The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1949-08-26
The Nations Press On Clark
Appointment
From the Boston Herald of July 80, 1949:

ignated to fill the vacancy on the Supreme Court,
is an amiable, well-meaning But he is totally
lacking in that distinction which is expected of JUS
tees of the nations highest tribunal -.
The appropriateness of the Clark appointment
will lead many to wonder if the President feels so
result of his election triumph that he is
willing to the Court as we'll as the Cabinet as a
place for repaying political debts Mr. Clark it will
be remembered of the few Cabinet officers
who went all out in campaigning for the President
last year He has also been helpful to the President
in his handling of the Kansas City fraud inquiry
in 1916.
Experience has taught that unpromising appointees
often turn out to be good judges and vice Mr..
Cark's lack of judicial temperament in his present
job, his bungling of cases, his preoccupaton with
speech making and politics, may all be highly mislead-
ing 1t is regrettabe, however, that the President
fit to pass many jurists and lawyers of
proven distinction to take this chance.
From the Chicago Tribune of August 1, 1919:
There must be at least 900 lawyers in the
United States who know more law than Clark does
will. He has had judicial experience. His
record in public office is bad.
From the Baltimore Sun of July 80, 1919:
9" For let us be clear about the Courts func-
ton in our cranky and deicateIy balanced federal
system. In that system it conceived the SYM
Dol of justice, of dsinteresedness of something above
politics and expediency which could persuade power
full suitors in their disappointment because they
in its judgment something than optical and
temporal authority.
Nothing in Mr.. Clarks record suggests that he will
appreciate how much in the turbulent times ahead it
will be necessary for the high court to invite not
merely the respect but the of the and
the groups engaged in the great affairs of the
time. >.
From the Daily Mirror of August 2, 1949:
1t used to be that when Justice was appointed,
he lawyer of great Observation-Disclosures White,
Harlan Stone, Louis d. Brandeis Benjamin Cardozo,
Charles Evans Hughes William Howard Taft, etc.
Today, the chief requisite for Supreme Court
appointment to be that the individual received
jobs and needs to be moved out of the way to make
for other politicians aspirations.
That is not good enough.
Tom Clark has been better and than
his immediate predecessors attorney general of
the United States. But would accuse him of
being great lawyer outstanding jurst.
From the Detroit Free Press of August II, 1919:
The vital need to keep the Supreme Court in the
hands of good men learned in the law does not need
stressng.
Yet President Truman names to it political hack
who did dirty work for him, attorney general who
is not learned in the law or in common ethics
From the New York Herald Tribune of August
IL, 1919:
What practically everybody knows is that Mr.
Clark is unsuted for the Supreme Court. Judicial
experience, legal knowledge, and philosophic temper
plainly lacking. Special ability and educated dis
cernment are minimum qualifications but these Mr..
Clark has demonstrated 1t may be that he has
capacities for growth in a and awesome field,
but why should we take Supreme Court Justice
speculation?
President Truman, of course, likes his appointee.
Both foksy, friendly, and politically nodded. Mr..