The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-12-09
The New Associate Justice.

David J. Brewer of Kansas, whom
the President has nominated to be
an associate justice of the United
States supreme court, and whose
nomination will no doubt be confirmed. was
born at Smyrna, in Asia Minor, in June,
1887, his parents being missionaries in that
place. They returned to the United States
soon afterward and settled in Connecticut.
where young Brewer was educated in diff
ferent schools in Hartford, Middetown and
New Haven. In 1851 he entered Wesleyan
University, but at the close of his junior
: year went to Yale college, where he was
graduated in 1856. After this he passed
one year as law student in the office of
his uncle, David Dudley Field. in New York
city, and then went to the law school at
Albany, where he was graduated in 1858.
He went west, and in 1859 settled in Leav-
enworth, Kan, where he began the active
practice of law.
In 1861 he was appointed United States
commissioner, and in 1862 was elected
judge of the probate and criminal courts of
Leavenworth county. Two years later he
was elected judge of the First judicial dis
trict OF Kansas, and in 1865 became presi-
dent of the city board of education of
Leavenworth. For several ensuing years
he was superintendent of the public schools
of that city, and in 1868 he was elected to
the office of prosecuting attorney for the
county. He became an associate justice of
the supreme court of Kansas in 1870 and
was reelected to that position in 1876 and
1852. He resigned from the bench in 1884
TO accept the appointment of United States
circuit judge for the Eighth judicial cir
cult, which was offered to him by President
Arthur. His most conspicuous work as a
Jurist has been in the construction of the
prohibitory and railroad legislation of
Kansas
There is an interesting little incident con-
nected with the appointment of Judge
Brewer. A week. ago the President in
formed one of the Michigan senators that
the contest had narrowed down to two
Judge Brown of Michigan and one other
person. He did not say who that other
person was. Last night this Michigan sem
a5or's colleague was at the white house, and
learned then that Judge Brewer would
probably be appointed. Michigan, which
Is In the Sixth Judicial circuit, had two
candidates-Judge Brown and Alfred Rus
sell Senator Stockbridge favored Judge
Mr.. Russell. Upon being told that Mr.
husselps appointment was out of the ques-
ton, both Michigan senators Endorsed
Judge Brown and were exceedingly hope
Jul that he would be honored. President
Harrison was In a dilemma. Judges
Brown and Brewer were equal
tavorities with him, and their quail
ilcations seemed about equal also. Then it
happened that q letter, which Judge Brewer
wrote to one of his friends in Washington,
turned the scale in his favor. In this letter,
which fortunately found its way to the
white house, Judge Brewer said that he and
Judge Brown were old schoolmates and
college chums, and if he, as candidate for
the supreme court justiceship, stood in the
way OF advancement of his old friend, he
desired to retire from the field. This act of
magnanimity, so unusual in the strife for
political office, struck the President most
iavorably, and probably turned his mind
definitely in the direction of Judge Brewer.
The Michigan senators are naturally disap-
pointed, having had the prize almost in
Their grasp, and they feel quite confident
mat Judge Brown is the coming man for the
next vacancy in the court.