St. Paul daily globe., 1888-05-01
A Hitherto Unheard of Chicago
Man Captures the Chief
Justiceship.
Minneapolis G. A. R. Petition
for Means to Erect Tomb
stones for Comrades.
st. Paul and Duluth Public
Building Bills Reported
FavoPably.
Special to the Globe.

Special to the Globe.
WASHINGTON, April 30.-President
Cleveland today sent to the senate the
name of Melville w. Fuller, of Chicago,
TO be chief justice of the United States.
Melville Weston Fuller was born in
Augusta, Me-, Feb. Is, 1888. His father
was Frederick A. Fuller; mother, Cath
arine, daughter of Chief Justice Nathan
Weston. Melville w. fitted for college
in Augusta and graduated at Bowdoin
in the class of 1858, his claSSmate being
L. j. Phelps, minister to England. Mr..
Fuller, after leaving college, began the
study of law at Bangor. After attend
ing lectures in the law department of
Harvard, he began practise in Augusta
in 1856. While waiting for clients, he
acted as editor of the age, and won his
spurs III journalism. Feeling that his
true field of work was the law, and real
izing that his native city did not afford
that scope for effort which he stood in
need of, Mr.. Fuller came west and Sc
lected Chicago. Here he did not have
TO wait long for practice. His ability
was speedily recognized and properly
rewarded. For thirty years he has en-
JOyed lucrative practice, and has won
distinction among the foremost at this
bar. In 1861 he was elected member
of the state constitutional convention.
In 1862 he was chosen to the legislature,
and, though Democrat, running each
time in strong Republican district
HE WAS VICTORIOUS
by large majOTitieS. He was delegate
to the Democratic national conventions
of 1864, 1872, 1876 and 1880. In 1860 he
was selected by the citizens to deliver
the address of welcome to Stephen A.
Douglas. In 1858 Mr.. Fuller married
Calista O. Reynolds. and after her de-
cease, Mary Ellen, daughter of the dis
tinguished banker, William +. Cool
baugh. He has eight daughters. In
his practice in the supreme court of the
United States, Mr.. Fuller has repeat
edly come in contact, both as col
league and as an opponent, with
MeSsrs. Edmunds, Thurman, Hoadly,
Ingersoll and other admittedly great
lawyers, and has never failed to hold
his own against the greatest of them.
He is familiar with the decisions of that
court and well informed in the history
OF our country and especially in consti-
tutiOnal questions. Not content with
the vast amount of reading and writing
which of necessity results from the ac-
NV BAttNbitS Vi iiio PlOISoOlOlis MIL
Ter does an immense amount of miScel-
laneous reading and considerable writ
ing by way of recreation. He is an ON
nivOrOuS reader, resembles Macauley in
his liking for good novel, as well as
the swiftness with which he grasps the
contents of book and the tenacity
with which his memory clings to it.
HEARD IN WASHINGTON.
When the nomination of Melville W.
Fuller as chief justice of the United
States reached the senate, Minister
Phelps and Senator Gray were sitting
together on one of the sofas. The NOM
inatiOn was Immediately made the sub
Ject of general, whispered conversation
and, as far as could be ascertained, the
comment was entirely favorable to the
selection from every standpoint, Mr..
Fuller's qualifications and fitness being
recognized on the Republican side Of
the chamber, while the political wisdom
of the appointment is conceded bv the
Democrats who opposed the selection of
Minister Phelps. Fuller never filled
hor sought an office, but has held high
place in the councils of the Democratic
party. Early III the administration of Mr..
Cleveland he was rendered the solicitor
generalship, and subsequently positions
on the civil service commission. inter-
state commerce commission and Pacific
railroad commission, all of which he
declined. He has been held in the
highest regard by the president. and
has been generally indorsed by Western
Democrats. In personal appearance
Mr. Fuller is unusually handsome; his
hair and mustache are silvery, and his
features are clear cut and Intelligent.
In stature he is short and slight, COM
pared with his future associates on the
supreme bench. Mr.. Faller is man of
high scholarly as well as legal attain
mentS, and as ah orator his talents have
given him the name of the Chauncey Nj.
DepeW of the West. In politics he is
best described as an ''old school Demo-
crat." He was loyal in feeling during
the war; is believer in the advanced
doctrine of states rights, and an advo-
cate of simple government. He is a
member of the Episcopal church, and
has been prominently identified with
that organization and conspicuous in
the Cheney and other famous ecclesi-
astic trials. He is we'll known in Wash
ington as practitioner before the su-
preme court.
The nomination of MIR. Fuller seems
to give general satisfaction to the Dem
ocratS, while no unfriendly criticisms
are heard from Republicans. Senator
Cullom says Mr.. Fuller is an excellent
lawyer, and will make an excellent
chief justice. Senator Spooner speaks
in the highest terms of Mr.. Fuller, and
says he is a man of profound learning
and eminent responsibility. No oppo-
sition from Republican senators to his
confirmation is apprehended. Judge
Cooley, chairman of the Interstate COM
merce commission, this afternoon wired
his heartiest congratulations to Mr..
Fuller. He says the appointment is in
every way an excellent one, and that
Mr. Fuller will make a perfect chief
justice.
IN CHICAGO,
CHICAGO, April 30.-The nomination
of Melville w. Fuller. of Chicago, as
chief justice of the United States. is re-
garded with unbounded satisfaction by
the leading men of both parties. Mr..
Fuller is in every respect fitted to fill
the high Office in which he has been
nominated. Melville w. Fuller is a
Chicago lawyer who has made large
local reputation, but who is not very
well known nationally. He is an old
ChlcaGoan from the days before the fire,
and has grown up with the town. his
appointment will give satisfaction in
Chicago, where he has had the support
of united Democracy. The appoint
ment Is not entirely unexpected, rs
Fullers friends have confidently
claimed his success for some time. 1t
is not known yet how the nomination
will strike the senate, which must pass
upon If. NJ. Falier was dining with