Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-02-03
Harlan F. Stone, Coolidge
and Hughes Are Mentioned
as SucCeSSorS-DeCiSion
Expected to Be Deferred.
COMPLETE COURT CHANGE
REGARDED AS PROBABLE
Relaxation Sought by Jurist at
Asheville-Will Return to Capt.
tai TomOrrow-Sutherland May
Be Forced to Retire, Due to
Physical Condition.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
William Howard Taft, broken
i'll health by years of labor for
the nation, has resigned the ex-
allied post of Chief Justice of the
United States.
Through his son, Robert A.
Taft, he submitted his resigna-
ton today to President Hoover,
while he himself prepared to re-
turn to Washington from Ashe-
vile, N. c., where he went sew
eral weeks ago to recuperate
from a near-breakdown.
CHER Justice Taft is a pretty sick
man." DR.. Francis Hagner of Washing
ton, his personal physician, said In
ASheville today.
Mr. Taft is very weak and he is not
improving" DR.. Hagner said, land as
he is not improving we feel that it
would be safer to get him back to
Washington"
Although the resignation came sud-
denly. so far as the public at large was
concerned, those in the inner circle of
the Supreme Court had been expecting
for several days that the former Presi-
dent would be compelled to give up his
exacting duties on the bench.
He had seemed worn and worried for
weeks, and 1t appeared to be only a
matter Of time when successor should
be named. Who that successor will be
remains to be seen, because President
Hoover has not yet accepted Mr.. Taft's
resignation.
Coolidge Is Mentioned.
Nevertheless, Immediately upon an
nouncement of the Chief Justices res
ignation names began to crop up in
profusion as to successor.
Besides those already on the highest
tribunal, including Justice Stone, there
came into the picture Calvin Coolidge,
another former President, and Charles
Evans Hughes who once served on that
august tribunal.
Those familiar with presidential and
Supreme Court procedure, however, ex-
pected that President Hoover would
consider for some time before making
a selection.
Chief Justice Taft was a sick man
recently when he went to Cincinnati
to attend the funeral of his brother,
Charles p. Taft, the publisher.
On his return to Washington It vas
apparent to both his friends and to bis
physicians that he must have a period
of complete relaxation and he was per-
Suaded to go to Asheyille for a rest.
He seemed to recuperate there, but his
sudden decision to return to Washing
ton was a signal to those who knew
him that he had made an important
decision.
Reorganization Held Probable.
The Importance of the resignation lies
in the probable reorganization of the
court. At present always five and often
six of its nine members are called con-
servativ. Justice Stone has been aligned
with Justices Holmes and Brandeis in
many of their dissenting opinions and
would be expected by those who are
familiar with his trend of mind and
views to be what Is known in court cir
cles as progressive.
There is a possibility that during the
administration of President Hoover the
court may be completely changed. Jus
tees Holmes and Brandeis are both
eligible for retirement, but both intend
to remain upon the bench indefinitely.
Justice Vandervanter is said eligible for
retirement and has been remaining on
the bench at the earnest solicitation Of
his colleagues.
During President Hoover's admins
tration, should he be reelected, he will
have the appointment of more than
majority of the members of the court.
Justice Sutherland has long been in
i'll health, and, while he has improved,
it is expected that he will, unless his
physical condition materially improves,
be forced to retire in the near future.
1t was recalled that when President
Hoover was making up his cabinet, he
sought to have Justice Stone relinquish
his place on the bench to again become
Attorney General, but the justice de-
clined the appointment.
Subsequently, when the President was
selecting his National Commission on
Law Enforcement and Observance, he
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