Evening journal., 1910-04-22


Now that Lloyd w. Bowers, the So
licitor-genoral Of the United states is be-
ing talked Of as a probable Taft nominee
for the Supreme Court. am reminded Of
an Incident IN Mr.. Bowers career which
furnished the crisis OF his life, and OF
that incident / have personal knowledge -
remarked a lawyer of national fame who
once was very close himself to becoming
a Supreme Court justice.
81 think I am safe I'm saying" continued
my informant. that there is not at the
bar Of tho United States. and never has
been, a man OF greater delicacy Of senti-
mcnt or OF more constant and perfect
recognition OF the rights and feelings of
others than Mr.. Bowers. lie also has a
high sense Of personal honor, and it was
due to the combination OF these character
istics that there arose the crisis in his
life of which 1 speak.
Following his graduation from tho
Columbia law school, he had been for
some time managing clerk Of a leading
law office in New York city. There re
was highly esteemed and a great career
was predicted at the bar for him. And
there he appeared one day, displaying
every evidence Of a sense of humiliation
the manner Of a man who had met with
grievous personal insult.
His friends focked around him-what
was the matter. they asked? Then. in ef-
feet, Mr.. Bowers told them that he had
that day had such an unhappy experience
in court he had decided TO abandon for
ever the profession of the law. IIc had ap-
peared in court, hc said to ask that "a long
pending matter be decided by the court
stating that IL was Of no real consequenc,
how the matter was decided. but that 4
was imperative that the decision shoulC
be made, that the accounts in question
might be settled and money necessary foi
the living expenses Of his client be re-
leased But no sooner had he made his
statement Mr. Bowers went on to say
than the court visited its anger upon him
shocking and humiiating him so that h
had decided TO abandon the law, because
he did not wish ever again TO be placed il
such a position where he could be insulted
while at the same time it would be i'm
possible for him to resent the insult.
mr. Bowers was perfectly sincere Il
his expressed purpose to give up hi
career as a lawyer, despite the bright fu
ture that was before him, and to seek
livelihood in some other way. His friends
realizing his sincerity, attempted mos
earnestly TO dissuade him from his puI
pose They asked him to come TO no dc
cision until he had given very careft
thought to the matter; at last they gaine
this concession from him, and l have al
ways believed that it was this ADVICE tha
finally persuaded Mr.. Bowers tn abar
don his purpose 90 leave tho law.
Anyway. soon after the incident in th
court room occurred, Mr.. Bowers went {
Minnesota. and in little while becani
counsel for the Chicago and Northwes
ern Railway system Within ten years D
was general counsel I'm Chicago for Ill
whole system. Now he IS solicitor generi
IN the Department Of Justice. and i'm a
probability will be named within a fe
years at the most as an associate iusti'
OF the Supreme Court. Yet. yod sec no
narrowly ho missed the distinguishC
career he has made as a lawyer"
Copyright, 1910 by e. J. Edwards)
Tomorrow Mr.. Edwards will tell 81
Story for Baseball Fans"