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Show ' themselves. Sutherland would add nothing except subservience to the railroad interests to that body." SUTHERLAND AS SEEN ELSEWHERE. Collier's, a weekly paper of great editorial ability, commenting on the rumor that President Taft had thought of Senator Sutherland for the supreme bench, says : "Talk of Senator Sutherland for the supreme bench of the United States is an implied criticism of the President which ought not to be continued. It i3 bad enough to have senators selected by a few great corporations. For one of " the most distinctly corporation-chosen senators to be placed upon our highest court would be a little too bitter even for an exercise in irony." Correct. Wo have never given credence to the report that Cutherland had been seriously considered for a high position. The man is narrow, unsympathetic, egotistical and filled with prejudices, and, as Collier's says, he is a corporation tool. No one of that description de-scription could reach the supreme bench without the confidence of the American people in the supreme bench being outragd. The Tribune, referring to Collier's criticism, says: "There may have been times, although we imagine not very often, when the learning and ability of the Supreme Court of the United States could stand a dilution such as the membership of Sutherland on that great bench would make. Now however, is rather a critical time in that court and now at least such a dilution as that which is suggested would be extemely hazardous. "It appears that President Taft and his advisers recognize this fact, on their final summing up of Sutherland's qualifications, and ' the understanding is that he has been shelved so far as the Supreme court is concerned, and the conclusion reached is that membership in the Interstate Commerce Commission is about the proper size for Sutherland. Even in this they largely over-size the man, however, while the objection to him as being a tool of the corporations is not in the least diminished. As a member of the Interstate Commerce Commission, Mr. Sutherland would be known as the 'weak vessel,' and as the one distinctively standing for the railroad interests as against any and all business interests that the public or any person, firm or shipper of any kind might presnt. Sutherland is distinctively, distinct-ively, almost avowedly, a servant of 'the interests,' and the service which he loves best is that of the railroads. It would be better to appoint direct a strong, practical railroad man on that Commission than to appoint Sutherland, because then at least there would be some expert knowledge at the service of the commissioners as among |
