New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-07-01
Borah, Johnson, La Fol-
lette, Watson, Oppose
Former President I'M
Debate Before Vote
Expects to Take
Oath on July Z
Volume of Gases in Fed
eral Courts Prompted
President TO Act Quickly
From, The Tribune's Washim qton Bureas


WASHINGTON, June 30.-For-
mer President William Howard Taft
was today named Chief Justice Of
the United States by President Har-
ding. The nomination was sent to
the Senate at o'clock this after
noon and announced at the White
House shortly after that time. -.
Later the Senate confirmed the
nomination by vote of 81 to a on
a roll call. The nomination was con-
sldered in executive session, and
was not referred to committee. Sem
ators Borah, Johnson, of California.
and La Toilette, Republicans, voted
against confirmation, as did Senator
Watson, Democrat, Of Georgia.
Mr.. Taft will come to Washington
July Z, and plans to take the oath Of
Office at once.
Senators Borah and Johnson spoke
in the Senate behind closed doors in
opposition to confirmation. Senator
Borah made the principal speech.
He declared Mr.. Taft, whatever his
other qualifications, was not quail
he'd as lawyer for the high position
OF Chief Justice; that he had not
been active IN the law for thirty
years; that in all that time he had
not tried law suit or practiced law.
Senator Borah is understood to have
added that Mr.. Taft is now sixty
three years old, within seven years
from the time when by law he will
be presumed to be incompetent for
the bench.
Senator Borah Protests
In other words" the Senator told
the Senate, "you are taking man who
has spent his life in politics and put
ting him at the head of the greatest
judicial tribunal in the world"
Senator Borah protested that the sp-
pointment was not one to strengthen
the bench and said Mr.. Taft had not
even been willing when he left tho
Presidency to take his chances at the
law Instead. he chose a professorsh;p
and the Chatauqua platform.
-Four years ago, Senator Borah added,
the Republican party took brilliant
United States and put him into the
race for the Presidency. Now it is
proposed TO take a politician and put
him at the head of the bench He said
this sort of thing made the Republican
party chargeable with dealing with the
Supreme Court appointments politi-
cally.
Senator Johnson briefly protested
against the confirmation. Senator Knox
pleaded for the prompt confirmation OF
the nomination. He urged that no con-
troversy be aroused, especially because
the nomination was sure TO be con-
frmed.
Confirmed in Half Hour
Senator Smith, Democrat, of South
Carolina, said he would be untrue 70
the South if he did not vote for con-
firmation. He added that when Mr..
Taft became President he sent word to
the people of South Carolina that the
best elements of the state would be
recognized in appointments for Office
Senator Underwood, Democratic lead
er, supported confirmation. He re-
called that Mr.. Taft, as President, APP
pointed Chief Justice White, South
ern man. He felt Southern members.
therefore, ought to support him.
The fact that Mr.. Taft as President
did appoint Chief Justice White to
head the bench was large factor in
giving him the entire support of the
Southern members in the Senate, WITH
the exception of Senator Watson.
Senator Borah insisted on a roll
call and said that otherwise he would
ask that the nomination take the usual
course and be sent to the COMMITTEES.
Senator Nelson. chairman of the Ju-
dietary Committee, brought the nomina-
tion up and asked that the appoint
ment be confirmed. The Senate was en-
gagged for about half hour on ths
nomination and confirmation was
ordered shortly before o'clock.
Former President Taft is at present
IN Montreal, Canada, engaged in the
arbitration of railroad claims for the
Canadian government. 1t was an
nounced at the White House that nc
official :ntimation of his being chosen
has been given to the former President.
His name as sent to the Senate, read:
William Howard Taft, of Connect
icut-" Il is fact not generally known
tnat Mr. TAFT has maintained a voting
residence at New Haven, Conn, for :
number Of years.
Greatest Ambition of Life .,,.
Though unofficially aware of the
great honor bestowed upon him, Mr..
Taft has been in close touch by wire
and by telephone with friends here for
the last year, and it ia understood that
he was told over the telephone only
yesterday that his nomination would gu
| to the Senate to-day.
Mr.. Taft by the appointment achieves
! the greatest ambition of his life-to sit
| on the bench OF the Supreme Court as
F.! Chief Justice Of the United States. His
! close friends say that to the former
/ President the dignity of the Chief JUS
/ ticeship always held greater glamour
| than did the Office of President.
! Rumors of the naming of Mr.. Tafh
have been rife here for some time. and
il was indicated at the White Housa
to-day in connection with making pub
| lie the announcement that Presidents