The Washington herald., 1909-04-25


Sham for Attorney General the other DAY
al the Bar Association.
It's certainly ratlar unusual nowadays
To see man who has never been any
thiug but a lawyer appointed Attorney
GeBzral' remarked enc. says a writer in
the New York Post
4 think its more unusual that we've
again got real lawyer for Attorney
General, was the significant reply.
II is not necessary TO agree with either
OF the speakers 70 feel hsartily glad that
President Taft was able 10 persuade so
able a lawyer as Mr. Wickersham 10 give
Up an unusually lucrative law practice
and devote himself TO the government
service. az a salary only q fractional
pau as great as the income TO which he
lad been accustomed.
There have been many great lawyers
among the list Of Attorneys General
since Edmund Randolph accepted that
position in Washington's first Cabinet
n 1852. The mere mention Of such names
~ William Writ, Roger B- Taney. Caleb
Gushing. jeremiah s. Black. Edwin a.
stanton. William M. EvartS, 2. Rock
httL LANaa- anu All lfllNill1t ctLA - tiLNbL
that II has not been difficult in the past
10 get the highest legal talent in the na-
ten as counsel for all the people" as
Nr. Wickersham has apuy called the At
torney General
In the case Of hfr- Wickersham no ele-
ment entered save that of the capacity
oT the man TO do the difficult and i'm
portant work which must fan To his
snare. No man in recent years. certainly
none since Richard Oluey. in IS93, has
taken I'D the work of the Department Of
Justice with such universal recognition
from his associates at the bar that he
was emiBeutly ftted for the post And
this is said with full appreciation Of the
hign standing and ability OF Philander c.
Knox. who lad already a wide and de-
served reputation as corporation lawyer
when he entered A1cEinley's Cabinet in
1871 II IS The prevailing opinion of those
who should know that the new Attorney
General IS q worthy successor Of the
three ether New Workers who have held
the rost Benjamin F. Butler under Jack
son and Van Buren,, william II. Evarts
ua fer Johnson. and Edwards Pierrepont
Unicr Grant
Cf Quaker Descent.
George Woodward Wickersham was
born in Pittsbgrs. Pa, September 70.
1Oz His ancestors were Quakers HIS
r8ternaI grandfather Thomas Wicker
sham. was "a banker and broker tin Phil
dolp1ia- where he served as the first pres
ide1t Of the old board of brokers. the
forerunner OF the present stock exchange.
His father. samuel Morris Wickersham,
was colonel OF a Pennsylvania regiment
d,iying the civil war. Ills mother. who
was tle daughter OF J. J. Woodward. a
weU-knovn Philadelphia publisher. died
IN his infancy and after the death Of his
fatne-. the boy was taken into the house
hold or his grandfather fn the Quaker
CITY. There. amid the most favorable sur
rouudings. his young youth was passed.
The Wickersham home was The center
OF musical artistic. and literary circle.
i'm which the true worth of the arts was
understood and appreciated II was but
natural that amid such surroundings
young Wickersham should develop the in
telleetual side Of his nature early. His
aun- Aubertine Woodward Moore. was
an accomplished pianist and we'll
known writer ON musical subjects and
her influence helped 10 inStiH into the
youth knowledge Of and love for good
music that he has always found time de-
spite his busy legal career 10 foster and
enc3 Irage
Greatly Enjoys Music.
While it cannot De said that his musical
train.1g has increased the clarity or
cogency Of his legal briefs. il has always
proved q source Of the greatest pleasure
u him. perhaps for the very. reason that
fl opened Up 20 him another world far re-
moved from that of legal tones and the
calendar Be that as IL may. he has
aiways kept Up a lively interest in music
Of the better sort Here in New York he
las been a constant patron and attendant
at Srau1 opera. and the Philharmonic and
Boston symphony concerts The opera
IS perhaps his chief delight. and Of the
composers. the work of Wagner appeals
e. him strongly
Ia other fields too he early developed
love for the humanities which he has
never ostgrown In his youth he was p
constant visitor 70 the studios and art
galleries of Philadelphia. and learned 10
distinguish the good from the bad, and
To WORK out for himself a true criterion
Of artistic merit This interest. too. has
remained with him. and he IS more fully
alive 60 the art influences Of the day
than many who pose rs its patrons. En-
cravings and meZZOtints interest him
particularly and among his most cher
ished possessions are some hne French
engravinEs and old English meZzOtnts-
His grandfatheT's fine library too af-
f0rded "a rich field for the cultivation Of
tastes OF a decidedly literary trend He
developed here a healthy. if unusual, love
for books. and his reading made him IA
Inlliar with the best works OF the classical
and English authors at an age when most
boys cOnfine their reading 10 what are
generally known as boys books. Not fC-
ton and poetry alone but history and
philosophy interested him IN the latter
field. while stiu IN his teens he had
read widely. and IL Is a family tradition
that at seventeen he had read Herbert
SpenceTs First Principles through
from cover 10 cover.
TeIeErapher and Linguist.
His precocity in reading. in which he
was advised and guided by his grand
father. who was vastly proud Of his
studicus grandson. did not prevent. but
rath r assisted. in-the development OF a
marked interest in mechanics and cleo
tricaI appliances. TelegTaphy was one
Of the things that attraced him. and he
SCI up an instrument in his room. on
which he quickly became an expert Oper-
= ator. This mechanical bent determined
him finally 20 prepare himself for the en-
eineering profession and with this end
is. view he entered Ilehigh University.
Afte- completing two yeaFs in the civil
engineering course in that institution
with credit. his desire 10 enter a life that
held more Of human interest led him 10
efl9rTon his course and return IN phil
adelphia- where he resumed his studies
and reading under private tutors. and
prepared 90 enter upon a business career.