Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1888-05-03
THE NEW CHIEF JUS
TICE.
MELVILLE W. FULLER, OF ILL.
NOIS, THE MAN.
He Never Was in Office and is Favora-
bly, Commented on.

He Never Was in Office aud is Favora-
bly, Commented on.
WASHINGTON, April 30.-The Presi-
dent Just sent to the Senate the nomi-
nation of Melville w. Fuller, of Illinois,
to be Chief Justice of the United States.
When the nomination of Melville w.
Fuller as Chief Justice of the United
States reached the Senate, by singular
coincidence Minister Phelps and Sena-
tor Gray were sitting together on one of
the sofas. The nomination was immedi-
ately made the subject of general
whispered conversation, and as far as
could be ascerta;ned, the comment was
entirely favorable to the selection from
every standpoint. Mr.. Fusler's quail
! fications and fitness being recognized
on the Republican side of the chamber,
while the political wisdom of the ap-
pointment is conceded by the Demo
Gratis, who opposed the selection of
Minister Phelps.
Melville w. Fuller is native of the
| State of Maine. He is in his fifty-fifth
year; is graduate of Bowdoin college;
has never filled nor sought an office, is
Il recognized leader of the Chicago bar,
and has held high place in the coun-
ellis of the Democratic party.
Early in the administration of Mr..
| Cleveland, he was rendered the Solicit
tor Generalship, and subsequently posi-
tions on the Civil Service Commission,
Interstate 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 his
mustache are silvery and his features
clean out and intelligent. He is short
and slight, compared with his future
associates on the Supreme bench.
Mr.. Fuller is q man of high schOlas-
tic as well as legal attainments, and as
an orator his talents have won him the
title of the Chauncey NJ. Depew of the
West. In politics he is best described
as an old school Democrat. He was
loyal in feeling during the war; is be-
lever in an advanced doctrine of states
rights and an advocate of simple gov.
ernment. He is a member of the
Protestant Episcopal church, and has
been prominently identified with that
organization and conspicuous in the
Cheney and other famous ecclesiastical
trials. He is we'll known in Washing
ton as a practitioner before the Supreme
court.
CINCINNATI, April 30.-Gen. John c
Black, U. S. Commissioner of Pensions
was seen at the Burnet by Post re
| portnr thiS afternoon and infOrmad n
the new appointment. He said:
~ am glad to hear it. l am very
warm admirer and have been lifelong
friend of Mr.. Fuller. His appointment
is very wise and is perhaps the best tina
could have been made. Mr.. Fuller is
man of singularly pure character, anc
has led very pure life. He is ;
scholarly gentleman, and a man o
:! high legal attainments. His achieve
nents have been mostly in this line
He has clear, well-baIanced mind, ant
is a man who cannot be swayed BY
prejudice and blinded by passion. HI
will be q credit to the Supreme
bench.
"Mr. Fuller is about "a, and ha
never held public office, with one o
two exceptions. believe he has beel
a member of the Illinois Legislature
and has been a Presidential electo
once or twice. He was also membe
of the Constitutional convention O
Illinois in 1870. He has always beel
closely identified with the Democratic
party, without being an offensive par
tisan. In Illinois his appointment will
be Endorsed without regard toparty."