The Washington herald., 1910-07-05
EARLY START In LIFE
Chief Justice Fuller Was
Successful as a Boy.
SENATE SLOW TO APPROVE
When President Cleveland Submit
ted Nomination of Prominent YAM
kee Democrat, Republican Senator's
showed Reluctance to Confirm, but
Illinois Colleagues Used Influence.

Melville Weston Fuller was the sew
enth Chief Justice Of the Supreme Court
Of the United States. and held Office for
twenty-five years out OF the 120 since the
organization Of the court In 1890.
The list Of his predecessors is as fol-
lows: John jay, New York; Oliver Els
worth, Connecticut; John Marshall. Via
ginia; Roger B. Taney, Maryland Sal
mon P. Chase. Ohio; Morrison R. Waite
Ohio. Thus when Chief Justice Fuller
was appointed from the state OF Illinois,
he hailed froE. farther West than had
any of his predecessors.
Down East Yankee.
He was. however, a Down East Yam
kee by birth and inheritance. having been
born in Augusta, Ne. on February Il,
1883. His education was received in Bow
doin College, and following the example
Of a long line Of legal ancestry, ne
studied law and set up in the practice
thereof in Augusta in 1855. There he
was city attorney and the editor Of a
Democratic newspaper. but in 1856. at the
age Of twenty three. he removed to Chi
eago' where his chief work as a practic-
ms "a 2. " aS accomplished
Bright Young BarFister.
His reputation was quickly gained and
as a court lawyer he argued many i'm
portant cases. both before the bench of
Illinois and before the United States Su-
preme Court. BY a peculiar coincidence
the first case heard by Chief Justice
| Waite upon his appointment in 1874 was
argued by Mr.. Fuller. One of the most
| conspicuous cases in which he took part
| was before an ecclesiastical court, in pro-
| ceedings brought against Bishop Charles
| Edward Cheney. Of the Reformed Epis.
copal Church.
Appointment Is Approved.
The appointment OF Chief Justice Full
Ter by President Cleveland on April 30
1883. aroused considerable partisan feel
| ing Chief Justice Fuller was Hfe-lons
| Democrat and had taken an active inter
| est in the councils of his party.
An intimate friend of Stephen A. Doug.
las, he had remained a Democrat through.
out the civil war. though not identifying
himself with the Copperhead section o.
| the party. His political career com.
| prised service in a constitutional con,
yention OF his State. a service for on,
| term N the Illinois legislature and rep
resentation in the Democratic nationa
conventions in 1864. 1872, 1875. and 1883.
Nominated Hendricks.
In the convention of 1876 he place,
T. A Hendricks in nomination. Thus
while By no means a politician. he hat
been active in his party. and in the higt
state of party feeling existing In 1SS
the presentation OF his name by Demo-
cratic President to a Republican Senat,
was the occasion Of much Republican
! rancor.
Name Before Senate.
The nomination was duly referred I,
the Senate judiciary Committee, whiel
held it back for nearly three months ant
then reported it without recommenda
| ton" The Senate, however. on JuJv .
confirmed the nomination, largely through
the influence Of the Republican Senator,
| from Illinois, Senator's Cullom and Far
well, who cordially Endorsed Chief Justic,
Fuller's ability and learning and fines
for the post