The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1909-10-28
WICKERSHAM PROVING
AND IMPROVING HIMSELF
Great Ability as Lawyer Being Shown in Con-
duct of Office, While Official Life
Broadens Him.

may have a bearing upon the points of
law involved. There is vast amount
of this preliminary work, in connection
with the drafting of a congressional
bill, which must be utilized by the
, author and which will be wanted by
the President and his cabinet as they
discuss the proposed measures and
which will be wanted by senators and
members of the house as they take up
, their part Of the responsibility for en-
acting the bills into law.
Mr.. Wickersham has been much in
conference with the commission, which
: the President designated some months
ago. with regard to the interstate com
merce amendments, whereas with the
, incorporation law, he is rather going it
alone.
Came as Unknown.
When he came into President Taft IS
cabinet there was hardly man in that
body of advisers less known to the
country than Attorney-General Wicker
sham. In the seven months and more
, that Taft has been President, there
probably has been no man of the cabi-
net who has impressed himself more
| favorably upon Washington. He came
here as New York lawyer. of large
corporation practise, much of it Office
practise that gave him no reputation
with the outside world. He brought
to Washington the exclusive ideas of a
New York lawyer about the newspapers
and the right of the public to know
what is being done by public officials.
Those who were admitted to his pres
ence found him very bright and
affable man, but it was not easy for
newspaper correspondents and many
others to reach his inner Office.
Has Learned Much.
However, in the meantime Mr.. Wick
ersham s ideas about the right of the
public to know what public officials are
doing have changed materially. Al
though he has plenty of work to do,
he finds time to discuss news matters
and is generous in his Judgment of what
can properly be made public. He was
unpopular when he came to Washing
ton, not more with the newspaper cor
respondents than with congress and
other people here. He is now well
liked man and growing in favor. He
is well liked not only for his personal
qualities but well regarded for the
ability he displays in the conduct OF
his Office. Washington, whether it per
sonally likes an official or not, very
generally takes off its hat to a new
conner who shows capacity for affairs.
Prevalent as is political subserviency
for men high in Office, the regard for
real ability always stands out in strong
relief
1t may be too soon to herald Mr..
Wickersham as one of the strong attOr
generals among the long line of
distinguished lawyers who have held
that office but he is on the high road.
The President has shown appreciation
of his Encouragement s talents by
selecting him for such important work
as drawing administration bills to
cover declared policies. Others have
been asked to help him, bat Mr.. Wicker
sham has been assigned 10 the chief
tasks and given chief authority.
He first demonstrated his knowledge !
and aptitude for such efforts when the
corporation tax was drawn as an
amendment TO the AI1rich- PAYNE tariff /
law. There were many consultations /
over the amendment. in which such !.
great lawyers as the President. Secre- /
tary OF State Knox, Secretary Of War !
Dickinson, and Secretary Of Commerce /
and Labor Nagel participate. That /
measure was drawn and redrawn and /.
in the final stages the work was sub /
mitted to the att0rney-generaL
Planning an Attack.
Very comprehensive plans for attack |
continued On Page Ten.l