The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1921-07-05
E0pNEE RDTCTNTAgT
CHIEF JUSTICE
WILLIAM HOWARD TAFT TO
HEAD HIGHEST COURT
Only Four Votes Cast IL Negative
With Three Score in
Favor

Washington, June 30.-Formcr
President William Howard Taft was
nominated late today by President
Harding to be chief justice CT the
United States and his nomination was
confirmed by the senate in executive
session.
The nomination was not confirmed
without opposition, however, and sa
roll call was demanded. The opposi-
ton was understood to have been
voiced by Senator Borah, Idaho, john
son, California, and La Toilette, Wis
consin, all Republicans, who were
said to have criticised Mr.. Taft's rec
ord and his nomination.
On the roll call however, only four
votes were cast against confirmation.
These were Senators Borah, john
sand and LaFollette. and Senator
Watson, Democrat, Georgia.
The final vote was SO to a. An
agreement was reached not to make a
public roll call.
The senate's doors were closed for
discussion of the nomination after
suggestions that Mr.. Taft be con-
frmed in open executive session, be-
cause he is forner president had
been rejected by opponents. Scna-
tors Borah and Johnson led the fight
on the floor in opposition to Mr.. Taft,
while he was defended by about a
dozen senators, including Knox. Penn
sylvania; Kellogg of Minnesota and
Willis of Ohio, Republicans, and Tn
derwood of Alabama, Democrat min-
ority leader; Smith Of California,
Overman of North Carolina, and
Broussard of Louisiana Democrats.
Senators. Boras and johnson were
understood to have centered their
fight on Mr.. Taft's legal training, OK
perience and qualifications. Accord
ing to reports filtering out from the
senate chamber, Senator Johnson
was said 70 have declared that Mr..
Taft's appointment was purely polit-
ical." A similar charge, it was re-
ported, was made by Senator Borah.
Senator Johnson, it was stated, as
serted that Mr.. Taft had not regard
ed himself as lawyer but as q poll;
tician and had abandoned" his pro
fession after leaving the White House.
The California senator, it was report
ed, said he had tried to disregard per
sonal objections to the nominee and
was voicing his opposition solely be
cause Mr.. Taft had lacked, for nearly
a generation or more, any lcga! cX-
perience which would fit him for the
highest judicial post OF the nation.
Reference was made, it was sad,
by Senator Borah TO the "draftl@g
from the supreme bench by the Re
publican party Of Secretary Hughes
to become the presidential candidate
of the Republican party. IN this con-
nection it was stated that Mr.. bor&h
made the statement that, having
taken an able. lawyer from the sd
preme bench four years ago, aad
made politician of him, il was now
proposed to take politician man
who has devoted practically MS ma
ture life to politics-and put hm or
the supreme bench in the interest Of
party politics
The defense of Mr. Taft, it was
. said, was led b. Democrats, Senator
Underwood said that M. Taft had
made himself beloved by the South,
adding that this sentiment WAS due
largely 10 Mr.. Taft's appointment
when president Of q Soutscrncr, tn"
late Chief Justice White, to the h.%h-
est judicial position Of the couHtry,
Similar statements, il Was renorted,
were made by Senator Brouss&Cd Of
Louisiana. the native state Of The yat@
chief justice.
Mr.. Taf:'s legal learning was
praised, it was said, by Senators hnaN
and Willis, the latter referring to his
experience On the bench in Ohio.
cop.+cr Kriiaro = vaS said ,.e-