New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-01-06
HOOK MAY NOT Be NAMED.
President Has Not Yet Selected
Justice HarIan'S Successor.
UNINFLUENCED BY PROTEST
Kansas Judge Still the Favorite,
but Choice Will Not Be Made
for Several Days.
From The Tribune Bureau. !

Washington, Jan. 5-The President has
not decided to appoint Judge William G.
Hook. of Kansas. to the Supreme Court.
He still has several names under consid-
GRAFTON. and will not reach a final decision
until after the return from Panama of the
Attorney General, which probably will he
about January II. These facts were made
known by the President to-day 10 callers
who asked about his decision. Among the
names the President has still under con-
sideratlon, in addition 10 that Of Judge
Hook. are those Of the Secretary Of Conn
merce and Labor, Mr.. Nagel, and Frank p.
Kellogg, Of Minnesota. The statement
that before his death Justice Brewer told
the President that Judge Hook was not
AZ man for appointment TO the Supreme
Court was denied by President Taft to-
day.
Purely as a sporting proposition. Judge
Hook is probably the best bet" but Mr..
Taft has persistently RETAINED from COM
hitting himself, and there is nothing to
prevent a change Of his present view az
any time. The protests against the APP
pointment Of Judge Hook have had little
weight with the President. In fact, he re-
CARDS them as far too much in the nature
OF the recall TO receive them with entire
patience. All the protests thus far re-
celved have been based on the Oklahoma
railroad rate decision. in which Judge
Hook held that reduction from a Scent
to a 2-cent rate was confscatOry That,
according 10 the President was ques-
ton OF fact. not Of law. and no one could
form an adequate judgment Of the opinion
without making himself familiar with all
the facts which led 10 il.
The fact that the decision was unpopular
does not appeal TO President Taft In the
least His idea OF fit judge Is one who
would render his decision wholly without
regard 10 popular sentiment, and the fact
that Judge Hook had the courage to do this
would count as a point in his favor with
the President. rather than against him. AS
10 whether or not Judge Hook formed a
correct opinion in view OF all the facts is,
of course. wholly different matter
The general report that the President had
decided in favor of Judge Hook IS explained
by the fact that talking to a man whose
opinion he valued and who was urging the
qualifications of Mr. Kellogg, the President
closed the discussion by asking whether
Ine NellOsS packer HOutStlJ DelleFeu lHdt
Mr. Kellogg would make a better Justice
than Judge Hook. from which Mr.. KeI-
ogg's friend appears to have drawn the
conclusion that the President had made up
his mind in favor OF the Kansas jurist.
There is no other duty connected with
his Office 10 which the President attaches
so much importance as the selection of
members Of the Supreme Court, and he
makes his decisions only after most
painstaking and tedious process Of elimina-
ton. It is, therefore. unsafe to base pre-
dctions en- any chance remark he may
make in that process, and It is a fact that
tonight the President does not know whom
he will appoint 10 the place made vacant
by the death of Justice Harlan.