The Birmingham age-herald., 1902-06-20
Grave Charges Impending in
 Supreme Court.

interesting figure on the Supreme bench. He was born in Kentucky, was named by his pare nts for the bar. was educated by them for the bar. was graduated at seventeen for the bar, was qualified at twenty-one for the bar. and at five and twenty was a judge. Truly romantic facts in hard history.
 But this Is not all that Is of romantic history in the life of this famous man who at So has been on the supreme bench of the United states, the greatest and most powerful court In the world, for twenty-five years. It was as judge Of his native courty that he vas elected "as soon as the law would allow that Is at the earliest legal age for such position. Realizing that the bounds of rural county however beloved of his spirit, were too far within the horizon of his intellectual vision. he early packed up his law books and went to dwell in Louis vile. which was to him then a great city and which Is still great to all Kentucky youth.
 Harlan took the Union side In the war between the States and raised a regi- ment Of cavalry. He fought we'll and within two years he was named by Lin- coln as brigadier general. but before the senate could confirm his nomination the death of his father neccssltated his re- turning home end he resigned from the army. Soon afterwards he was elected attorney general of Kentucky, which place he held for four years, when he returned to private law practice. Hayes selected him for attorney general of the United States, then member of the Louisiana commission In 1877 and in Mo- SeInbcr of that year raised hilr to the supreme bench. Thus we have the more salient facts in a remarkable career. At A. an age when most able lawyers are just beginning to see their way to lu- crative practice. Harlan became a jus tice Of the greatest court in the world.
 Chiet Justice Fuller, who will be sev- onty next February. was merely suc- cessful Chicago lawyer when President Cleveland discovered In him a great iurist and astonished the country by naming him in 1888 to occupy the place John Marshall had filled. He Is said to be fatigued and not altogether In good fealth, and therefore will seek retire. ment after his seventieth year Is reached. As he can retire on his full pay of $10,- 500 a year, there would seem to be no personal necessity for him to remain on the bench, which he has so ably adorned. He gave up a private practice of s50,000 year to become chief justice for a little more than one-f1fth of that sum- and as chief justice he has probably done five times more of hard work than he did in private life As he was a successful prac- titioner In growing Chicago from 1856 to 1888, period of thirty-two years. it Is generally held that he accumulated an ample private fortune.
 Concerning the chief justice and his proposed retirement. there Is this element of immediate Goubt. He IS a Dem mocrat, the only one of that political faith of the four members of the Supreme Court whose early retirement is now considered certain. He may retain the chief Justice ship until after he knows, in Novem Der, 1904, who will be elected President for thf term beginning March 4, 1905.
 Chief Justice Fuller, by the way wal in his etrly manhood the editor of weekly newspaper in Maine, in which state he was born.
 
 All of this Is extremely interesting te all the people, whatever be the manner of its telling in this place, but of trans cendent interest is the question as to what menner of men shall President Roosevelt select for the impending va- cancies on the supreme bench. In this every Individual of the republic IS con. cerned. Will he give place to mere place. seekers to serve party or personal ends, or will he rise, as Cleveland and Harri. son and most of his other predecessors rose, above all such consideration? Will he elect men fitted for the places or fl tho places to men?
 Roosevelt is the easiest man influenced by wishy-washy melodies I ever knew" declares a distinguished officer who joins me at this moment 'The men who are closest to him now and who most influ- tnce hls actiors as regard Cuba and downward are men of absolutely no con- sequence except that which he as Presi- dent gives them.'
 These words are merely repeated, but they are worth remembering.
 LUCIEN JULIEN WALKER.