The Washington herald., 1913-11-09
With the Political Procession.
BY r. B. G.

As President Taft. Republican. gav'
commissions TO three Democrats now II
the United States Supreme Court. th'
wise ones hgure out that President VII
son, Democrat. can do the graceful
thing by giving his predecessor the mex
vacancy. II helps some. too. that th'
ex-fresident is now legal resident Of
Connecticut, as Ohio already has Justice
Day on the august tribunal and IL ha:
not oeen the rule to give State two
| justices.
President Taft promoted Justice Whit.
from Associate to Chief Justice and tool
justice Lurton from the Circuit bench
justice Lamar was chosen from Georgia
because of his record on the high court
OF the State. All three are Democrats
and proud OF the fact.
There would be general approval ol
the Taft appointment by a Democratic
PRESIDENT, and II is not generally known
that Taft declined three appointment,
TO the Supreme bench during the Nc.
hinley and Roosevelt administrations
Once he almost accepted when the ten
der came from Roosevelt, and carefully
consulted Senator Foraker about IL
Foraker had given Taft his first Judicial
once years before In Ohio. and besides
would have a word on confirmation.
As TAFT presented the proposition TO
Foraker II was explained that his great
ambition was to be Chief Justice, but
that 1t was the history OF the court
that no associate justice was ever pro-
NOTED to the highest honor. Taft had
remarked this to Roosevelt, who ex-
claimed that he would break the hoodoo
and promote Taft to Chief Justice II
a vacancy by death or retirement oc-
CURED while he was President This
looked rather good to Taft, who possibly
had more faith in Roosevelt promises
then than now, and he so informed his
home Senator adding that he probably
would accept. Something happened to
change the Taft mind. and instead of
accepting an appointment he became
President and gave the honor to four
Justices now in the Supreme Court. How
ever, with possible retirements during
the Wilson administration, there is a
prospect OF Judge Taft joining those
who rejoiced to receive commissions dur
ing his term.
Ex-senator Cockrell of Missouri, who
succeeds ex-senator Warner on the
Ordnance Board, was once offered ap-
pointment as Minister 20 Greece and by
a Republican President although Cock
rell Is very much an oid-fashioned DEM
ocrat President Taft was willing to give
Cockreil the Grecian mission, thinking II
would please in addition to paying a
salary, as the old Senator had a daugh-
ter married to a Greek statesman of high
degree who was once in the legation here
in Washington.
This plenipotentiary job did not appeal
TO the homespun statesman from Mis-
souri, even with a daughter to give him
cheer and he
home, and especially something with a
salary attached and duties not too oner-
Gus. For time he had a modest place
on the Mexican Boundary Commission.
but that hardly suited, and the loyal
Democrats OF Missouri, headed by Sem
ator Stone, finally secured the appoint
ment just given. There is something
ike Woo year salary. and hardly work
enough to cause worry or insomnia.
The place most desired by CockrelI some
time back was the Canadian Boundary
commission. which went to Carter OF
Montana and then to Towney of Min
nesota, but President Taft would not
give that desirable job TO a Democrat.
1t is pertinent to remark that Ssnator
Cockrell was seventy-nine years old last
month, but that does not worry him. ana
ne promises many more years Of ac-
uvity and officeholding. He served ex-
actly thirty years in the Senate going
out with the Roosevelt regular, coming
in March 4, 1905 Then came six wears on
the Interstate Commerce Commission
and now with the commission with little
10 do but sign for a salary.
Champ Clark is something of a his
torian himself, and when some one QUOT
ed the official Congressional biography Of
Allison, giving the Iowa Senator the
honor of having served longest in Con-
gress, the Hon. Champ disputed the
claim
He insists that Justin Smith Morrill,. of
Vermont, holds the record. not only for
long service, but for continuous service
as Allison was out a term between House
and Senate incumbency. Morrill, had six
terms in the House, going to the Senate
without a break
He was six times elected to full Senate
terms, and died December 2s. 1898, with
four years Of a term unserved He
served forty-three years and
nine months in Congress, and had he
lived would have served forty-eight
years continuously
Had Allison lived he would have ex-
ceeded the Morrill, record. as a full term
was awaiting the Iowa statesman AlIi-
son died August 4. 1905, and the differ
ence between August and December
gives Morrill, the record for longest serv- !
ce, continuous or otherwise.