The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1914-02-26
JUDGE LURTON
SEVENTY TODAY
Member Of Supreme Bench Is e.
igible to Retirement

Washington. ID. c.. Feb. 26.--Asso-
ciate Justice Horace II Lurton receiv-
ed congratulations from his colleagues
on the supreme bench today ON the
occasion of his SEVENTEEN birthday
anniversary. Justice Lurton A. a
native of Kentucky, out has resided
the greater part OF his life in Ten
nessec.
With the attainment of his seven
ticth year, Justice Lurton becomes
eligible to retirement from the bench.
1t has been pretty general rule
among the members of the court 10
permits them To retire with full pay
when they have reached the age of
seventy though in the case of a few
members who have been blest with
robust health they nave waived the
rule and have continued tn grace the
woodstock for several years after they
nave reached the ago of earned re-
tirement.
At this time there are two members
of the court eligible TO retirement be
sides Justice I.urton. They are Jus
tice Oliver Wendell Holmes who viii
he sevonty-twc years old next month,
and Justice McKenna, who was sew
cnty last August. In addition. Chief
Justice White will become eligible to
retirement next year, so that several
changes in the personnel Of the high
est court may take place before the
end Of President wilson's term of Of
fee.
Democrat Judge Successor
should three or even four of the
members of the court resign. retire OF
die during the next three years Pres
ident Wilson would probably appoint
Democrats To- succeed them.
AT the present time the Re
publican members outnumber the
Democratic members on the bench two
To- one, so that the appointment OF
as many as four Democrats would
give that party Il majority of only
enc.
Presidents have generally felt them
selves limited to their own party in
making appointments. In his APP
pointments of Justice Lurton and La
mar, both of whom are Democrats,
President Taft almost created a prece-
dent. The only other president who
stepped over party lines in selecting q
member of the supreme court was Ben
iamin Harrison. Just as he was about
to be succeeded by n Democratic pres
dent, Mr.. Harrison appointed his
friend, justice Jackson of Tennessee
to the bench.
Every president who has served his
full term of four years has had an
opportunity to appoint one or more
justices of the highest court. No APP
pointments were made by Presidents
William Henry Harrison, Taylor or
Johnson, but none Of these three
served a fun term of office Five is
the largest number Of justices APP
pointed by any one president. That
record was first established by Jack.
son, and later matched by Lincoln
Grant and Taft.
Supeme Bench Taft's Ambition.
The supreme bench has been an oh
iect of reverent admiration in Mr.
Taft's eyes, 1t is we'll known his per-
Sonal ambition led him in the direction
Of the supreme court, and if he had
had his way he would have preferred
to nave been an associate on the high.
est tribunal rather than to have taken
mis- place in the line Of presidents. AS
president he appointed to the bench
men who were known to be conserva-
tive and of unqucstioned legal ability
and reputation.
In the natural course Of events the
pr, sent administration is likely to
witness the disappearance from pub
lie life of several of the eminent pub
licists now numbered among the mem
Ders Of the supreme court. \ great
power thus will he vested i'm the hands
of President Wilson. II is to he eX-
pected that he will appoint lawyers
whose views coincide with his own
In other words, there will be placeo
upon the bench men who will inter
pref the law along the advanced lines
which Mr.. Wilson always has advo-
Gated.
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