, 1907-12-05
TALK REVIVED OF CONTEMPLATE
ED RETIREMENT OF JUSTICE
HARLAN OF THE SU-
PREME COURT.
Venerable Jurist viii Not Confirm Re-
port, Declaring That While Eligible
to Retirement at Full Pay, He May
Decide to End His Days in the Po-
sition-Appointed BY Hays Thirty
Years Ago.
Special to The Republican.

Washington, Dec. Sup once more
has cropped the rumor that John Mar
shall Harlan, associate Justice Of the
supreme court of the United States, Is
about to resign from the bench. The
report gained circulation again TINS
week on the occasion of the celebra-
ton of the thirtieth anniversary OF
the venerable j%urist's ascension to his
present place. 1t is lacking in official
confirmation, but 1t has more OF APP
pearmce OF truth thar it's predecessors.
Justice Nothing to Say.
Justice Harlan, w~hite-haired but
bright-eyed, erect and vigorous despite
his seventy-four years, is noncommit
tai. He shook his head i~ndulgent!y
when asked pointedly If the. current
stories were true.
Eligible to Retirement.
81 can only say that l have not yet
determined what / shall do" he said.
II could have retired on full salary on
June 1, 1903. Now and then the
thought comes to mt that | should re-
tire in order that / might do certain
work which / cannot well do while on
the bench; but when l get close to a
determination of the question 1t oc-
ours to me that my life would be short
ened and perhaps become dreary If
should quit the work to which l have
become accustomed and in the doing
of which l am most happy.
May Die On Bench.
so, you see, | am undecided in the
matter. 1t may be that my judicial
work may end with my life, unless
in the meantime / am informed by
those neal me and who have the right
to advise me that my duty is to give
way to a younger man."
May Be Writing Book.
The outside duties to which Justice
Harlan refers, and which enter so
strongly into his consideration of pos
sible retirement, have aroused the Gu
riosity of his friends. 1t Is known that
the venerable jurist Yields a graceful
pen and he may have leanings toward
rounding out his ripe career by enter
ing the field of literature. It is gen.
orally believed, however, that he con-
templates rather the devotion of mis-
remaining years to teaching the law,
in which he is so deeply versed.
Has Chair in College.
For many years Justice Harlan has
lectured regularly in the department
of law of the George Washington uni
versity. When the university reor-
ganized it's departments, creating the
college of the political sciences, Justice
Harlan consented to take the chair OF
American constitutional law. His CO.
league, Justice David j. Brewer, also is
a member of the faculty, occupying the
chair of international law.
Never Disappoints Glasses.
Justice Harlan has shown the great
est in the development Of embryo a
lei Websters. His lectures have be-
come a feature of the university Law
and diplomatic courses, and, rain or
shine, the aged jurist never disap
POINTS his classes. His enthusiasm in
the university work Is pointed out as
one reason why he may be DESTROYS
Of passing along to the coming gener-
alton of lawyers the ripe knowledge
he has gained on the supreme bench.
Secured Nomination Of Hays.
Justice Harlan assembled the bench
in 1877, when he was forty-four years of
age. His appointment came as the d.
rect result of his action in the repub.
lican national convention of he pre-
ceding year. He was at the head OF
the Kentucky delegation and at a criti-
cal period in the proceedings Re
brought about the nomination of Hayes
by causing the elimination of Bristow.
switching his delegation to the Hays
standard. Blaine. by reason of this,
was defeated for the nomination by sew.
enteen votes.
Long Time on Bench.
Within a few months after the inau-
gurction OF President Hays, the chief
executive rewarded Mr.. Harlan by his
appointment. He has beer an honored
and CONSPICUOUS member Of the tribu-
nal ever since.