The Huntsville Daily Times
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Description: Chief Justice Taft Resigns High Position;
Taft Philosopy; Memory; Easy to Approach;
Lieutenant Northcutt Is Fired From Navy;
President Hoover Hopes To Go Fishing;
Newspaper published in: Huntsville, AL
Source: Library
Page/Column: Page 1, Columns 1, 2 & 5
================ Page 1, Column 1 =================
CHIEF JUSTICE TAFT RESIGNS HIGH POSITION
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Resignation Was Submitted By His Son Today
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RESIGNATION IS NOT YET ACCEPTED
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Serious Condition Of His Health Is Given As The Reason For Action
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WASHINGTON, Feb. 3 (AP) – William Howard Taft, broken in health by years of labor for the nation, has resigned the exalted post of Chief Justice of the United States.
Through his son, Robert A. Taft, he submitted his resignation today to 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 his resignation came suddenly so far as the public at large was concerned, those in the inner office 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 for weeks and it appeared to be only a matter of time when a successor should be named. Who that successor will be remains to be seen, because President Hoover has not yet accepted Mr. Taft’s resignation.
Nevertheless, immediately upon announcement of the Chief Justice’s resignation names began to crop up in profusion as likely successors.
Besides those already on the highest tribunal, include Justice Stone, there came into the picture Calvin Coolidge, another former president and Charles Evans Hughes, who once served on that august tribunal.
Those familiar with Presidential and Supreme Court procedure, however, expected that President Hoover would consider for some time before making a selection.
Chief Justice Taft was a sick man recently when he went to Cincinnati to attend the funeral of his brother, Charles P. Taft, the publisher.
On his return to Washington it was apparent to both his friends and to his physicians that he must have a period of complete relaxation and he was persuaded to go to Asheville for a rest. He seemed to recuperate there, but his sudden decision to return to Washington was a signal to those who knew him that he had made an important decision.
The importance of the resignation lies in the probable reorganization of the court. At present always five and often six of the nine members are called conservative. Justice Stone has been aligned with Justices Holmes and Brandels in many of their dissenting opinions and would be expected by those 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 during the administration of President Hoover the court may be completely changed. Justice Holmes and Brandels are both eligible for retirement but both intend to remain upon the bench indefinitely. Justice Vandevanter is also eligible for retirement and has been remaining on the bench at the earnest solicitation of his colleagues.
During President Hoover’s administration should he be reelected he will have the appointment of more than a majority of the members of court. Justice Sutherland has long been in ill health and while he has improved it is expected that he will, unless his physical condition materially improves, be forced to retire in the near future.
It was recalled that when President Hoover was making up his cabinet he sought to have Justice Stone relinquish his place on the bench to become again Attorney General but he Justice declined the appointment. Subsequently when the president was selecting his national commission on law enforcement and observance he asked Justice Stone to become chairman of that body. The justice declined again to leave the bench and despite his insistent efforts to persuade Mr. Stone, the president had to look elsewhere for the chairman of the commission.
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WASHINGTON, Feb. 3 (AP) – Chief Justice Taft of the United States has resigned.
He submitted his resignation today to President Hoover through his son Robert A. Taft. His resignation has not yet been accepted.
This was formally announced today at the White House after young Mr. Taft had made a visit there in company with attorney General Mitchell.
It was understood that the resignation was tendered because of the serious condition of the Chief Justice who has been in Asheville, N. C., for more than a week after being confined to his home here for some time.
Taft is returning here tomorrow from Asheville.
Taft is the second chief justice of the United States to resign. The only other instance was the resignation of John Jay, the first chief justice. Mr. Taft is the only man who has ever held both the office of president of the United States and of chief justice.
He would not have been eligible for retirement on pay until July, 1931. Congress is expected to enact legislation to compensate him after his retirement.
Mr. Taft was appointed to his place as chief justice on June 30, 1921.
He went to England to study the system under which the courts of that country had prevented the accumulation of cases upon their dockets.
Prohibition decisions came easy to the chief justice. Becoming head of the highest court after it had sustained the constitutionality of the Volstead act, he considered all controversies arising out of the enforcement with the viewpoint that is ratifying the eighteenth amendment the states had intended to make the country bone dry.
================ Page 1, Column 2 =================
WASHINGTON, Feb. 3 (AP) – William Howard Taft has a simple philosophy of life. Upon one occasion he thus expressed it:
“I do not worry any more than I can help; never have. I try to keep my mind tranquil and in that way I stand the knocks better.”
WASHINGTON, Feb. 3 (AP) – The remarkable memory of Chief Justice Taft for faces is well illustrated by an incident during the Washington arms conference. Walking along sixteenth street he saw at a distance a foreign newspaper correspondent whom he hailed. “I haven’t seen you for twenty years when I was in Rome,” he said to the surprised correspondent.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 3 (AP) – Easy to approach and constantly sought by persons seeking favors, Chief Justice Taft has frequently found amusement in the declarations of such persons as to where they met him. He remarked one day that a fishing trip he made to Florida had been most frequently referred to under such circumstance.
“So many people have called on me who met me while I was on that fishing trip which lasted only a few days,” he said, “that I must have met on that occasion every person who was in the state.”
LIEUTENANT NORTHCUTT IS FIRED FROM NAVY
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WASHINGTON, Feb. 3 (AP) – President Hoover has confirmed a sentence of dismissal from the navy for Lieutenant Harold W. Northcutt, who was charged with desertion and other offenses damaging to the morale of the service.
The young navy lieutenant, who stood third in his class at Annapolis, disappeared from the Norfolk navy yard on October 22 and it was at first thought that he had met with foul play. His abandoned automobile was found later in Richmond, but still there was nothing that would throw light upon the mystery.
Two weeks later Northcutt was discovered on the other side of the continent in Vancouver, British Columbia, in company with a woman who was said to be a trained nurse. The naval officer agreed to return to the United States and he surrendered to the commandant of the Puget sound navy yard.
He refused, however, to make any statement or to explain in any way his actions.
================ Page 1, Column 5 =================
PRESIDENT HOOVER HOPES TO GO FISHING
WASHINGTON, Feb. 3 (AP) – It was announced at the white house today that President Hoover hopes to get away for four or five days on a fishing trip at Long Key, Florida, some time soon.
If the president is able to arrange the trip he will go directly from Washington to Long Key without any stops en route. He will board a boat, probably the Saunterer, and spend the entire time on the craft. He will make no speeches or appearances on his way south or on the return trip.
Mrs. Hoover probably will accompany him.
The Saunterer is a house boat belonging to Jerry Milbank, treasurer of the eastern division of the Republican National committee.