Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1930-02-14
NEWS REVIEW OF
CURRENT EVENTS
w. H. Taft, iii, Quits as
Chief Justice and Hughes
Named to Succeed Him.
BY EDWARD w. PlcKARD

XXTILLIAM HOWARD TAFT, re-
w turning to Washington from
Asheville very sick man, sent in his
resignation as chief justice Of the Su-,
preme Court Of the United States. IT.
was at once accepted by President,
Hoover with expressions of deep re-
greet and of sympathy for Mr.. Taft's
condition, and Charles Evans Hughes
was appointed his successor.
Though the entire matter seemed
sudden, it was learned that the Presi-
dent had been informed of Mr.. Taft's
intention several weeks before and
that Mr.. Hughes had conferred with
Mr.. Hoover several times before ac-
cepting the appointment.
Mr.. Taft's physicians admitted that
he was seriously Ill, and though
toward the close of the week his con-
dition appeared to have improved.
they held out little hope for his recov-
cry. They said that for some years
he had had very high blood pressure
associated with general arterioscle-
rosis and myocarditis and also had
chronic cystitis. President and Mrs.
Hoover called on him the day after
his return from the South, and so did
several of the Supreme court justices.
There was a constant stream of other
callers at the Taft residence but Of
course most of them merely left mes
sages of greeting and cheer. Mr..
Taft's retirement closed public
career unparalleled in this country.
For nearly fifty years he served the
people, in offices ranging from an as
sistant prosecuting attorney to Presi-
dent of the republic and head of its
highest tribunal. He was the first
civil governor general of the Philip
pine islands and was secretary of war
under President Roosevelt. He was
appointed by President Wilson as
chief Justice in 1921. In accordance
with a law passed at the last session
of congress, he retires with his full
salary Of $20,500 a year.
Mr.. Hughes presumably will take
office when the Supreme court recon-
venes on February "a. His appoint
ment is the climax of record in the
public service almost as remarkable
as that of his predecessor. He has
held some of the highest offices within
the reach of an American citizen, hav-
ing fallen short only Of the Presi-
dency, for which he was the unsuc-
cessful Republican candidate in 1916
against Woodrow Wilson. To make
that campaign he resigned as asso-
ciate justice of the Supreme court, to
which position he had been appointed
by President Roosevelt in 1910 About
a year ago he was selected as judge
of the world court and spent last
summer sitting at The Hague. From
March 4, 1921, to March 4, 1925, he
was secretary Of state in the Harding
and Coolidge cabinets, retiring volun-
tarily.
As a matter of propriety, Charles
E. Hughes, Jr., will now resign as
solicitor general of the United States.
and it has been suggested that Presi-
dent Hoover may select as his sue
cessor Mr.. Tafts son, Robert A. Taft,
who is now district attorney at Gin
cinnati.
DASCUAL ORTIZ RUBIO was in
augurated president Of Mexico
Wednesday with simple ceremonies,
and as he was leaving the national
stadium an attempt was made to as
sassinate him, which was quite in ac-
cord with Mexican tradition. A young
man standing behind file of soldiers
at the gate of honor emptled his re-
volver into the presidential car. Ortiz
Rubio was shot through the cheek,
the bullet lodging in the left jaw. His
wife and niece and his military aide
were slightly wounded, as was the
chauffeur who nevertheless stepped
on the accelerator and carried his
passengers swiftly to Red Cross
hospital. A few hours later the sur
geons announced that the president
was out Of danger.
The assassin was seized by the po-
lice and said he was Daniel Flores of