The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-02-06
Judge A. D. Sayre Elevated to
 Supreme Bench
LANE DECLINES OFFER
Judge w. H. Thomas Takes Sayre's Place as Judge of City Court of Monteomery-Otber Vacan-
 cies to be Filled.
By HERVEY w. LAIRD.

l Montgomery, February 5-(Specia-) )-
 James Render Dowden was today ap-
 pointed chief justice of the supreme court succeeding John R. Tyson. resigned.
 Judge Anthony Dickinson sayre was
 appointed to the vacancy on the supreme
 bench, caused by the promotion of MT. Justice Dowdell, and Judge William H. 1 Thomas, associate judge of the city court of Montgomery, is appointed senior judge of this court, taking the place of Judge Sayre, promoted.
 While there is no intimation yet of who
 will succeed Thomas, there is a belief that Governor Conner will give the place
 to Judge ". w. Pearson of the circuit court In which event it is understood that Eugene Ballard of Prattville will follow
 Judge Pearson.
 Judge sayre receives only $500 year more on the supreme bench. his salary as city court judge being s45OO, and Judge i Thomas, who is getting s45OO, will not be raised.
 The position of associate justice was of- l fered to Judge A. o. Lane of Birning- ham, who declined because he did not think it best to change.
 The elevation of Justice Dowdell to the head of the supreme court, succeeding 1 Chief Justice John R. Tyson, resigned, 1 and the promotion of Judge A. D. Sayre of the city court of Montgomery to the vacancy occasioned by the selection, has been the chief source of conversation at | the capital as well as the capitol, since the announcement by the governor early this morning. There can be no question but they are among the most illustrious l jurists of the southern states. This is agreed to by all classes of citizens who 1 know anything of them or their work. Chief Topic of Conversation.
 The selection of chief justice from among the members of the court has left l the situation without that sting that would have accompanied an outsider, and gives assurance that the appointing power is seeking the best good of the court and the state. His former relations to the ! court would have made Judge S. D. Weakley welcome. warmly so, but any other man on the outside would have been less desired than one of the present organization. Judge Dowdell had the in- dorsement of all his associates and of many outside who had been informed of the likelihood of his appointment. | Justice Dowdell comes from a school of excellence in the calling of his life,
 which has peculiarly fitted him for the work that his new place will demand Learned in the law as a young man, he l became a solicitor where tact and ability had to have place with industry and en- l terprise Then he went to the bench of | the circuit court, where a general line | of trials gave a wide range of informa- l tion, and after that to a chancellorship. ! where the common law practice finally l rounded him out for the place on the supreme bench which came to him 10 | years ago by election of the people Since that time his opinions have ex- hibited that legal excellence that comes only with life of devotion to the pro- | fession he has chosen.
 | In his private life Judge Dowdell has been most beloved. Possessed of an even temper, high sense of right and justice he has added to it love and tenderness 1 for his own and appreciation for all | others. No man ever found him impatient 1 or critical; but, on the other hand. his ever intention has been to promote the | best interests and highest happiness of 1 those who are in any way touched by l his daily life. His associates on the | bench render him this praise. They love i him with an affection that few men can | claim in this life.
 The New Justice.
 After the vacant place on the bench I hn haa aAI
 | mingham, Governor Conner rendered it l to Judge A. D. Sayre, senior judge of | the city court of Montgomery He ac- | cepted. In doing so 1t is regarded that 1 the court received one of the great men | of the bar of the south. All agree, who know him and his work, that Judge | Sayre is re-emnently a lawyer and 4 | great judge. His record has been one of marked brilliance since he went to the | bench and the scores of men who con i graduated the governor on his selection evidenced the love that is held for him | in his home city
 Judge Sayre has not had the varied | experience of Judge Dowdell having served only on the city court bench at | Montgomery. but he has been fortunate | in being engaged in some of the most | important litigation the state has ever l had. He made the race once for the su- preme bench and was defeated by a small ii'i Siii, dHu ever SlHce that time he has l been urged to enter again. which he { would have no doubt done if it had not 1 been for the candidacy of his friend | Judge J. M. Chiffon at the recent pri-
 maries. Judge Sayre is almost wholly Montgomery man, having been born at
 Tuskegee, only short distance away
 He is a nephew of the late Senator John | T. Morgan.
 Tyson and Thomas.
 Chief Justice John R. Tyson retires
 from the bench after long and notable Lcareer. He began on the circuit court bench in this territory in 1892, and went
 to the supreme court in 1898, holding the
 place of associate until his election to
 the head of the court in 1906 He will
 re-enter the practice of law, having
 formed a partnership with former Attor-
 ney General Massey Wilson and assistant
 Attorney General Thomas w. Martin He
 felt that his best service lay in a return
 to private life, having had the honors
 and the emoluments of the high office Judge William H. Thomas, who goes up from associate to judge of the city l court of Montgomery, Is one of the best
 known jurists in the whole United States.
 He has had an honorable career on the
 bench and as lawyer. He has made a
 nationwide reputation as a reader and
 thinker and is, like the illustrious and
 lamented Henry Grady. often called to
 the east to talk of the south and it's prog
 ress and problems In a recent address
 In Boston on the problems of the south
 he attracted the attention of the press
 Of the entire east. He comes from a
 stock or farmers, being himself an ex-
 tensive black belt planter
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