Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1909-11-02

1t Is point worthy OF note that most
Of the members of the court were not
greatly distinguished in other fields.
They were not politicians. though
some of them had been senators and
cabinet officers. Fer the NEST part
they have been lawyers pure and SIM
pie. men chosen for learning and char
aetcr. The last TIVE chief justices,
Waite and Fuller, had scarcely held
any position prior 70 their appoint
ment. OF many of the associate JUS
tees the same Is true. One looks
among them almost in vain fer names
highly distinguished outside of law
reports. Bushrod Washington of Vir-
ginfs, who served thirty-one years, we
recognize because he-wns a Washing
ton. John Mclean of Ohio and Philip
p. Barbour of Virginia stir some faint
recollection of connection with the
government or politics or something.
Anyway, we have heard of them. Da-
vid Dnvis we know from his connec-
ton with Lincoln and Lucius Q. 9. La
mar aud some others from their serv
fee in tho cabinet or In congress. Some.
like Joseph Story, we recognize as emil
nent law writer's, but with most of
them their sole title to fRms-and they
could scarcely have a higher-ts that
they were members of the United
States supreme court.
Courts Impressive Opening.
Most writer's in describing this body
call It an august tribunal" 1t has
been quite a task to keep from ringing
In that hackneyed and bromide
phrase. Well, the supreme court is
august. All that is needed to realize
the fact is to attend one Of its SEES
sions. A few minutes before noon
siIken ropes are stretched from the
robing room to the chamber, and be-
tween these ropes the justices advance
In solemn procession. Chief Justice
Fuller is the smallest one OF the num-
Der and Harlan, walking Immediately
behind Fuller, the largest. Then come
Brewer of Kansas, who is the orator
of the court; White, who was once
Democratic senator from Louisiana;
McKenna, who was BicKinley's attor-
ney general; Holmes, who was named
for his poet father, Oliver Wendell
Holmes; Day, who was for a short
time secretary Of state under Acktn-
ley, and Moody, who WAS secretary or
the navy and attorney general in the
cabinet of Theodore Roosevelt Be
fore his death Justice Peckham walked
between White and Mckenna. Most
of the justices are smooth OF face, al
though Fuller and Holmes have mus
taches and AfcKenna a closely cropped
beard Despite his shortness of stat
ure, the chief justice is an impressive
figure, with his literal name of snow
white hair and fine and scholarly face
he was born in Maine in 1888 and was
educated In Bowdoin and Harvard
For a time he was editor OF Demo
cratic paper and was president of the
Augusta council and city solicitor. He
then went to Chicago and became one
OF the city's leading lawyers. He serv-
ed for a short time in the legislature
and was several times a delegate to
Democratic national conventions. Mr..
Fuller has been chief justice since
1888.
John Marshall Harlan was born in
Kentucky in the same year as the
chief justice. He was educated in the
colleges of his own state. was Union
colonel in the war. was candidate for
congress and governor, delegate to Re
publican national conventions. member
of the Louisiana commission and be
came justice of the supreme court
in 1877. Despite his age. Justice Har-
Ian is an enthusiastic golf player.
David Josiah Brewer was born in
Asia Minor, where his father was 4
missionary. He is a nephew OF the
famous Field brothers, David Dudley,
Cyrus W. and stephen j. Field. who
was himself a supreme justice. He is
a Yale graduate and began the prac-
tice of law IN Kansas. where he was
judge. going from the district to the
state supreme court He was pro-
NOTED to the federal supreme bench in
1880
Confederate Veteran on Bench.
Edward Douglass White was born in
Louisiana in 1916, served in the Con
army. was justice of the state
supreme court aud United States sen
ator, taking his seat ON the United |
States supreme bench in 1894.
Joseph McKenna was born in Phila- |
delphia in 1913, but went to California |
when boy; served in the legislature,
IN several congresses and as United |
States circuit judge; was made attor-
ney general in 1897 and the same year /
was promoted to his present position.
Oliver Wendell Holmes was cap |
tain in the Union army and was three
times wounded. He has written vari-
Gus law books and served on the SUI
preme bench Of Massachusetts before
being appointed to the United States
supreme bench in 1902.
William r. Day was born in Ohio in
1S49, was common pleas judge, secre-
tary of state chairman of the Spanish
treaty commission, United States cir
cult judge and was made supreme
court justice in 1903.
William Henry Moody is the young
est member of the court, having been
born in Massachusetts in 1853. He
was a member of congress for several