The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1888-05-02
1T Is CHIEF JUSTICE FULLER.
PRESIDENT cLeveLAND's SELECTION.
General Satisfaction Expressed at the Nom.
inatiOn-How the New Chief Justice
Received the News-Sketch of His
Career-OpiniOns.

WASHINGTON, April 30.-The president to-
day sent the nomination to the senate of Mel
vile w Fuller of Illinois to be chief-justice of
the United States.
Mr.. Springer said the appointment of Mr..
Fuller as chief-justice was the very best one
that the president could have made. Mr.. Full
Ter is prominent in his profession, is of unim-
peachable integrity and his private character is
exemplary in every respect. He is about fifty
four years of age, is in good health and gives
promise of a long and brilliant career on the
bench He is exceedingly courteous in his
manner, but firm and unyielding in his con-
victiOns of right. He is not partisan, but
democrat i'll the enlarged and better sense-a
democrat from principle. His appointment
will give great satisfaction the people of Hi
nois and the Northwest, without regard to
party, and TO the entire country as soon as his
character and great abilities are known.
Senator Cullom says: 81 have known Mr..
Fuller for twenty-five years or more. He is
scholar and is possessed of more than ordinary
literary attainmenis. ] regard him as an excel
lent lawyer and am sure he will make an excel
lent chief-iustice."
Senator Farwell is not in the city
Mr.. Fuller was not an applicant and has not
been in Washington since the death of chief
justice Waite
1t is stated that Judge Cooley chairman of
the Interstate commerce commission, said the
appointment was a most excellent one. He tel
egraphed Judge Fuller his congratulations.
sketch of Chief Justice FuIler's Life.
Melville Weston Fuller was born in Augusta, Me-,
Feb. IL, 1888. His father was Frederick A. Fuller
his mother Catherine Martin, daughter of Chief
Justice Nathan Weston. Melville W. was fitted for
college in Augusta and graduated at Bowdoin in the
minister to England Mr.. Fuller, after leaving col
lege, began the study of the law at Bangor After
attending lectures in the law department of Harvard
university, he began to practice his profession in
Augusta in 1855. While waiting for clients he acted
editor OF the Age and won his spurs in journal
ISM. Feeling that his true field of work was the law,
and realizing that his native city did not afford that
scope for effort of which he stood in need Mr.. Full
Ter came west and settled in Chicago. Here he did
not have TO wait long for practice. His ability
! speedily recognized and properly rewarded For
thirty he has enjoyed lucrative practice and
has won distinction among the foremost at this bar
In 1861 he elected member OF the state consttu-
4 tiOnal convention. In 1862 he was chosen 10 the
legislature, and although democrat, running each
time in strong republican district, he victori-
/ Gus by large najorities. He was delegate TO the
democratic national conventions of 1854 1872, 1876
and 1880 In 1860 he selected by the citizens to
Douglas In Mr.. Fuller married Calista o. Rey-
nods, and after her deceaSe, Mary Ellen, daughter
| Of the distinguished banker, William +. Coolbaugh.
/ He has eight daughters. In his practice in the
supreme court of the United States, Mr.. Fuller has
repeatedly come in contact, both colleague and
! as an opponent with MeSsrs. EdmuDds, Thurman,
Hoadly, Ingersoll and other admittedly great law
yers, and has never failed to hold his own against
/ the greatest of them. lie is familiar with the
decisions of that and well informed the his
tory OF country and especially constitutional
/ questions Not content with the vast amount OF
\ reading and writing which, of necessity, results
from the active practice OF his profession, Mr. Fuller
does immense amount OF miscella eOus reading,
and considerable writing by the way of recreation.
/ He is OmniyerOus reader resembles Macauley in
his liking for good novel; well as in the Swttness
with which he grasps the contents OF book and the
tenacity with which his memory clings to it.