The Washington herald., 1910-07-05
RANKED THIRD In
POINT OF SERVICE.
Fuller Presided Over Court
Twenty-Five Years.
APPOINTED BY CLEVELAND
Born In Maine in 1898, He Was Edu-
Gated at BowdOin College and
Harvard Law schooI-Won Fame
and Riches in the Practice of His
Profession in Chicago.

Chief Justice Melville W. Fuller viii
go down In the history of the nation
with Marshall and Taney as one Of the
men who served longest in the great
Office 10 which he was called
Chief Justice Fuller ranked as third in
length Of service among the Ilustrious
men who have directed the deliberations
OF the Supreme Court. He served twen-
ty-two years. while Chief Justice Taney
served twenty-eight years, and Chief JUS
tice Marshall thirty-four years.
Among the Chief Justices of the su-
preme Court. Justice Fuller was the
eighth. and il is left 10 the scholars and
critics of the future to determine mis-
rank and measure of ability as presiding
officer Of the tribunal from 1883 to 1910
When President Cleveland sent his
name to the Senate on April so. 1883, for
confirmation as Chief Justice, Mr.. Fuller
was practically unknown except in the
State OF his adoption and 10 members Of
the legal profession. In Maine. where he
was born or February Il, 1893. he had
been known as a wel-behaved. scholarly
lad He had gone TO Bowdoin College.
and there won most of the prizes for
elooution. He had gone TO Harvard Law
School for one year
Begins Law Practice.
Finally he blossomed forth as a lawyer
and politician Of a high-minded sort in
his native city of Augusta. he became
associate editor on Democratic paper
called the Age. and about the same time
was elected president Of the city council,
ard then city solicitor. Soon thereafter
he left Maine for the greater opportuni-
ties OF life in Chicago.
From 1876 to 1888 he lived in Chicago.
but attracted little attention outside his
immediate circle of friends and associates
at the bar until he undertook the defense
of Bishop Cheney, on a charge Of heresy.
His knowledge Of ecclesiastical history
and procedure astonished those who con-
Quoted the case, and his argument of the
cause of the bishop before the Supreme
Court Of Illinois is referred TO still as a
forensic effort seldom. If ever, surpassed
in that court.
He was a delegate TO the national con-
ventions Of the Democratic party in 1854.
1872, 1876, and 1850, and served in the Hi
nOis legislature from 1863 to 1855.
Quiet but Energetic.
The Maine boy who had gone West"
accomplished much. Notwithstanding his
quiet life. lie had laid the foundations
for deep understanding of the CONNER
cial laws OF the country, and along this
line he had performed services for clients
that were estimated to have netted him
an annual income OF $4,000. These ae-
eomplishments led the Republican Sena-
tors from Illinois TO urge upon the Demo
cratic President the appointment Of Mr..
Fuller as the successor Of Chief Justice
Waite.
The nomination of Mr.. Fuller, then
fifty-hve years Of age was followed by
a memorable contest in the Senate. The
judiciary Committee, with its Repubii-
can majority, to which the nomination
was sent April 90, held up the appoint
ment until July %. Then the committee
-reported il 10 the Senate without recon-
mendat- on For three hours that body
debated executive session whether tc
confirm or reject the nomination.
The attack OF Mr.. Fuller was led by
Senators EdmUnds, Evarts. and Stewart
Senator's Cullom and Farwell defended
him. The reports that he had been a
"Copperhead" during the civil war and
that ne did rot possess the requisite
ability as q lawyer were gone over
Finally by a vote OF Il to 20, his nomi-
nation was confirmed
Harlan Only Remains.
Since that date the entire court as Il
then existed has passed away, with tn,
single exception of Justice Harlan OF
those prominent in the fight over hi:
confirmation, only Senator Cullom re
mains, and President Cleveland. who thu:
honored the Illinois lawyer. has likewis'
gone 10 his grave.
Throughout his service Chief Justic,
Fuller was noted for the dignity witt
which he filed the position. He preserved
that manner, whether on the bench o.
of OF il. Although small Of stature, no
more than five feet seven inches, hi
wealth of silvery hair and classic fea
lures made him a commanding figur
wherever he appeared.
Probably Mark Twain resembled tn
Chief Justice IN physical appearance NOR
than any other man of prominence il
recent years. Frequently the humoris