The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1921-05-25
TAFT, HUGHES AND SUTHERLAND
TALKED Of FOR SUPREME COURT
By MARK SULLIVAN.
National Political Correspondent

OF The INTEL genCcr.
WASHINGTON, May "a. For tn" va
cancy in the Supreme Court rr"a;"d by
the death of Chief Justice White. the
only names that figure in IN" current
surmises of Washington are cN-ir"sl-
dent Taft. Secretary Of state tuIh"S'
and ex-senator George sutherland "i
Utah.
The speculation about Mr.. Hughes is
not wen founded. 1t is recognized that
there are obvious reasons why Mr..
Hughes should not be lifted out ~ on"
Of the three most important positions
in the United States. within twe!N"
weeks Of the time he entered II. Ana
20 the surmIscs that center around ham
nrs accompanied BY the qualification
that the court will soon adjourn for
tho summer anyhow. and that hughes
would not need TO leave the "fric" al
secretary Of state until September. But
Mr.. Hughes will be as Indispensable 1"
the state department in September as IL
IS in May. The responsibilities Of tn"
lob Hughes has taken hold Of are com
pick beyond the realization Of any en-
cept those who are close TO them. II Is
sufficient to say that there IS not III"
faintcst probability that President Hard
ing would be willing to lost his pres nj
secretary Of state either in May ar IN
September
May Be Taft
As to the other two. It >tiil remains
as true as IL has always been since
Harding was elected that "N-i'rrSid"nt
Taft il the man most strongly recon-
mended to the president in ia" event 81
what was then n potcntiahty and Is
now an actual vacancy IN the ONO" 81
chief justice of the Suprcm" cour;. II -
true that since the death OF WHIT" m;t'''
the matter immediate. some objections
TO Taft have been put forward. not III
the presence Of Harding, but IN IN" m
formal talk that such Il situation a.
ways give rise TO. l. is pointed out ihh'
TAFT is siXty-four years old. and that
Taft himself. when president. took the
ground that It is inadvisahlc to add any
man to the supreme court VINO ~ over
sixty. 1t is also pointed out that the
selection Of Taft would give the court
three members from Ohio: also that
Taft. although he has had abundant "N-
periencc as Il lawyer and judge. has
been out OF active practice Tor u con-
siderable period. Nevertheless. TAFT
stlll romans the man most strongly
recommended for the vacancy.
one OF the factors that rrCnmm' nl.;
Taft most highly is the wild" public
knowledge of him. TIL" very tact of
this public knowledge on III" part ct
great numbers Of pcopl" who HAY" seen
HIM and heard him speak ana Shnk"n
hands with him. would enable TAFT I"
contribute To the court II degree "f Ia
mil:ar publ" "uuid"nc" that another
man might tack through IN" MGR" a.
ridcnr of having had Il less public
career
If Taft should not Ia. 'h"s"u then II
can III" taken for granted that "I-S"na
tor Sutherland, OF Utah Will go on III"
bench. either as chief or as associate.
Also it can be taken for granted that f
Sutherland is not chosen for thu present
vacancy. he Will b" chosen for IN" next
that may arise. Sutherland is a mar Of
the very highest character and ability.
For ten years or NOR" il has "e"n the
habit Of many LAWYERS To- speak 81
Sutherland. Hughes and Root as IN"
COuntry'S three greatest lawyers Ia ac-
tive practice. ruhlU'lH. sutherland l.
l"sa we'll known than tn other two;
but those familiar With sui RANT =
legal knowl"dgc. with tn" accuracy and
justice Of his mind and with his per
sonal character. would welcome his ri"-
walton To tn" bench with very great
enthusiasm.