Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-02-10
SENATE COMMITTEE
O. KS NOMINATION
OF CHARLES E. HUGHES
Continued From First Page.)

posed confirmation of Mr.. Hughes ap-
pointment because he believed that a
Judicial office is presumed to be nom
political Office"
Il think it a very unwise policy" con-
tinutd Senator Blaine, for a Judge to
race the temptation Of resolving an opin-
ion on legal questions with political
viewpoint. The fact that Mr.. Hughes
was on the bench and resigned to be-
come candidate for political Office is
contrary to a fundamental belief OF
mine that the judiciary should be sep
arate entirely from politics"
senator Blaine said that when the
nomination comes up on the floor of
the Senate, he will make a statement
IN regard to Mr.. Hughes appointment.
He said he expected that the nomin-
alton would be confirmed by the Senate
Opposed by Doherty.
The Senate committee had before it
a letter written by Henry L. Doherty,
millionaire oil man of New York and
head OF the Cities Service Corporation,
opposing the confirmation of Mr..
Hughes. Mr.. Doherty charged that a
small coterie of influential men are
plotting to take over all branches of the
Government and that the appointment
OF Mr.. Hughes to be Chief Justice is
part of the alleged conspiracy. The
letter was made public after the COM
mlttee meeting today. In his letter
Mr.. Doherty said:
I feel that no justice of the Supreme
Court should resign to run for political
ONCE. nor should he capitalize into
wealth the prestige and influence &C.
quired by the honor done him by his
appointment, and If he does do this, he
should neither expect nor receive ap-
polntment and certainly no advance
ment to the position of Chief Justice. !"
Charges Political Move.
Mr.: Doherty also said that he had
heard rumors that the resignation of
Chief Justice Taft was "procured
added that the Change in the Office of
Chief Justice was made with unseem-
ly haste" He contended that the ap-
pointment was made for political rather
than meritoriouS reasons. There are
rumorS afioat," he continued. that a
huge and uncomfortable political ma
chine has been, or is being, built up.
whereby the governmental control of
this Nation will be lodged in the hands
OF a few men, and with the conf1rma-
ton Of Justice Hughes, this control will
~ANO NAAAS CdCIl OI Lille three CO.
ordinated branches of the Federal Gov
eminent but will extend as far as pos
States"
Mr.. Doherty demanded that the SEN
ate investigate these rumors. Mr.. Do
herty declared that Mr.. Hughes had
peen hired by directors of the Petroleum
institute because of his influence over
4 rreSioent Coolidge and Secretary
hoover. In this case, Mr.. Doherty said,
Mr; hughes took the position that the
t reaeTal government has no conStitu-
Llonal right to prevent waste of oil. Mr..
Doherty also said that he had been
informed In the last 20 days that the
PRESIDENT plans to appoint five oil men
To- the OIL conservation board in place of
coplnet members now holding those DO
SltionS. Mr.. Doherty said that he was
prepared to back up what he said.
Polntlng out that three other members
OF the Supreme Court have reached the
retirement age, Mr.. Doherty said that
PRESIDENT Hoover during his administra-
ton probably will have to appoint a
majority OF the Supreme Court Three
otner members of the court, he said,
would reach the retirement age before
term. ~
S MOHOpOly NuI1mg.
We will be fortunate" said Mr..
Doherty, IF we do not wake up to find
that the Supreme Court has handed
down opinions which will give a monop-
oily IN perpetuity to some one corpora
ton or to corporations representing a
minority Of the people"
After questioning the influence be-
nlno the appointment of Mr.. Hughes,
MI. Donerty said: II am fearful of the
lnnuence which may govern Mr.. Hughes
from his own Self-aSsurance."
Il have heard that this apnointnent
OF Mr.. Hughes is only the first dis
closure in series of political maneuvers
which Is probably aimed to give politi-
cal control of the entire country to a
small group OF men, and it is common
report that already the Presidents re-
porters are at work to make Mr..
Hughes, jr., the Governor Of New York"
said Mr. Doherty. Perhaps the extent
OF the dreams and plans for the politi-
ca! control OF the country are known
only TO the President himself or his
pouClcal managers, and do not see
now the situation can fail to alarm
every thoughtful citizen. II the high
est ofnceS in the land are to be dis
trlbuted as personal favors, or to build
up an unbreakable political machine,
we Will drag national politics to the
level OF ward politics, which has at
Times characterized some of the worst
conoitlons that have prevailed in some
OF our industrial cities. Any attempt to
elevate whole families to positions Of
public control should be resisted by
every one who wants to perpetuate a
~