Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1922-08-25
JUSTICE DAY
MAY RETIRE
Will Probably Occupy Time
Referee of Claims
Commission
Has been Associate Justice In Su-
preme Court for Twenty Years
Successor Predicted
(By Isaac Gregg

United States by Associate Justice
William R. Day is being forecast
here since Mr. Days appointment as
referee of the Claims Commission
that will adjudicate the claims OF
American citizens against the GoV-
ernment Of Germany.
In inner administration circles
here it is being said that Mr.. Day
who is now 70 year old, and who has
been an associate justice of the Su-
preme Court for nearly twenty years,
will. when the German Claims Com
mission is organized and starts to
function. occupy his time exclusively
with the affairs of the Commission
and will retire on full pay to when
Justice of the court are eligible after
they have reached the age oil
seventy years.
Speculation is rife as to the sue
cessor to Mr.. Day in the event OF
his retirement, the story which Is at
tracing the most attention being one
that might involve several changes
in the cabinet. 1t is said that Sec
retarv of State Hughes, feeling that
he has got we'll under way the most
important international projects OF
the Harding administration, yearn to
return to the Supreme Court. lie
will be appointed to the vacancy ere.
ated bv the retirement of MIR. Day, It
is said. and Secretary of the Interior
Fall. whose name was at one time
linked with the portfolio of Secre-
tarv of State, will succeed Mr.:
HUGHES Senator Harry S. New. or
Indiana, close personal friend Of the
President who was defeated for re-
nomination By. former Senator Albert
]. Beveridge in the Indiana primar-
les, viii become Secretary of the In
terror. according to this story.
Secretary Fall is regarded in
Washington as exceptionally well
equipped for the Office of Secretary
of State because Of his wide know
ledge of international law and be.
cause of his interet in international
affairs. He has made first-hand
study of the Mexican situation and it
would be assumed that his entry Ia
to the office of Secretary of State
would presage a new policy toward
Mexico on the part Of the United
States. although it would not ne
cessarily mean recognition OF. Mexico,
on anv other basis than that lald
down ty his predecessors, Secretary
Colby and Hughes.
Ever since Senator News defeat,
there has been talk that President
Harding would take care of him in
some way or another and IT IS well
known that if there Is anything
available in the way Of government
appointments Senator New could get
what he wanted. Not only this: but
it is konwn that New was offered
the post of Secretary Of War by
President Harding when he was
forming his cabinet, but New refused
it. This is the basis of the story that
New might succeed Fall as Secretary
of the Interior.
Not all the speculation about the
possible successor to Justice Day re-
wolves about Secretary Hughes, how
ever, Former Senator Sutherland Of
Utah. who was President Harding's
chief adviser during his campaign
and who occupies an extremely high
place in Mr.. Harding's regard IS
mentioned as a possible appointee
Mr. Sutherland was mentioned Tor
Chief Justice prior to Mr.. Taft's ap-
pointment and it was said at the
time that he was President Harding's
choice fer the place should Mr. Taft
have refused it.
Also because of the preponderancc
of Republicans on the court and be-
cause If tho absence of member
from the South. the name Of Senator
John X Shields, Of Tennessee is
being mentioned as the possible sue.
cessor to Mr.. Justice Day Of all the
Democrats in the Senate or nation,
the abilities of none are more highly
thought of by the President than
those of Mr.. Shields who was a
friend of the President when he was
in the Senate.
Associate Jutice Day was a close
personal friend of President McKin-
lev and was elevated by Mckinley to
the position of circuit judge for the
Sixth judicial circuit Shortly after
McKinlev's death a vacancy occurred
IN the supreme OOuIJ anu ILeS4ueiO
Roosevelt. both as a mark of res
pect for Mckinley and rs tribute
to the abilities of Mr.. Day appoint
ed him an associate justice in 1908.
Even when appointed, Day was a
feeble looking man and it appeared
then that he would not live many
wears. However, he has gone on now
for twenty years, going through the
arduous work and long hours of the
court, without faltering and without
letup. He has distinguished him
self on many occasions for his re-
markable clarity of thought and for
his knowledge of the law and prec-
edents. Although he is well past the
ape of retirement. he is still regarded