Evening star., 1935-04-26
POLITICS CHARGED
IN NAMING SCOTT
Former Howard U. Dean
Says Cobb Has Filled
Office Faithfully.
To the Editor OF The Star:

To the Editor OF The Star:
President Roosevelt has at last been
persuaded by his political advisors to
replace Judge James A. Cobb Of the
municipal bench by Almond w. Scott,
whose only claim to superior quail.
fications over that of the incumbent
whom he supplants Is his political
availability. A number of years ago
Mr. Scott espouSed the cause Of the
Democratic party and during several
campaigns has rendered yeOman
service on the hustings. He Is among
the first colored men Of standing to
shift his political allegiance to the
Democratic side He Is not an over
night Democrat who saw the new
light on the eve of the last campaign.
For 20 years he has been q successful
practitioner before the bar and has
maintained a reputation Of an up
right and honorable citizen. He richly
deserves whatever political reward
this faithful allegiance entities him to.
Judge Cobb was listed as a Repub-
lican at the time Of his appointment
nine years ago. Previous political
allegiance. however. Is not supposed
to count against a judge who faith
fully performs the functions Of his
office. Judge Cobb has SO faithfully
and efflCiently performed the duties
of his office as to secure practically
the universal approval of the public
which he served without regard to
politics. race or color. Few public
servants have received such general
approval and recommendation for re-
tention. The bar associations, white
and colored. the newspapers Of the
city. organizations and individuals
who reflect public opinion have
united in requesting his retention at
the hands Of President Roosevelt.
Move Held Regrettable.
The admirers of President Roosevelt
and advocates OF the New Deal. among
whom the writer wishes to be re-
corded. deeply regret that in this in
stance the President has allowed poll
tics to invade the judiciary. During
his entire administration. even II ex-
probably will never be confronted with
! clearer case of politics versus eff
cheney, experience and merit in filling
a judicial position than the instance
now in point.
During the last presidential cam
paign Candidate Roosevelt casually
remarked that the Republican party
had a majority Of the members of the
Supreme Court. President Hoover
DC III cd
, to brand Mr.. Roosevelt with the in
tention OF intruding politics In the
judiciary in case he succeeded to the
presidency. Candidate Roosevelt pre-
served salutary silence on this point
during the rest of his campaign.
though he was repeatedly pushed for
response by the opposing candidate.
His supporters and well-wishers had
hoped that this was merely an un-
guarded remark which carried with It
no serious purpose or intention. No
act of his administration has seemed
to give color of justification to Presi-
dent Hoover's criticism except the re-
placement OF Judge Cobb. A clearer
instance is hardly conceivable.
1t has been the practice from the
beginning Of the Government until
now, under both Republican and
Democratic administrations. to allow
political exigencies to have weight in
filling high judicial places which carry
with them Interpretation Of the pol
icies Of the administration. Abraham
Lincoln. in one instance at least.
played politics Of the shrewdest sort
in the apn0jntment of iuStice tn the
Supreme Bench. The party in power
always fills a vacancy on this high
tribunal so as to preserve political