Evening journal., 1921-07-01
TAFT, c. J. ON
HIGH Court
Bench EARLY
CONTINUED from hrst page)

ne II lofIuer pFeclutnli udu octh
rejected by his opponents.
Senators Borah and johnson led
the fight on the floor in opposition to
Mr. Taft, while he was defended by
about dozen senators. including
Knox. Pennsylvania; Kellogg. Min
nesota. and willis. Ohio. Republi-
cans. and Underwood Alabama,
minority leader; Smith. South Cali
fornia; Overman. North Carolina
and Broussard, OF Louisiana, Demo
Gratis.
Senators Borah and Johnson were
understood to have centered their
tight on Mr.. Taft's legal training.
experience and qualifications Ac-
cording to reports altering out from
the senate chamber. Senator John
son was said TO have declared Mr..
Taft's appointment was purely
political" A similar charge. II was
reported, was made by Senator
Borah.
Reference was made. II 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
connection. IL was stated. Mr.. Borah
made the statement that having
taken an able lawyer from the
supreme bench four years ago and
made a politician OF him. IL was now
proposed to take a politician-a man
who has devoted practically his
mature life 10 politics and put him
on the supreme bench in the inter
est OF party politics"
The defense OF Mr. Taft, n was
said. was led by Democrats. Senator
Underwood said Mr.. Taft had made
himself beloved by the south" add
ing this sentiment was due largely
to Mr.. Taft's appointment. when
president, OF a southerner. the late
Chief Justice White. to the highest
judicial position Of the country.
Similar statements. It was reported,
were made by Senators Broussard,
OF Louisiana, the native state OF the
late chief justice.
Mr.. Tafts legal learning was
praised, It was said. by Senators
Knox and willis. the latter referring
10 his exr erielce o. the bench in
Ohio.
Southern senators. It was reported,
with the exception OF Mr.. Watson. Of
Georgia were sohdly behind the ap-
pointment
Mr.. Taft is the first man in the
nations history to be chosen for the
highest Office in both the executive
and judicial branches OF the govern
ment. For more than thirty years
prior to his retirement from the
presidency in 1913 he had been al
most constantly in public service.
throughout all OF his public
career. a hope that he might some
day become chief justice is said by
Mr.. Tafts close friends 10 have beer
the aspiration neare-t his heart Il
is said he always has felt himself
better ftted by temperament to serve
in the judiciary than in the execu-
tive branch OF the government. and
that when in 1910, fortune brough
him the opportunity TO appoint q
chief justice he would gladly have
changed places with the man h'
selected and now succeeds
During the world war. the formei
president performed several public
duties including the task OF helpinf
organize the war labor board. A
the signing OF the armistice he as
sumed a new prominence as a leader
in the movement for a world peace
concert and later brought down OF
his head some OF the bitteres
criticism OF his career by advocatini
ratification OF the League Of Nations
Republican senators were particul'
arly severe In their public denuncia
ton Of his course. and his effortl
to bring a compromise between th'
warning senate elements received
scant sympathy from the Republi
can senate leaders.
In the last presidential campaign
Mr.. Taft stood with his party how
ever. in its opposi TO-. to acceptance
Of the league in it's present form.
Mr.. Taft Is in his sixty-fourti
year and is said by his friends 10 b.
in robust health, despite the fac
that he has lost considerable weigh
= since he left the presidency.