New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-05-20
Taft Or Hughes
Sugges sted to
Succeed White.
Ex-senator Sutherland Is
Also Mentioned for u. S.
Supreme Court Place;
Harding Will Take Time
May Hold OF Until Fall
Washington Revives Talk
That the Secretary of
State VIII Be Appointed

From The Trt6.ne's WeshinesoN Bureau
WASHINGTON, May 19.-It was in
dicated at the White House to-day that
it Is extremely improbable the Presi-
dent will name a successor to Chief
Justice White, who died early this
morning after an operation in hos
pital here, before September. 1t is
pointed out here that the Supreme
Court, has practically completed its
calendar for the term, that adjourn
ment will take place in June until Oc-
tober and that no real necessity exists
for the immediate naming OF 6 Chief
Justice. While the name of former
President Taft is the first suggested
by those speculating on the identity of
the late jurist's successor, it is felt at
the White House that the President
will give long and serious considera-
tion to the appointment before naming
any one.
Expressions of doubt are heard in
certain quarters regarding the expedi-
ency of the President naming Re-
publican to the post. The membership
Of the Supreme bench in the event Of
Republican being named would con-
stitute six Republicans and three
lived the count stood Ave to four. It
is not known here whether this factor
will influence the President in choosing
a Judge to succeed Justice White.
1t is not necessary that the President
choose chief justice outside the pres
ent membership of the Supreme Court.
In the event that he elevates one Of the
justices, then the Presidents problem
of filling simply vacancy on the Su~
preme bench is bit simpli6ed.
Former Senator George Sutherland,
of Utah, has been frequently discussed
as q Supreme Court possibility, while
the name of Secretary of State Charles
z. Hughes for Chief Justice occurs
naturally as fitting selection for the
high position just left vacant by the
death of Chief Justice White.
Friends of Mr.. Taft to-day expressed
a great deal of confidence that he
would be chosen for the chief justice
ship. Some even went so far as to as
sert that he had been promised a place
on the Supreme bench by Mr.. Harding.
Mr.. Taft has g great number of
warm supporters for the honor, and he
also has some outspoken opposition.
Progressive Republican and Progressive
party elements Of eight or ten years
ago have not entirely forgotten what
came to pass then, and there is already
talk in Senate circles that il Mr.. Taft
is appointed he will have opposition
for confirmation.
SO far as Senator Sutherland is con-
cerned, his relations with President
Harding are close. He was an adviser
of Mr.. Harding in the campaign and
was at Marion much of the time.
Friends Of Mr.. Sutherland say they ex-
pect him to be put on the Supreme
bench, but it does not necessarily fol-
cancy. Oae suggestion freely made is
that Justice McKenna be made Chief
Justice and Mr. Sutherland be made an
associate justice, with view to even
tual promotion to the Chief Justice
ship.
All manner of gossip Is current with
respect to Secretary Hughes and the
Chief Justiceship. II is recognized
among lawyers that his choice would be
q creditable one. One view Of tho mat
ter is that the President will rot ask
Secretary Hughes TO reiinquish his
duties to accept the post OF Chief JUS
tice.
The President has indicated Sxankly
on more than one occasion the conf
dence and pleasure he feels in the man
ner In which Secretary Hughes is di-
recting the conduct Of foreign relations.
On the other hand, report has been
going the rounds for some time, and it
has been revived since Chief Justice
White died, that the next Chief Justice
would be Mr.. Hughes, and that IL Mr..
Hughes went TO the bench, Secretary Of
the, Interior Fall would become Secrc-
tary Of State. In some quarters to-day
this report was given complete credit.
The gossip further stated that the
President would keep the Office of Chief
Justice open until next fall, and that by
that time Mr.. Hughes would have car
ried his foreign relations program to a
point where it could be turned over 70
successor without embarrassing the
Administrators.