The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-01-23
THE NEW CHIEF JUSTICE.
Graduation in Toledo on the EIe-
walton Of Her Worthy Citizen.
Tho Career, Abilities and Character Of Morri-
SON B. Waite-Modsst Talent and Quiet
Industry His Stepping Stones.
HONoRED AT his BIRTHPLACE.

1922 - - >~>A
TOLEDO, Ohio, Jan. 81, 1874
Toledo is rejoicing over the selection OF her fore
most citizen for the first civil ONCE Ia the country
Here, where he has spent nearly all the years OF
his life ana where he is best known, there Is but
one opinion among every trade and class OF our
citizens as to the wisdom OF President Grants
choice and that Ia, that no better man could be
found than Morrison 4. Waite. 1t Is said that his
nomination excites considerable surprise at Wash
ington and elsewhere in the East. The reason il
manifest. Mr.. Waite is not so widely known in the
Eastern States as some other lawyers and the rea-
sons are these:-
REASONS OF MR. YATES OBsCURITY.
First his life has been spent in town which is
neither the capital nor the principal commercial
city OF the State, and, therefore, his fame has
not been trumpeted abroad as much as that OF
some OF Ohio's other citizens. Again, among East
ern men, o. course more is known OF Eastern
lawyers, and naturally the preference there would
be for the one whom their own personal observa-
ton had led to believe occupied the highest rank.
Chiefly however Mr.. Waite's comparative OBJ
security Is owing to the fact that his life has been
almost exclusively spent in the courts. He has
always avoided ana declined political preferment,
and has chung closely to the one pursuit and
ambition or his life-namely, the practice OF
law and emnence therein. Whoever in this coun-
try pursues such career must be content that his
figure shall I'LL comparatively small space in the
eye OF the general public, and his name be spread
abroad very rarely In the newspapers. Naturally,
therefore, the record OF his pubic services Is very
brief one.
SKETCH OF CHIEF JUSTICE WAITE.
Morrison X Waite was born in Lyme, Conn.,, IN
1916, so that ne Is now ftv-eight years or age. His
father, Henry M. Waite, was for thirty years one
of the Supreme Judges ofConnecticut, and during
large portion OF that time Chief Justice OF the State
He entered Yale college in 1883 ana graduated
four years afterwards, at the age OF twenty-five,
being o classmate OF William M. Evarts and
Edwards PierrepOnt, both Of whom have attained
such eminence as lawyers and have likewise been
very often spoken OF in connection with the Chief
Justiseship.
BEGINNING A CAREER IN THE WEST.
Directly after his graduation he came West and
began the study Of law at Maumee City, which was
then the county seat Of Lucas county. After his
admission to the bar he formed copartnership
with his preceptOr, Mr.. Samuel N. Young which
continued for eighteen years, until 1856, when Mr..
Young retired, and ne formed a copartnershp with
his brother, Mr.. Richard Waite, having in the
meantime removed to Toledo, which had become.
in the progress OF time, the principal town and
he has continued to reside In Toledo.
In lS49 he was a member OF the Ohio Legislature,
Constitutional convention, but was defeated by
his democratic opponent
DEFEATED FOR CONGRESS-.
In 1862 his name was pressed with great earnest
ness by Toledo for the republican nomination Tor
Congress, but his opponent James NJ. Ashley, re-
celved enough votes from the delegates outside OF
Lucas county to give HIM majority IN the conven-
ton. SO great, however, was the dissatisfaction
with MIR. Ashley that Mr.. Walteis friends insisted
runnlnQ him. claiming that. in IN
received q majority OF the votes Of the legally
elected delegates The result was that, entirely
*ss 's sspps9ss s vs:; n sS"1's q
Gratis; but regular democrat running in some Of
the other countless and MIR. Ashley receiving most
result re- t was the ELECTION Of Mr. Ashley over Mr.
Waite by plurality OF 800 or 400 votes. In his
city and county, hswever, 80 overwhelming was
Mr.. Wsite's popularity that he had over 100 ma
jortty OF all the votes cast, his opponent only re-
ceiying 400 or 500 votes.
PATRIOTIC RECORD DURING THE WAR.
During the war Mr.. Waite was foremost among
the citizens Of Toledo in supporting and aiding the
government oy voice, vote, pen and money, and
with the sentiment Of the North. He never, how
ever, allowed his name again to be used in con-
iesston.
When President Grant was called upon to select
the counsel to represent tins government before
the Geneva Arbitration Tribunal, well estab-
iished had Mr. waite's reputation become among
western lawyers that he, with Caleb Cushing and
William NJ. Evarts, was appointed To that position
His services there have been recognized as OF
made known to the nation at large his professional
ability. Upon his return home he was received
with every demonstration OF honor and respect by
his fellow citizens but he Immediately went to
work again tor his old Toledo clients.
CHAIRMAN OF THE CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION
In April, 1873 he was nominated BY the Repub-
lcan County Convention as one OF the delegates
to represent the county OF Lucas in the C0nven-
ton called to amend ana revise the constitution
against him he received the singular honor OF
unanimous vote by the electors OF the county for
the position, and upon the assembling OF the Con-
vention at Columbus he was thought the most
suitable one among the members, comprising as
State, to preside over It's deliberations Although
he had never had occasion to pay any attention to
parliamentary law he has made q singularly
received With acclamations of rejoicing the news
of his nomination and confirmation to be tue head
OF the judiciary OF the country.
HONoRRD AMONG HIS NEIGHBoRs.
1t will thus be seen that the record OF his public
life is not lengthy nor until lately conspicuous
one; but the record OF his private life ID that OF
whose every day has been full OF the duties OF
q large and constantly increasing law practice.
Always doing what he had to do with all his
energy seeking no public 'ravors, although always
well informed in Gil public afYairs and taking
deep interest thereln living lie OF integrity and
honesty, full Of private as well public virtues,
malice has never dared TO breathe word against
his character, and among his fellow citizens his
name - y SvnOuymc IOT ~ Lu6b cuAT6CterlXeS the
best American manhood. whenever hts neighbors
and friends have had An opportunity TO honor HIM
they have done without regard to class or party.
HIS PROFESSIONAL LIFE.
His professional lie has been an aDsorbingly
busy one. From the day OF his admission to the
Bar hts reputation and business have been con-
stantly increasing. For the past twenty Eve years
he has stood at the head Of the Lucas county Bar,
and has enjoyed one OF the most lucrative prac-
tees in the State. His time has been divided
among the State courts and the federal courts.
HIS services have been in frequent requisition In
important causes 10 other counties than his own
residence, and very often In other States, while in
the United states Courts &C Cleveland he has had
Tor years leading business. His principal practice
has been in commercial maritime ana corporation
law, although there Is scarcely branch OF yne
whole body OF law that he Is not familiar WITH both