The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1921-07-06
William Howard Taft to Head Coun-
try's Highest Court. Senate An.
prOyal After Nomination.

washington, June 30.-4Former Pres
ident William Howard Taft was nom
mated late today by President Hard
ing to be chief justice of the United
States and his nomination was con
firmed by the senate in executive ses-
sion
The nomination was not confirmed
without opposition, however, and a
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 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, john
son and La Toilette, and Senator Wat
son. Democrat Georgia.
The final vote was 60 to 4. An agree
ment was reached not to make a pub
lfc roll call.
The senate's doors were closed for
discussion OF the nomination after
suggestions that Mr.. Taft be con
nrmed in open executive session, be-
cause he Is a former president. had
been rejected by opponents Senators
Borah and Johnson led the fight ON
the fioor in OPPOSITION to Mr.. Taft,
While he was defended by about a
dozen cpnDtnre
sylvania; kellogg Of Minnesota and
Willis Of Ohio, Republicans, and IN
der"ood OF Alabama, Democratic mi
nority leader; Smith of California,
Ovcrman Of North Carolina, and
Groussard of Louisiana, Democrats.
Senators Borah and Johnson were
understood to have centercd their
fight on Mr. Taft's legal training.
experience and qualifications. Ac-
cording to reports filtering out from
the senate chamber Senator johnson
was said to have declared that Mr..
Tafts appointment was purely .polit-
ical." A similar charge, it was report
ed, was made by Senator Borah.
Senator Johnson, it was stated, as
serted that Mr.. Taft had not regarded
himself rs a lawyer but as a politician
and had abandoned" his profession
after leaving the White House. The
California senator, it was reported
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
generation or more, any legal ex-
perience 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 Re-
publican party OF Secretary Hughes
to become the presidential candidate
Of the Republican party. In this con-
nectlon 1t was stated that Mr.. Borah
made the statement that, having TAX
en- an able lawyer from the supreme
bench four years ago. and made a
politician OF him, II was now proposed
to take a politician-a man who has
devoted practically his mature life to
politics-and put him on the supreme
bench in the interest OF party politics."
The defense OF Mr.. Taft. it was said
was led by Democrats. Senator IN
derwood said that Mr.. Taft had made
himself beloved by the South" add
ing that this sentiment was due large
ly to Mr.. Tafts appointment when
president Of a Southerner, the late
Chief Justice White, to the highest ju-
dicial position OF the country. Similar
statements, it was reported, were made
by Senator Broussard OF Louisiana,
the native state Of the late chief JUS
tice.
Mr.. Tafts legal learning was prais-
ed, it was said, by Senators Knox and
Willis, the latter referring to his cx
perience on the bench in Ohio.
Senator Kellogg, it was said, re-
ferred to the positions Of honor held
by Mr.. Taft in bar and similar asso-
Citations.
Southern senator's. it was reported,
with the exception OF Mr.. Watson Of
Georgia, were solidly behind the APP
pointment. Senator Smith, South
Carolina, 1t was stated. discussed the
race question, commenting Mr.. Taft,
it was said, for refusing to appoint
any but white men to office in South