The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1909-06-10
Justice Manning.
News and ObserAer.

NoWs ana oDoeTAeT
From the moment that it was
known that Judge Conner would be
named as Federal Judge by the Presi-
dent the public has expected that the
Governor would name State Senator
James Smith Manning, OF Durham, to
succeed him as Justice OF the Supreme
Court. Therefore the appointment
made yesterday was no surprise. Mr.
Manning had strong endorsements
for the bench from a large number OF
the members of the bar and Others
who will be much ratified at the
honor that has come to Mr.. Man
ming. He is lawyer OF ability and
industry, and has long enloyed a
large practice in.the courts OF his dis
trict and in the Supreme court.
James Smith Manning was born i'll
Pittsboro, Chatham county, June ,
1859, and is a son of the late Hon.
John Manning, one of the first law
yers North Carolina has produced.
Mr.. Manning was educated at the
University of North Carolina and
graduated in the class Of 1879. He
read law under his father, who was
professor of law at the University OF
North Carolina, and was licensed to
practice law in 1882. He began to
practice law in Durham in partner
ship with his father, and his ability
and industry at once brought him
into large practice, which has grown
until his firm is regarded as one OF
the leading law firms in central North
Carolina. He was married Dece Der
18th, 1883. to Miss Julia T. Cain,
daughter of DR.. J. F. Cain, of Dur
ham. Mr. Manning has long been a
member of the Democratic State Ex-
ecutive Committee and a leader in the
Fifth District, and State Democratic
politics. He was the Democratic
nominee for Judge in 1896, the year
when the fusion of the Populists and
Republicans defeated every Demo
cratic nominee on the State ticket.
He was for several years chairman Of
the county executive committee and
has taken a leading part in the in
dustrial development at Durham, as
well as in law and politics, and holds
responsible and important positions
in banking and other institutions in
his town. He is now vice-president
of the Citizens Bank of Durham. He
is a trustee of the University and IL
member of the Episcopal church.
In the House of Representatives. Gin
1907 Mr.. Manning served as chair
Of tho I'o,,, ;ttoa on Dp h1io Cor
vice Corporations. 1t is not too much
to say that no committee in the Gen
eral Assembly of North Carolina for
d generation, has served the people
of the State with more singleness OF
purpose, or more ability and more
fairness than the Public Service Cor
poration Committee of the House in
1907. Being a man of judicial tenn
permanent and conservative views,
Mr. Manning did not regard cOnserv-
atism as do most folks who use that
term as implying favoritism to rail
roads or policy of do-nothing. Mr.
Manning, in the memorable fight for
rate reduction in the House in 1907
| always spoke with frankness and
candor and ability and his clear and
forceful exposition of the passenger
and freight questions and the need, Of
giving the Corporation Commission
! power to give relief to the travelling
public and shippers commanded the
approval and support OF the ma ority
| OF the House to every measure that
was presented by Mr.. Manning's com
mittee.
In 1908 Mr.. Manning was a Jealous
supporter of Governor Kitchin fol
the nomination as Governor in the
hotly contested campaign for the
nomination in the Democratic State
| Convention, and the earnest efforts
and loyalty as the manager of the
| Kitchin forces won the admiration O
the Governor and those who were
associated with him in that memOra
BILE campaign. In the same year hi
was nominated for the State Senate
by the Democrats of his district ant
was elected by a large majority. Ii
the Senate he was one of the leader.
and, in addition to his other duties
served as chairman OF the important
Judiciary Committee. He was tn,
author of Sub Section F. that wa!
| Incorporated as an amendment tt
the 1907 antitrust law
|