The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1922-11-08
DAILY NEWS LETTER
PRESIDENTS INFLUENCE
 ON SUPREME COURT
By GEORGE R. HOLMES. International News Service Staff Cor
 

l Washington, Nov. 7.-Whether the | present adminjstration ends in 1924 or in 1928, the Initials ''W G. H." are going to te carved into the sacred wood of the United States Supreme Court bench for many HSsies to come. Fate sometimes plays strange pranks. In this instance it has twist l ed about to contrive a set of circum- stances in which, whether he wills it legal person if ever there was ono. seems likely to have a greater influ- ence upon the future of the nations | highest tribunal than any other Pres | ident in history.
 For the first time since the found | ing of the court in 17S9 1t seems wholly probable that a single Pres ident will have the honor and the re- sponsibility of naming a majority of the courts nine members. It is generally accepted that the court takes on the character of the men who sit on it, and MT. Harding's responsibility thus becomes all the upon American national life.
 \. Non two years of MT. Harding's has already had three vacancies to fill on the bench and it is wholly probable that there will be two moro before the country again goes to the polls to elect President. The death of Chief Justice Edward D. White was the first vacancy un- with William Howard Taft. Then John H. Clarke. the abby of the court, resigned to work for the League vacancy with George Sutherland. The latest resignation is that of Justice William K. Day. This vacancy is not yet filled, MT. Harding preferring to wait until after the election on No. venlber ' before making the appoint ment.
 The other two vancancies likely to take place while MT. Harding is in the White House are in the seats now occupied by Joseph McKenna and O1- fver Wendell Holmes. Justice Mo enna is @ years old; Justice Holmes is Fl. Both are long past the retire Ient age.
 It was currently reported around the Capitol two years ago that both Justice McKenna and Justice Holmes were considering retiring, but they preferred to wait until Woodrow Will son had passed from the White House.
 MT. Wilson passed and MT. Harding came in. but still these venerable Justices continued in the work that has so long been a. part of their lives It IS work too, for the crush of bug surfeited in recent years makes them all virtual slaves to the court
 There may be still a sixth vacancy
 
 Pitney, 64, appointed by then Pres !aent Taft in 1912, has been in poor health for some n1lonths and may be forced to retire.
 In this event. and should the ex- pected vacancies of Justices McKenna and Holmes occur, President Harding will have had the naming of two thirds or the United States Supreme Court-a responsibility that has been no other Presidents in history.
 The life of Oliver wandaJ1 r5oJy,o~. would furnish material for half q shows:
 "oIiyer Wendell Holmes. of Bos- Supreme Court of the United States. was born in Boston, Mass, March q, 1341, graduated from Harvard Cul. lege in 1961; July 10, 1861, was conn Twentieth Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry; Oc5ober 21. shot through the breast at Balls Bluff: March 2s tS62 thFoi, ,, o9nnissi9ned tba s.} captain; shot tember IT; shot in the heel at Maryes HeiEhts at Ere dericksburgh, on May lS63; on January 29, 1864, ap- pointed aide1da+Eeamlp to Brigadier- him until expiration of term of ser Vice; brevets as major, lieutenant colonel and colonel; Harvard Law lished twelfth edition of Rents Conn mentaries editor American Law Review practiced law tcok professorship in law school tIce of the Massachusetts Supreme Court appointed Associate Jus tice of the Supreme Court of the [ nited States by President Roosevelt in 1902.
 GNAT BITE FATAL.
 By International News Service.)