The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1921-07-01
NOMINATION IS CONFIRMED BY
SENATE IN EXECUTIVE SESSION
Appointment Opposed by Borah,
Johnson, LaFollette
and Watson.
DEMOCRATS DEFEND
THE EX-PRESIDENT
Southern Senators With One
Exception, Solidly Behind
the Appointment.
tBy The AssoeIated Press.l

WASHINGTON. June 30.-Former
President William Howard Taft was
nominated late today by President Hard
ing to be chief justice OF the United
States and his nomination was confirmed
by the senate in executive session.
The nomination was not confirmed
without opposition. however, and a roll
call was demanded The opposition was
understood to have been voiced by Sena-
tor Borah, Idaho; Johnson, California, and
LaFollette, Wisconsin, all republicans.
who were said to have criticized Mr..
Taft's record and his nomination.
On the roll call, however, only four
votes were cast against confirmation.
These were by Senators Borah, Johnson,
and LaFollette, and Senator Watson,
democrat. Georgia
The final vote was sixty to four. An
agreement was reached not to make a
= public roll call.
The senates doors were closed for dis
.cussion OF the nomination after sugges-
tlons that MIR. Taft be confirmed in open
executive session because he is a former
president had been rejected by his op-
ponents.
Senators Borah and Johnson led the
fight on Mr.. Tafts confirmation, while
he was defended by about dozen sena-
tors, including Knox of Pennsylvania;
Kellogg OF Minnesota and Willis of Ohio,
republicans. and Underwood of Alabama,
minority leader; Smith of California;
Overman of North Carolina and Brous-
card Of Louisiana, democrats.
Senators Borah and Johnson were un-
derstood TO have centered their fight on
Mr.. Taft's legal training, experience and
qualifications. According to reports fill
xering out from the senate chamber Sem
atpr johnson was said to have declared
that Mr.. Taft's appointment was purely
Hpol3tlcal-" A SIMILAR charge it was re-
rporked. was made by Senator Borah.
Senator Johnson, 1t was stated, assert
led that Mr.. Taft had not regarded him
self as a lawyer. but as politician and
had abandoned his profession after
leaving the White House. The California
senator, 1t was reported, said he had tried
TO disregard personal objections to the
nominee and was voicing his opposition
solely because Mr.. Taft had lacked, for
nearly a generation or more, any legal
experience which would fit him for the
highest judicial post of the nation.
Reference was made, it was said, by
Senator Borah, to the drafting from
the supreme bench by the republican par
ty OF Secretary Hughes to become the
presidential candidate of the republican
party. In this connection, 1t was stated
that Mr.. Borah made the statement that
''having taken an able lawyer from the
supreme bench four years ago and made
a politician OF him, it was now proposed
to take politicians man who has de-
voted practically his mature life to poll
tics-and put him in supreme bench in
the interest of party politics.
The defense OF MIR. Taft, it was said,
was led by democrats, Senator Under
wood said that Mr.. Taft had made him
self beloved by the SOUTH" adding that
this sentiment was due largely to Mr..
Tafts appointment when president of
southerner. the late Chief Justice White,
to the highest judicial position of the
country. Similar statements, it was re-
ported, were made by Senator Broussard
of Louisiana, the native state of the late
chief justice.
Mr.. Taft's legal learning was praised,
1t was said, by Senators Knox and Will
lis, the latter referring to his experience
on the bench in Ohio.
. Senator Kellogg. it was said referred
te the position OF honor held by Mr.. Taft
" IN bar and similar associations.
Southern senators, 1t was reported.
with the exception of Mr.. Watson of
Georgia, were solidly behind the ap
pointment. Senator Smith of South
Carolina. 1t was stated, discussed the race
question. commencing Mr.. Taft. it was
said, for refusing to appoint any but
white men TO office in South Carolina.