The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1930-02-07
TAFT RESIGNS;
HUGHES NAMED
SICKNESS COMPELS C HI &
JUSTICE TO QUIT; GOES
TO HOSPITAL

Washington, Feb. 3.-Willian
Howard Taft, broken in health, re
signed today as chief justice o!
the United States and within a
few hours President Hoover sent
the nomination of Charles Evans
Hughes to the senate to succeed
him. Hughes promptly accepted
the prefer when reached by tele-
phone in New York by the Presi-
dent.
The highest Office in the nation,
next to the presidency, thus pass
ed with dramatic s~uddenness from
the only man in history who has
been both President and chief
justice to the only man in history
who left this exalted bench to.
run for president.
President Hoover knew when
Mr.. Taft went to Asheville, NJ. c.,
January IA, that his condition
probably would prevent his return
to his duties in the court. This
morning, Robert A. Taft, his son,
brought to the President the for
NAL note of resignation, and word
from DR.. Francis Hagner, Wash
ington, Mr.. Taft's physician, that
the chief justice is a pretty sick
man..
Nomination Surprise
Within the last 10 days Mr.
Hughes had been at the White
House and whether the possibility
of his succeeding Taft was men,
toned, the fact is that today Mr..
Hoover was prepared to send in
the nomination at once. 1t caused
the greatest surprise generally,
but the disapproval voiced by
Senator Borah and others at the
idea of Hughes returning to the
bench after his defeat in 1916 ap-
pears to have vanished through
the intervening years, five of
which Mr.. Hughes spent here as s
secretary of state under Harding {
and for a time under Coolidge. 7
Taft To Enter Hospital :
Taft is expected to return short
ly from Asheville and to enter Gar |
hospital here for treatment. l
He is suffering from complica- h
tions of bladder disorders, and r
was virtually forced by his. fam
lily and physicians to give up his :
heavy responsibilities and worries g
in the court. Not long before he F
went south, he laughed, with his c
chuckle, at rumor that n
ne would resign. il
He is 72, whereas, the unaging
Justice Oliver Wendell
Holmes who sat in for him as a.
presiding pustice in his absence So
s close to 80. Apparently Taft B
eft word with the President that fr
lie would send back his resigna- II
ion if he failed to recuperate as f.
lie hoped to do. The continued n,
allure of his health to improve in
inally convinced him that he Fl
must quit after his long career he
n public service. He is entitled r
o retirement, since the law al VI
ows it after a judge reaches 70 n
nd has been on the bench for 10 cc
ears, which need not be consec- y,
tive. Taft was a federal circuit n,
Judge in Ohio eight years, from th
1872 to 1900. Harding made him az
hief justice and the senate con- III
irmed him June 80, 1921. to
Washington, Feb. 4-William ar
Taft, who returned to a
Washington today critically i'll, w,
bowed a slight improvement in ~.
is condition tonight. 1t was not
Efficient, however, to decrease ap
reciably the grave anxiety over u
is condition. IL
A two-hour visit to his home LIZ
lis evening by DR.. w. S. Thay-
;, Baltimore heart specialist, and l.
rs. Thomas A. Clayton and Fran
8 Hagner, of this city, resulted
the issuance of the following
1lletin at 7:10: :,
His condition is due to arterio ~.
changes. He is free OF a.,
yer and not suffering pain. His %.
cart is holding out well. He Is ~
little more alert. We feel he is ~,
a little better" -