The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1910-12-16
I'M DEVANTER IS AN
EXPERT IN GAME
Of POLITICS
New Justice Of United States Supreme
Cour. Was Allied With Stand
patters When Boss OF
Wyoming.
Decisions in Courts Have Been Fair
Lamar, Another Appointee, Is
Not Progressive.
av a. g. oURLEY.

the 20 wears which cover the career
of Willis vanDevanter. one OF Presi-
dent Tafts new justices OF the SUI
preme court. we're spent as a private
citizen busy In politics. The other 20
have found him in some public oft1ce.
Since the first election ever held
an the state of Wyoming, the citizens
of this state have never passed judg-
ment upon him, save in that one cleo
ton; he has held Office by appoint
ment. His honors have come by
Gift. He has never had TO fight. He
has never been forced to declare his
principles or expose himself TO the
searchlight OF popular curiosity.
Perhaps this accounts for his rosy
checks, his boyish smile, his youthful
appearance, which he brings TO the
highest court. His ffty-one years
have left a light frost on his hair,
but never a wrinkle or scar OF con-
fict.
VanDevanter came to Cheyenne in
1884; the following year he was city
attorney. For the next two years he
was In an appointive commission 70
csdify territorial laws. In 1888 he
he slipped from this into the terri.
torial legislature, stepping from that
into supreme court justiceship by
favor OF President Harrison. In the
next year Wyoming became a state,
and at the first election he was elect
ed supreme judge, the first and last
elective ONCE received from the vot-
ers Of the state.
The bench, with it's $4,000 salary.
did not hold him long He resigned
haRnna la ~ ~
Lacey, then, as now, attorney in leg
islatures as well as courts. for the
Union Pacific railroad. The bond OF
partnership was strengthened by
family ties; Lacey and VanDevanter
are brothers-in-law
Three years OF practice as attorney
found VanDevanter in command OF
the Republican party of the state. He
earned reputation for being a good
politician" To him is accredited The
victory Of defeating Joseph NJ Carey
Tor The senate. and for sending 70
that body, Warren and Clark, TO
make their records of service 10 Aid
rich and the Union Pacific
This victory soon brought it's re-
ward. VanDevanter was called 10
washington 10 give legal advice to
the department of the interior in
1897 Six years later he was pro-
noted by Roosevelt 10 a iudgeship in
the circuit court of appeals II was
here that the gaze of President Taft.
directed by Warren and Clark. sup
plemented by Republican Senator
Guggenheiin and Democratic Senator
Hughes of Colorado, fell upon him.
In his six years OF private practice
his old neighbors recall but few in
cidents. They remember that he par.
ucfpated in the acquittal OF % ricn
cattlemen, whose bloody invasion OF
the range brought murder charges.
Ihey recall that two trappers who
saw the murders grew fat in a Rhode
Island hotel, over 1000 miles from
the witness chair. They. OF course.
wildly remember also that as state
chairman he elected Warren and
Clark and shelved Carey. the insur-
gent. who after 16 years OF retire
ment has just been elected governor
Carey in his campaign charged
without denial that VanDevanter az.
sisted in the cheat OF the Australian
ballot law, and made It easier for the
Union Pacific coal interests TO vote
their foreign employees.
On the bench VanDevanter parti
cipated in the Northern Securities
case. stopping James Hill from merg
ing his roads
He coDcurred in unfolding a de.
cision OF the lower federal court dis
solving the Standard Oil Co OF New
Jersey, the case now pending before
the supreme court.
In the paper trust case he sentenc-
cd officers of subsidiary companjes
10 jail for refusing TO bring their
bcoks into court
He sentenced Senator Burton OF
Kansas for graft
These decisions. VanDevanter'
friends say, show that notwithstand.
ing bis associations with Warren and
Clark. which still continue. and his
relationship with Lacey. the railroad /
lawyer, his judicial record is unbias |
cd and beyond the reach OF influence |
Attorneys or the west say that he
Ia good lawyer This NAV be glad
news 10 the lemon raisers II Cal;for-
MIA. In the most recent i'm
portant decision in which VanDeyan.
yer participated. the reduced rate on
icmons. ordered b. the interstate
as nerce commission. was held in
sre sh nc Inc railroads were given
,upt,l sha w OF the old high rate
IL Il
canned and can hear the case TT
court made sure that NO ,,i,,r,, |
should reach the railroads throue6
nasty enforcement OF an order ma
by the commission A'"'e
VanDevanter has taken no oman
stand In the politics OF his state Tie
has always been regular" but he
has maintained the standards OF
judicial decorum which bars Judges
from mixing. His life has been snch
as to remove him from any close con
tact with the lives OF ordinary men
He has never had struggle to ge
on.
He Is accredited with a boundles.
capacity for work. His only diversion
Is daily horseback ride. He ma,
not be expected 10 shatter any tradi
tons OF the court or to depart in In,
slightest from it's presidents.