The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1921-05-19
TAFT PICKED
TO SUCCEED
As JUSTICE
Hughes Name Linked With
Post but Appointment Not
Likely Because of Danger OF
Retarding Policies.
May PROMOTE JuRIST
fBy Associated Press)

WASHINGTON, May 19. - The
choice of successor to Edward
Douglas White, as chief justice of the
United States, was one of the most
widely discussed subjects today in Of
fetal circles Of the capitol, although
the speculation centered chiefly
around the name of former President
William Howard Taft. There were
many indications that President Hard
ing was far from a decision and might
find the selection a difficult one.
One of the first suggestions to come
to the surface in private discussion of
the subject among members cf the
senate who must confirm the nomina
ton was that Mr.. Taft had disqualified
himself while chief executive when he
said that no man over 60 should be
appointed to the highest court. Mr.
Taft will be 81 in September. All indi
cations pointed to considerable delay
in making the appointment. The
general impression was that nothing
ould be done prior to the re-conven-
ing of the court after it's summer
recess which begins June 6.
Link Hughes Name.
Another whose names has been
linked repeatedly with the highest
judicial post is Secretary Hughes, OF
the state department, a member of
the court until he retired in 1916, to
accept the Republican nomination for
the presidency. Since Mr.. Hughes
selection for the state portfolio a
story has persisted that he might be-
come head of the court in case of a
h,y%
tangible evidence that President Hard
ing intended TO appoint him.
One circumstance which now is gen
orally suggested as a barrier in such
transfer in the prominence already
assumed by Mr.. Hughes as secretary
of state. inview of the important
phases which the nations foreign af-
fairs are passing
1t is known that some of the presi-
dents closest advisors will ask him
not to change secretary of state just
as the new administration is f;nding
it's way in the development OF d for.
eign policy.
Suggest Promotion
In some quarters there have been
suggestions that a temporary solution
of the problem might by reached by
the promotion of one Of the present
/ justices. That would leave a vacancy
to which the president could appoint
some man whose experience be does
not consider qualified him now to be
chief justice. The names most fire.
quently mentioned in connection with
! a possible promotion are those OF
Justice Day of Ohio and Justice
Holmes of Ma ssachusetts
Should a promotion be made, the
vacancy thus created would be ex-
pected to so to George Sutherland. a
former United States senator from
Utah and former president of the
American Bar association During
the last campaign Mr.. Sutherland
served at Mr.. Harding's headquarters
in Marion.
BY selecting a present member OF
the court as chief justice Mr.. Harding
would follow a precedent set by Mr.
Taft in the appointment of Justice
White to head the court. Former
presidents Usually had selected the
chief justice without the courts mem,
bership having held that the system
of promotion. if followed as a general
policy, might lead to personal politics
among justices.