Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-03-09
SERVICE ON BENCH
HAPP|EST FOR TAFT
His Good Nature Produced
New Atmosphere, Driving
Out All SomberneSs.

BY the Associated Press.
william Howard Taft was q good SOL
der, who went where duty called, and
It called him to the presidency and the
Chief Justiceship of his country-two
honors never before bestowed upon any
one man.
To most Americans. attainment of
the presidency would have seemed the
complete fulnllment of hope for prefer
ment, but Taft never was comfortable
in the White House. He hated the
strife and chickering's of high political
ONCE. His earliest aspirations had
turned instead to the Supreme Court,
and 1t undoubtedly was upon the bench
that he spent the happiest years of his
Il do not care for politics." he said
in later life. Not that have no inter-
est in such matters, but because I am
not fitted for the musings and con-
troverSy."
His span Of service as Chief Justice
was not long compared with those Of
his predecessors, but 1t was period of
great exertion and sweeping accom-
plishment. He prepared $50 opinions
an average of 30 per term, compared
with an average Of Is a term by Chief
Justice Marshall The highest num-
Der during any one term was 20. Last
term, as illness began to take his vi
tally, the number dropped to ID.
Loved Work Until Last.
He loved the work until the last.
just as he had dreamed he would
in the early years when he qualified
as a lawyer and definitely set place
on the highest bench as his final
goal.
From this ambition he first was de-
hected by Mrs. Taft. She early con-
ceived the notion that "Wilp' was
destined for election to the presidency,
and for many years prior to their
entrance into the White House tried
that he had set for himself on the
bench.
While he was governor general Of the
Philippines Taft had an opportunity
to become q member of the Supreme
Court, but as he related the incident in
later years, his declination was not
Influenced by Nellie" but by q deci-
sion that his duty required him at that
time to remain as governor general and
aid the Fflipinos in establishing them
selves and preparing for self-govern-
ment.
Political fonors then began to fall
thick about him. From the Philippines
he came to Washington to become Sec
rotary of War; from the cabinet he went
on the presidency. As Chief Execu-
tive 1t fell to him to appoint five justices
to the highest court-more than any
other President since Washington-and
among them was . Chief Justice. But
1t was not until he had been back in
private life for eight years that he
himself had the opportunity to realize
the aNahifi0a af hie hAAPf
Play OF Fortune.
1t was q strange play Of fortune which
resulted in his succeeding as Chief
Justice Edward Douglas White, a
Democrat from Louisiana, whom he had
appointed, and then being In turn sue
ceeded as Chief Justice by Charles
Evans Hughes, whom he had appointed
associate justice.
much protest from politicians when he
elevated White to be Chief Justice. He
defended the selection in later years by
the remarkable qualifications which the
appointee demonstrated on the bench.
White had been Senator from Louisiana
when appointed Associate Justice in
1894 by Cleveland and Taft considered
that politics should have no weight in
the case Of man he considered SO emf
nently qualified.
White House and Court.
Having been both President and Chief
Justice, Mr.. Taft alone had personal
experience to enable q comparison of
the duties and demands Of the two
places.
IF one Is constituted like an ordi-
nary man." he said in 1927, In an in
terview with the Associated Press,
life In the presidency, while not pre-
senting as hard mental and Intellectual
labor as that of Chief Justice, does
enormously consume nervous energy
and Is greatly more trying than work
on the bench, at least that was my ex-
perience.
The difference between the exactions
OF the two oflces is that in work on
the bench you have the assistance of
your colleagues, who share the respon-
sibility of the decisions, you have the
oeneht OF oral argument by counsel,
briefs submitted on both sides of the
controversy and control Of your time
for careful study.
I'm the presidency you often have to
make decision on the instant or over
night, when the risk of faulty judgment
Is great. Often the President Is re-
quired to reach his decision without
NSAAAB AOAy aOFloeQ anu frequently WIN
out an opportunity to consult his
cabinet.
The presidency attracts in the sense
OF authority one is supposed to exercise
In that high off1ce, and there are those
VINO greatly enjoy its constant exercise.
But even In the strongest it takes much
out OF q man and the strain of ONCE Is
telt long after retirement to private life.
II do not mind what is sometimes
called the monaStic life of the bench,
and, as have stated, the duties of the
President are more exactinR, dificult
and nerve racking than those Of Chief
Justice"
At Practically All Sessions.
From the beginning Of his active
work on the bench on October 3, 1921,
up to the adjournment Of the court for
its Christmas recess on December 8
last, Mr.. Taft attended practically every
session.
Illness for o day or two at widely
reported intervals kept him at home,
but his attendance record was better
than that of any of his associates.
He wrote the opinion Of the court in
many important controversies, among
them those holdinR the Federal child
labor statute Unconstitutional, that
labor organizations could be sued, that
the railroad labor board act was con-
stitutional, that the Federal Govern
ment had jurisdictions over stockyardS
mud I'D that