The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1930-02-03
CONDITION
OF CHIEF JUSTICE,
REASON ADVANCED
Resignation Removes From OF.
fetal Life an Outstanding
Figure Of the Time
ABLE TO FIGHT OFF ILLNESS
Stone Mentioned as Successor
Due to Personal Friend
ship With Hoover

washington. Feb. 3.-R-William
Howard Taft, broken in health by
years OF labor for the nation. has
resigned the exalted post Of chief jus-
tice Of the United States.
Through his son, Robert A. Taft. he
submitted his resignation TODAY ia
President Hoover while he himself
prepared to return to WASHINGTON
from Asheville. N. c., where he went
several weeks ago to recuperate from
a near-breakdown.
Although the resignation ann sud-
denly. so far as the public at large
was concerned. those In the inner
circle OF the supreme court had been
expecting for several days that the
former president would be compelled
to give up his exacting duties on the
bench.
He had seemed worn and WORRIED
Tor weeks. and 1t appeared to be onIv
matter Of time when a s-uccessor
should be named. Who that successor
VIII oe remains to be seen, because
PRESIDENT Hoover has not yet accepted
MI. Taft's resignation.
NNcSuS Court Reforming
me importance of the RESIGNATION.
nes IN the probable reorganization .nf
the court. At present always i've and
olten six OF its nine members are
called conservative. Justice Stone hs.
been aligned with Justices Holmes snd
Brandeis in many of their d-isaenficc
opinions, and would be expected hv
who are familiar with his trend
OF mind and views to be what is
known In court circles as progressive
There is a possibility that d,,rin1
the administration of President. TO-.
yer the court may be completely
changed. Justices Holmes and Bran
deis are both eligible for retirement.
but both intend to remain upon ths
oench indefinitely. Justice Vande,1-
vanter is also eligible for retirement
n has been remaining on the bench
at n earnest solicitation of his coll
leagues.
The resignation Of Taft rcn,oye
from Official life one Of the outstand-
ing figures Of the present time.
AS president Of the United States.
secretary OF war, governor general OF
the Philippines. and later as chief
justice Of the United States, he. o
than any other man, has been q part
OF the American government for a
quarter Of a century.
10 q Years Old
For some time Mr. Taft has been In
III health. He was born In 1857 and
Is now In his seventy third year. De-
spite his age he has been able to
fight off illness and has been actively
engaged in his duties.
He left three weeks ago for Ashe-
vile following . recurrence Of bladder
trouble.
Just before this he had returned
from Cincinnati where he had Attend
ed the funeral Of his brother. This
trip wa said by friends to have over
taxed his strength.
The resignation Of the chief Justice
unquestionably viii be accepted by
the president and it will become ef-
fective Immediately upon such accept
ance. Mr.. Taft then would auto
matically be placed on the judicial
retired list. since he has served the
requisite number Of years, first q =
circuit Judge and then Is chief 1us-
tice Of the United States.
Who Win Take Poet?
Immediately after the white house
announcement there was speculation
as to whom President Hoover vould
select as the next chief justice. The
name most prominently mentioned
was that Of Associate Justice Harlan
+. Stone Of New York City Who WAS
elevated to the bench BY Prevalent
Coolidge, March 2, 1925, after be had
served q short term Is attorney rem
eral.
Justice Stone and President Hoover
are close personal friends and have
been for q number Of years. Il Is
known the associate justice was high
among those In the councils Of Mr..
Hoover before his inauguration. He
. . member Of the "Mediciue Hall
Cabinet" and almost daily engages Ia
the medicine bail games held q thu
white house court each morning ex-
cept Sunday. With the announce
ment today that President Hoover
was contemplating . fishing trim 10
Florida soon came word that Justice
Stone would probably accompany
him.