Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-06-08
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ion and their relation was not marred
by petty jealousy or by misunderstand~
ing. >,
The actual proceedings in the oil
cases have been often recorded and the
public is familiar with them. Suffice 1t
to say that no competent and informed
observer has failed to commend the
work of counsel in the cases which the
United States won or has criticized adj
versely the handling OF those decided
against the Government. 1t is generally
conceded that nobody could have made
more out of the material at the Gov
ernment's disposal or presented more
effectively the propositions on which
the Government relied. While all the
work done was of high order, perhaps
the most brilliant piece of advocacy was
Roberts summing up to the jury in the
Fall case. There are those who heard
this argument who regard 1t as the
equal of any forensic achievement OF
our day.
While these forensic battles were
raging President Coolidge gave place to
President Hoover, and the new Presi-
dent was in turn called upon to solve
other difficult problems of selection.
When Chief Justice Taft died the
Presidents prompt appointment OF
Charles Evans Hughes caused wide
spread satisfaction. The opposition to
this nomination which developed in the
Senate delayed but did not defeat con-
flrmation.
The appointment Of q successor to
Mr.. Justice Sanford, however, gave rise
to greater difficulty. Judge Parker OF
North Carolina was named by the
President, but was rejected by the Sen
ate. AS the struggle over the tariff bill
was continuing and as opposition to the
naval treaty was developing, it became
most important for the administration
to name a man against whose con-
firmation no effective protest could be
made.
Man Of Hour Again.
Again Roberts proved to be the man
of the hour. There was spontaneous
demand for his appointment from all
parts of the country. 1t is said that
there was strong sentiment in his IA
vor among the justices themselves. The
President sent his name to the Senate,
and in routine fashion it was referred
to the proper committee. The commit
tee had no occasion to hold hearings,
because by this time everybody knew
Roberts and nobody protested against
the appointment. He had become the
recognized leader of the Philadelphia
bar and his reputation was Nation
wide. A unanimous report in favor OF
confirmation was made, and confirma-
ton by the Senate promptly followed.
1t is significant that this action was
taken with unanimity. None of the
eight who voted against his conflrma-
ton as special counsel cast q vote
against him as justice of the Supreme
Court. Six of those eight are still in
the Senate, so that it is fair to infer
that Roberts has gained the unlimited
confidence of those who six years ago
were skeptical. When the new justice
takes his seat he will be the youngest
judge on the court and the only repre-
sentative of Pennsylvania who has sat
on the Supreme bench in nearly 80
years.
With Roberts on the bench the great
Commonwealth will have occasion for
pride. Counsel appearing before him
will find him alert and attentive and
quick to identify the crucial question in
the case. When he interrupts with q
question, 1t will be one that is concise,
searching and to the point. The other
justices will soon learn that their new
colleague has tireless energy and an
enormous capacity for work. They will
find, too, that while he has "an agree
ing mind" he is a man Of strong con-