Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-02-19
New Jersey Chancellor Nomi-
mated for Supreme Court.
SUCCESSOR TO HARLAN
Selection Had Been Strongly Urged
by Senator Briggs.
WHY HOOK WAS DROPPED
Nominee Is Fifty-Four Years Old
and Is Ranked High Among
the Jurists of His State.

Mahion Pltney, chancellor of the court
of chancery of New Jersey was today
nominated by President Taft as asso-
ciate justice of the Supreme Court of
the United States to fill the vacancy
caused by the death of Associate Justice
John M. Harlan.
He also nominated Julius NJ. Mayer of
New York city to be judge of the United
States district court, southern New York,
and Ferdinand A. Geiger of Cassville
WIS.,, to be district judge, eastern district
Of Wisconsin
Chancellor Pitney's nomination will be
surprise to many Of those who have
been following the consideration by the
President of the Supreme Court vacancy.
Mr.. Pftney's name had been occasionally
mentioned for the honor, but 1t was not
until a few days ago that the President
practically decided upon his nomination.
Senator Briggs of New Jersey has been
urging the President for week to select
Chancellor Pitney and few days ago
was told that the President would prob
ably nominate the New Jersey jurist. The
actual decision to send the nomination
to the Senate was definitely reached this
morning, after Senator Briggs had an
other conference with the President.
Why Judge Hook Was Not Chosen.
Judge William c. Hook Of Kansas, of
the eighth circuit, was picked for the
place at one time. and his nomination
would have gone to the Senate ten days
ago had it not been for large number of
protests that reached the White House
against the nomination, based upon de-
cisions rendered by Judge Hook One of
these involved the two-cent railroad rate
In Oklahoma. and the other involved the
Jim crow car law Of that state. 1t was
the 'jim crow decision that produced
the most vigorous protest. Senator Cur
| tbs and Representative Anthony of Kansas
worked hard with President Taft to get
him to nominate Judge Hook.
They presented hundreds of letters and
kilograms and filed various explanations
Of these decisions Another fact that in
f1uenced the President against Judge
Hook was the charge that the judges
son was a member Of the law firm that
represented the railroads in the Okla
honna rate case. The claim was made
that young Hook was merely q clerk In
the once Of the attorneys. but this was
not shown satisfactorily Senator Cur
tis stuck by Judge Hook until this morn
ing. when he saw the President In a final
effort to have the Kansan named.
Favorable to Nagel.
Secretary Nagel of the Department of
Commerce anud Labor also was believed
at one time to be certain of the nomina-
tion. He> was supported by Attorney
General Wickersham and the entire cabi-
net. The President himself was dis
posed to select Mr.. Nagel, but in the end
the age OF mr.: Nagel; sixty two. pre-
been opposed to appointing any man to
the Supreme Court above sixty years of
age.
Chancellor pitnev's Career
Chancellor Pitney was born at Norris
town, N. j., February 5, 1883 and is a
son of ex-Vice Chancellor Pitney, de-
ceased. He obtained his early education
In the schools of his native town and en-
tered Princeton College in 1875 and was
graduated in 1879 Upon graduation he
at once began the study of law in the
office of mis- father. who was then prac-
ticing in Morristown. He was admitted
to the bar as an attorney In June, 1882,
and became a counselor-at-law in 1885,
He opened an Office in Dover, Morris
county, In 1882, and remained there until
1889. when he returned to Morristown,
where he practfced law until his eleva-
tion to the bench of the Supreme Court
He acted as temporary chairman of the
| republican state convention in 1895,
which nominated John w. Griggs for
governor. He was elected to Congress
in 1884. in the old fourth district, by
plurality of 1,iO7 over Johnston Cornish,
although the district was considered
democratic. In 1896 he was reelected by
the increased plurality of 2,977. his own
county (Morris) giving him plurality of
3.6S. despite the fact that his democratic
opponent. Augustus w. Cutler, was also
a resident of that county. In 1893 he was
elected to the state senate from Morris
county by plurality of S31. In 1900 he
was the majority leader on the floor of
| the New Jersey senate, and in 1901 he
| served as president of the senate
He always took an active part in legis-
lation both in the national House of Rep
| resentatives and in the state senate Feb
ruary 5. 1901, Senator Pitney was nomi-
mated by Gov. Vorhees for justice of the
supreme court of New Jersey to succeed
Justice Gummere. resigned to take effect
| November IL. 1901, and the nomination
/ without reference. was at once confirmed
1 by the state senate. Mr.. Pitney was
| sworn into office November 49, 1901, for q
| term Of seven years. January % 1908,
| the justice was nominated as Chancellor
| by; Gov. Fort, and his nomination was at
once confirmed by the senate for a term
of seven years He was appointed to sue
ceed Chancellor Magic. His term will ex-
i~~s~ To- n1