Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-02-04
The Chief Justice.

Chief Justice William Howard Taft
has laid down the burden of public
service. II is a burden he has carried
with distinction through long years
His retirement from the Supreme bench
will be regretted the country over
Particularly will it be regretted because
the retirement has been forced by Ill
health. He is the only man ever to
have held both the ofice of Chief
Executive OF the United States and
that Of Chief Justice. His has been a
career Of distinction, as judge, Solicitor
General, governor general of the Philip
pines, Secretary of War, President and
finally as Chief Justice. He has given
without sting to the Nation. He has
combined within himself the executive
and judicial qualities in high degree, a
rare combination. Industrious, coura-
geous, Chief Justice Taft has won for
himself place in the affections of the
nation rarely equaled by any man.
Although he has been called upon to
serve his country in many executive
positions, William Howard Taft is pc
culiarly fitted for the bench. The law,
his chosen profession, interests him be-
yond all else. He is fair-minded, and
his decisions on the bench have always
been impartial. Justice, at the hands
of Mr.. Taft, has always been even
handed justice. He was only twenty
nine years old when he was first ap-
pointed judge, to I'LL a vacancy in the
Superior Court of Ohio, his native
State, and the following year he was
elected to that office. From that post
he came to Washington to serve as
Solicitor General of the United States,
appointed by President Harrison. After
two years as Solicitor General Mr.. Taft
was appointed a Judge Of the sixth
Federal circuit, and for eight years he
continued 70 sit as judge on that cir
cult. President Mckinley drafted Mr..
Taft to head the Philippines Commits
sion, to organize a civil government
Tor the Islands which had come to the
United States at the close of the War
with Spain. From that Office he was
made the first civil governor of those
islands.
President Roosevelt, like his predeces-
sor In ONCE, turned to Mr.. Taft for i'm
portant work. He made him Secre-
tary OF War, and wished to appoint him
a member of the Supreme Court, but
Mr.. Taft was needed to complete work
IN which he was then engaged. It was
soon foregone conclusion that Mr..
Taft was to succeed President Roosevelt
IN the White House. And as Chief Ex-
ecutive Mr. Taft gave the country
clean and honest government.
On leaving the White House Mr.. Taft
returned to Yale University, from which
he had been graduated in 1878, to be-
come professor of law. It remained
for fourth President of the United
States, President Harding, again to call
him to high public ONCE. In 1921 he
was appointed Chief Justice. From
that office he retires now with the re-
spect and the affection Of the American
people. 1t is proud record of service.
Charles Evans Hughes, selected by
President Hoover to succeed Mr.. Taft
as Chief Justice, brings to the bench
again, one OF the greatest legal minds
the country has ever produced. His ap-
pontment will meet with universal ap-
proVal. He stands, indeed, at the very
pinnacle OF his profession. What could
nave been more natural and more to be
expected than the appointment of Mr..
hughes 70 the Office of Chief Justice?
For six years he was member of the
Supreme Court, as an associate Justice.
He relinquished that high office to be-
come the candidate of the Republican
party for President. Since he lost in
the presidential race of 1916, Mr.. Hughes
has added to his reputation by serving
his country as Secretary of State, first
In the cabinet of President Harding
and then in that Of President Coolidge
1t was to Mr.. Hughes to a greater ex-
tent than any other man participating
in the Washington Conference on Naval
Limitation and the problems of the Pa
cilc Ocean that the success of that
conference was due, the first tangible
step toward the limitation of ornaments
by the world powers.
The new Chief Justice has a record
OF public duty that rivals that Of the
retiring Chief Justice, a record which
includes his service as governor of hi:
State. New York, where he had beer
instrumental in clearing up the insur-
ance scandals. He declined to permit
himself to be considered for the Re.
publican nomination in 1928, wher
many Of his friends desired to have
him cast his hat in the ring. Recently
he has become the American membel
Of the Permanent Court of Interna
tional Justice, an Office which be mus
now relinquish. His appointment a
Chief Justice will strike the American
people as particularly fitting. The.
have admiration for and confidence II
Mr.. Hughes.
Dictator in certain uartS of tn