Evening star., 1916-06-12
PRESIDENT SILENT 4
ON BENCH SELECTION
Gives No indication of His
Choice of Successor to
Mr.. Hughes.
NOT LIKELY TO APPOINT
FORMER PRESIDENT TAFT
Mr.. Wilson to Consult Leaders Dur
ing Campaign, But Will Make
No Stump Speeches.

Whatever President Wilson is doing
toward picking a successor to Charles
E. Hughes on the Supreme Court bench
he is keeping to himself. 1t is expected
that delegations soon will begin to call
upon him in behalf of candidates from
the various states. many of whose
NAMES were presented at the time the
President selected Justice Brandeis.
The name of William H. Taft again
has been brought forward and Will re-
ceiye support in spite of the improb-
ability of his selection remarkable
tribute to Mr.. Taft, when the last
vacancy on the Supreme bench exist
ed. was the backing he obtained from
southern states. Hundreds of promi-
nent men wrote TO the President urg-
ing Mr.. Taft. and southern senator's and
representatives conf1dentially told the
President of the feeling in their states
that the former President should Dc
elevated to the bench.
President Wilson's View.
President Wilson at that time took
the position that the democrats upon
the bench were in woeful minority
and that he ought to nominate a DEM
the same reasons will guide him in
the nomination of man for the ex-
isting vacancy. There are at present
only three democrats on the bench.
Chief Justice White and Associate
Justices McReynolds and Brandeis.
with total of five republicans, AS
sociate Justices McKenna, Holmes.
Day. Van Devanter and Pitney.
The view is also presented that for
the President to nominate Mr.. TAFT
rrtr 1f~cs m
ing politics. owing to the opening Of
the presidential campaign.
Has High Opinion of John w. Davis
The President is known TO entertain
high opinion of John W. Davis. So
licitor general of the Department of
Justice, and about the only objection
urged against him is that his connec-
tion with a number of important cases
pending in the court would disqualify
him for a long time to come from par
ticipating in consideration of these
cases.
Representative Montague of vir-
ginia was strongly backed for the
court some months ago and nearly all
the southern states put forward their
ablest lawyers or jurists.
The President did not talk politics
| today. He had no political callers.
Beginning next week, when demo-
cratic statesmen and politicians ar
rive in Washington, the President
will keep in touch with things politi-
cal. He will confer frequently with
leading men of the party to gen.
eral conditions.
Although the President has made no
arrangements to go to Shadow Lawn,
his summer home. on the Jersey coast,
for the summer. and will not do SO un-
til Congress has adjourned. it is un-
derstood that he may go there to re-
ceive official notification of his nomina-
tion and to make his speech of ac-
ceptance. This will be done in def
erence to the wishes of his New Jersey
constituents.
Will Not Make Stump Speeches
Mr.. Wilson will not take the stump
for the campaign, but he has dates to
make number of speeches between
now and July 4, on which date he will
talk at the dedication of the new head
quarters of the American Federation of
Labor in this city Tomorrow he will
be in West Point, and will talk to the
graduates there. He VIII leave Wash
ington this afternoon and go up the
Hudson river tonight in the yacht May
flower. Wednesday morning he will
march in the preparedness parade, re-
view the marchers and make a speech
In the afternoon. He some time ago ac-
cepted invitations to speak in Philadel-
phia June %, and in New York June 80.
He may go to Detroit early in July.