The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-09-25
S. E. Baldwin, Presidential Possibility
BY ISADORE SHAPIRO

The nomination of DR.. woodrow Wilson
for governor of New Jersey by the demo-
Gratis of that state has ELECTED consid-
cradle favorable comment throughout the
country. The nation has witnessed the
anomalous spectacle of the selection for
the chief executive of a state the presi-
dent of one of our greatest universities,
and himself one of the leading educators
and publicists of the day. But no less
, significant, and no less gratifying to the
lovers of purity and efficiency in the po-
litical arena is the nomination by the
democrats of Connecticut. for the COVER
norship of that state, of Judge Simeon
E. Baldwin of New Haven, until recently
chief justice of the highest tribunal of
| Connecticut. Like DR.. Wilson, Judge
Baldwin is actively identified with fam
Gus institution Of learning, having for
nearly half a century served as instructor
of the law department of Yale university.
DR.. Wilson Is conceded to be our great
est living historian, and Judge Baldwin
is recognized as the foremost legal edu-
| Gator in America. He occupies the same
position in this country as Sir Frederick
| Pollock of England occupies in CONT
mental Europe, and the two are the most
radiant lights in the legal world.
| Who Is Simeon e. Baldwin, this man,
who. at the age of 20, has been chosen
to lead the democrats Of Connecticut
| across the sea of republicanism and land
| them upon the shores Of democracy?
| Simeon Eben Baldwin comes of a long,
| line of illustrious ancestors, early settlers
| of North America, men who heroically
withstood the prosecutions of tyrannical
rulers, who fought for independence, who
framed our constitution, who piloted the
destinies of the nation in the most crucial
and epoch-making period of its history.
| On his mothers side he Is descended,
| through the Harluckendens, Baron Dacre
and the first Earl of Gloucester, from
Edward L, on his fathers side, from
| John Baldwin, who settled at Guilford,
Conn, in 1876. Roger Sherman, a signer
of the Declaration of Independence, and
a member of the constitutional conven-
ton, was his great-grandfather
| His father, Roger Sherman Baldwin
LII D.. was one of the founders of the
republican party. The elder Baldwin
served Connecticut as its governor. and
was at one time chosen as the favorite
of her sons to represent that state in the
Senate of the United States. Simeon e.
was born in New Haven, February 0,
1S40 and has resided in that city all Of
his life. He attended the Hopkins Gram
mar school of New Haven, graduated
from Yale college in 1861, and received
his legal education at the Yale and Har-
ward law schools. He has received the
honorary degree of LII D. from Harvard.
Judge Baldwin was actively engaged In
the practice of law in New Haven from
1868 to 1898, during large part OF which
time he was counsel for the New York,
New Haven and Hartford Railroad COM
pany In 1898 he was appointed to po-
sition on the Connecticut supreme court
of errors, and, in 1907 became chief JUS
tice of that court He served in this ex-
allied position with distinction until a
few months ago, when he, reached the
age limit, and was compelled to retire
| on account of a constitutional provision
in Connecticut requiring judges to retire
at the age of 70.
| His decisions are characterized by depth
of thought, a profound and mastery
| knowledge of the law, clearness and
lucidity of expression, equalled by the
opinions of few judges, and not even sur
passed by the decisions rendered by the
| supreme court of the United States. His
familiarity and comprehensive knowledge
Of our institutions enable him to trace the
origin and development of a legal princi-
pie, and to apply 1t to present-day con-
ditions Unspotted integrity and love for
Justice find their way into his decisions
and thus make them models of right
| eousness.
Since the fall of 1869 he has been con-
nected with the Yale law school, and to
his mighty intellect, his zeal and his
ardent devotion to the legal profession
| are due the high standards and pro-
ficiency of that school. As an instructor
;. Judge Baldwin Is without peer In this
country In him is combined the student
with the practitioner Tn the class room
he ie very exacting. asking the most diff
flcult questions and drilling his tyros to
think quickly and analytically. His
exams are noted for their length. nov
elty and Stiffness" but, fortunately for
the student he grades lenently Kind
indulging and sympathetic he is adverse
to "funking'' man who m9rifests
willingness to work. In fact, Sim as
he is affectionately and deferentally re-
ferred to by the student body Is one
of the best friends on the faculty the
"fellows" have.
Judge Baldwin is most prolific writer.
Among the noted works that have ema-
mated from his pen are Modern Politi-
cal Institutions" American Railroad
Law" 1.-THE American Judiciary" and
'Raldwins Connecticut Digest" He is
co-author of 1.-TWO Centuries Growth
of American Law" and compiler Of
Ceases on Railroad Law" Legal pc
riodicals abound in his writings, and he
is the author Of numerous pamphlets or
legal and political subjects. He has
written in German, French, Latin and
English.
He was a member of the state commits
sions to revise the educational laws, ir
1872; general statutes 1874; civil pro-
cedure. 1s7s-79; TAXATION 1Ss5-S7. He has
heen president of the following organ
izations: New Haven Colony Historical
society. 1ss4-96; American Par a5socia-
ton. 1890: American Social Science asso
citation, 1so7-ee: Connecticut Archaeology
cal society. 1sea-9o; international Law as
sociation. 1s99-1901, succeeding Sir Rich
| ard e. Webster attorney general Qi
England: Association of American Law
Schools 1903. American Historical as
sociation. 1905. and Connecticut Academy
| Of Arts and Sciences. 1901. He has beer
| director of the bureau of comparative
law of the American Bar association
since 1907
Personally Judge Baldwin Is affab'e
and democratic in manners. lie Is easily
approached TIN writer has hal the
privilege of enjoying his hospitality in his