The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-03-29

David Josiah Brewer had been justice
Of the United States Supreme Court for
a little more than twenty years. He was
appointed by President Harrison in De-
cember. 1889, to succeed Justice Stanley
Matthews, and he was sworn in on jan
uary s, 1895.
He was a stickler for constitutional
ideas on and of the bench. and In the
last few years delivered speechs on that
general subject which were read around
the world
Rebuker Roosevelt.
Perhaps the most celebrated OF these
addresses was made in Carnegis Hall on
November p. 1907. in which. discussing
the sacredness Of the Constitution and
certain dangerous tendencies that
thoughtful men had observed springing
I'D. he found II necessary TO say some
> very sharp things about Theodore Roose-
Welt, the President.
He was a fine. forceful speaker at all
times, with an ability to cut straight to
the heart Of a subject.
Z
family, which for three generations has
been prominent in church, state, and law.
He inherited richly. not only from his
mother, who was sister of Justice Field,
but from his father. who was an early
missionary 10 Turkey.
His face was regarded as the most
Intellectual on the bench-the face at once
OF a student and a philanthropist His
forehead was high and broad; his blue
eyes radiated kindness, and the expression
OF his clean-shaven face was very genial
for that OF the typical Judge.
Born in smyrna.
He was born in Smyrna, Asia Minor, on
June %, 1897, but his life there was limit
ed to seven months. Like his father. his
grandfather. and his great grandfather
and a number OF his uncles, he was an
alumnus OF Yale, having taken his degree
with the class Of &c. The class had a
membership of ninety-seven, and the
name OF David ]. Brewer stood high on
the list,
Among Justice Brewers classmates
were Chauncey NJ. Depew, United States
Senator from New York. and Justice
Brown.
After leaving college. young Brewer
studied law for while in the Office OF
his uncle, Dudley Field In New York.
the same Office where Justice Field had
previously been q student. then a part
ner, before he gave up the place 20 Join
IN the great rush to the gold fields OF
California.
Subsequently Justice Brewer took a
course Of law at Albany. and was grad
uated from the Albany Law School in
1883 The next year he removed 20 Leav-
enworth. Kans.. where he practiced law
in the days when Kansas was the battle
ground of the pro-slavery and anti
slavery factions AT Leavenworth he
occupied the Office Of United States COM
missioner. and was judge of the Probate
and Circuit courts,
In 1855 he was appointed a United
States district judge, and remained on
that bench for four years. In 1859 he
became county attorney, and from 1870
70 1854 was a justice of the Supreme
Court OF the State Of Kansas.
Appointed 10 Bench.
From 1884 to 1889 he was a Judge of
the United States Circuit Court and in
1889 President Harrison placed him on
the Supreme Court bench.
President Cleveland, in 1886, appointed
him member of the Venezuelan boun-
dairy commission. He became a member
Of the British-Venezuelan arbitration tri-
bunal in 1893. He became president Of the
Universal Congress Of Lawyers and
Jurists in 1904
A number of universities and colleges
honOred him with the degrees of Ii. D.
the University of Iowa in 1884, Washburn
College In 1858. Yale in 1891 the Univer-
sity Of Wisconsin in 1900, Wesleyan Uni
versity, Conn, in 1901; the University of
Vermont in 1904 and Bowdoln College in
1905
Justice Brewers first wife was Louisa
R. Landon. Of Burlington, VT who died
in 1898. On June 3, 1901. he married Emma
Miner Mott, daughter Of the late DR..
Mott Of Chateaugay. N Y
He was the author Of several books.
among them ''The Pew to the Pulpit. /"
1897; THE Twentieth Century from An
other View Point" 1883; American Cit
izenship." 1902. and The United states
a Christian Nation" 1905