Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1909-11-13

recollection of connection with the
government or politics or something.
| Anyway, we have heard of them. Da-
| vid Davis we know from bis connec-
! ton with Lincoln and Lucius Q. c. La
mar aud some others from their serv-
| ice in the 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 fame-and they
could scarcely have higher-is 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 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 it's SEES
sions. A few minutes before noon
silken ropes are stretched from the
robing room to the chamber, and be-
tween these ropes the justices advance
Al 5OltLii DibNNSSiOAs (hitl SuSLl1C
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 a
Democratic senator from Louisiana;
McKenna, who was McKinley'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 McKin-
ley, and Moody, who was secretary of
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
taehes and McKenna 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 short time in the legislature
and was several times 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 a Union
colonel in the war, was a candidate for
congress and governor, delegate to Re
publican national conventions, member
of the Louisiana commission and be-
came a 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
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 a
Judge, going from the district to the
state supreme court. He was pro-
NOTED to the federal supren lch in
1889.
Confederate Veteran on Bench.
Edward Douglass White was born in
Louisiana in 1915, served in the Con-
federate army, was justice of the state
supreme court and 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 a 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 a cap
tain liz 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
1910, 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 1908.
william Henry Moody is the young
est member of the court, having been
born in Massachusetts in 1853. He
was member of congress for several
terms before entering the cabinet and
took his place on the supreme bench
In 1906.