 The case was argued before Judge ( and later President ) William Howard Taft , who held that the federal court could not prevent the removal of officers by injunction . He advised the Republicans to seek remedy quo warranto in the state courts . Taft further opined that , should any federal question be raised in such proceedings , the officers could seek remedy in a federal court on appeal . The Republicans were encouraged by Taft 's decision , which cleared the way for an appeal all the way to the federal Supreme Court if a federal question could be raised . 
