Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1912-02-19
hAH|0NP|IN[Y MADE
ASSOCIATE JUSTICE
CHANCELLOR or NEW JERSEY
NAMED As SUCCESSOR TO LATE
JUSTICE HARLAN.
FIFTH APPOINTMENT TO HIGH
BENCH ~ PRESIDENT TAFT
Has Unusual Distinction Of Naming
Majority Of Members Of Supreme
Court and Elsvatine One Justice TO
Chief Justieeship - No Opposition
to Appointment Anticipated.

%.
today sent to the senate the nomina-
tion Of Chancellor Mahlon Pitney. of
New Jersey, to be an associate justice
Of the United States supreme court.
He also nominated julius NJ Mayer.
Of New York City, to be judge of the
United States district court for south
ern New York. and Ferdinand \. Geig-
er. of Cassville. Wis, to be district
Judge of the eastern district OF Wis
consin.
Washington, Feb. 19.-The nominn-
tion Of Mahlon Pitney. chancellor OF
the state Of New Jersey. to be an asso-
ciate justice OF the United States su-
preme court, will be sent to the senate
this afternoon by President Taft.
The statement that Chancellor Pit
ney would be named as the successor
of the late Justice John NJ. Harlan was
made at the White House today sub
sequent to call by John w. Grisgs.
former attorney general Of the United
States and q, delegation Of New Jersey
lawyers. all of whom spoke OF Judge
Pitney in tho highest terms.
The fact that Mr.. Taft probably
would select Chancellor Pitney did not
become known until last night and
then it was discussed only among some
of the presidents closest friends. I'm
usual efforts were made to guard the
secret and the president had planned
to send the nomination in today as a
complete surprise, Mr.. Taft does not
expect any opposition to the nomina-
ton.
When Chancellor Pitney shall have
been confirmed President Taft will
have had tire extraordinary experiences
of having constituted a majority Of the
highest tribunal in the land--a, bench
on which 1t had been his most exalted
ambition to serve as chief Justice.
In addition to naming five new JUS
tices on court OF nine President Taft
also had the distinction Of elevating
Associate Justice Edward d. White to
the chief justiceship. The five asso-
ciate justices named by Mr.. Taft were
Messrs. Lurtin, Hughes. Vandevanter.
Lamar, and Pitney.
Long in Public Life.
Mr.. Pitney was born in Morristown,
n. J.. Feb. 5. 1858, the son of Henry
c. Pitney former chancellor Of the
state He received the degree Of hache-
lor OF arts in Princeton in 1879. master
of arts in 1882, and doctor OF law In
1908. He was admitted to the bar In
1882 and began the practice Of law at
his native town. He was member OF
the fifty-fourth and fifty-fifth con-
gresses from 1895 to 1899, resigning
from the fifty-ffth congress Jan. 10,
1899. He was a member OF the New
Jersey senate from 1899 to 1901. and
was made president of the senate In
the latter year. Mr.. Pitney was an as
sociate Judge on the New Jersey gu
prerne court from 1901 to 1908. and
was chosen chancellor OF the state In
Meets Taft Requirements.
Chancellor Pitney has been under
consideration by the president for sew
eral weeks. Following protests against
Secretary Nagel. Mr.. Taft turned his
search from beyond the Mississippi
river, where he first looked for a
candidate. Chancellor Pitney and F.
J. Swayzc, Justice OF the supreme
court OF New Jersey. were two men
who gradually became most prominent
in the presidents mind.
The president had an opportunity to
talk with the New Jersey jurist last
week when ne was In Newark. Both
Chancellor Pitney and Justice Swayze
were guests at the luncheon given In
the presidents honor by Mr.. Murphy.
Chancellor Pitney sat beside the pres
ident and the impression he made on
the chief executive at that time was
reflected in Mr. Taft's speech at the
close of the luncheon.