vacancy OH tho Supreme
court caused by the death of Associate
Justice John NJ. Harlan. The matter
Is not yet definitely decided, however.
| and there is still some chance that the
appointment may go to Charles Nagel,
Secretary OF Commerce and Labor Ii
| Is understood that Attorney General
Wlckersham has vigorously indorsed
tho, candidocy OF Secretary Nugei, and
Is making great effort to effect hia
| colleagues promotion.
President Taft has O fondness for
Judge Hook. Moreover the President
mas mado personal study OF the
moro important opinions rendered by
Judge Hook, and is in accord with
them. The President wos much pleas.
ed with the opinion written by the Kan
sus 1urist IN the standard OH case, and
liked even better Judge Hooks dis.
ssnting opinion in the Hartman NOR
ger case. 1t will be recalled that tho
Hartman suit was decided by the Cir
| cult Court adversely to- the govern
| Inent, but by u divided bench. In the
standard Oil case the -four circuit
| Judges were unanimous
In the merger suit Judges Sanborn
and Adams decided against the gov
ernment. and Justice Yandevanter,
now of the Supreme Court. then a
member OF the Eighth Circuit bench,
concurred. Judge Hook dissentcd, and
II is understood here that It was large.
iy because of that dissent that the ad-
ministration decided to appeal the
n IN ha Co.,
caEea come ON for argument on Fob
runry 10 Il 10 expected that the gov
eminent will closely follow Judge
Hooks dissenting opinion.
once before Judge Hook waH very
near appointments to the Supreme
bench. but the appointment wont to
Justice Eandevanter. There had been
strong Recommendation OF Judge
HOOK by the reguiur Republican mem
, hers of the Kansas delegation in Con-
gross, and inaurgent opposition did nor
count much at the White Houac. The
matter went so far that tclegrams
were sent to Kansas. at the Instance
OF the White House. for certain ma
terial TO be used in connection with
the announcement OF the appointment
OF Judge Hook. But before the an
nouncenent Senators Warren and
Clark. both OF Wyoming. interviewed
and Influenced MIR. Taft on behalf of
Justice Nandeventer, who is q Wyom-
ing man. Senator Clark is chairman
OF the Senate Committee on Judiciary.
ana that fact alone would ave HIS
Recommendation material weight on a
question OF judiciary appointment
Senator Warren Is chairman OF the APP
preparation Committee, and has lonp
Deen power with Republican admin
| istrutions.
Besides this influence there was a
| single other point on which tho Pres
iocnt was not quite satisfied about ap-
pointing Judge Hook. and his selection
| finally rosted on Judge Vandeyanter
| Now all tho former influence in behalf
| OF Judge Hook has been exerted with
Increased activity. and there Is the add
| ed factor OF his dissenting opinion in
the Hartman merger case. Moreover,
| some Roadway has been made in over
! coming the single point on which the
president was unsaushed year ago
| Not only are the Kansas Regulars,
like Senator Curtis and Representatives
| Anthony and Campbell, standing urm-
| ly behind their candidate. but there Is
! a very wide and influential recon-
mendation of the Kansas jurist from
i distinguished lawyers of the Eighth
| Circuit and from prominent men in
| other professions. Altogether hard
effort mas been made to convince the
Presiden; that Judge Hook Is the man
for the place. and the President has
been willing listener.
| Opposed to these advocates la the
unquestionably strong influence Of At
torney- General Wickersham with the
| administration. Mr.. Wickersham in
| Secretary Nagel, has Endorsed candi-
date who Is very popular ana who has
high reputation for possessing the
| qualities that make for SUCCESS an tho
| Supreme bench.
He has had wide experience at tho
| bar. In training and reputation Sec
rotary Nagel Is recognized as an emf
nently ht man for the appointment
There Is only ono point against him,
| and that Is his age. The President han
made known several times his deter
rtnation not to appoint any man 20
the Supreme Court who 4s more than
sixty years of age, and Mr. Nagel ,s
, sixty-two.
Judge Hook was born In Pennsyiva-
MIA In September, 1857. and Is now
ntty,four years of age. He was edu-
| Gated st LeaVenworth, Kan, where he
has had his home since his boyhood,
and graduated from the St Louis Law
School In 1878, six years after Secre-
tary Nagel had graduated from the
same school. He was appointed dis
trict judge for the Kansas district In
1872 ana TOUR years later was pro-
| noted to the circuit bench.
Secretary Nagel was born In Texas
on August Q. 1919, was educated at st.
Louis and abroad. taking courses IN
Roman law and political economy at
the University OF Berlin. He practiced
his profession at st. Louis, and from
1855. antil he entered President Taft
cabinet In 1909, was q lecturer at tho
st. Louis Law School. He took an ac-
tivs part In the campaign for the
election of President Taft