Evening journal., 1911-01-23
NEW NEWS OF YESTERDAY
Why Chief Justice Fuller
Died in the Harness
By @HoIland."

Melville W. Fuller, of Chicago, be-
came Chief Justice of the United
States I'm 1888. being at that time So
years Of age. In 1903. after he had
served twenty years, and when he was
rs years OF age, some of the more
intimate of his personal friends ven
tured to hint TO him that It would be
we'll, in view of his advanced years, il
he should give some thought to retir-
ing from the bench. They intimated
that he would find abundant oppor-
tunity for the cultivation of those re-
fined and studious tastes which he had
not entirely neglected while serving as
Chief Justice. Some of these friends
knew that he was as Industrious as in
the early days of his career at the bar,
which was characterized by unusual
habits of industry. Sometimes, often,
his studies we're prolonged until late
into the night
To these somewhat vague but we'll
meant hints the Chief Justice at first
paid no attention. He turned them
aside by some kindly remark, some
times intimating, for example, that he
was still physically strong, and some
times in a spirit of jest, asking his
friends If they detected any mental
impairment in him.
Therefore, after a time, the matter
was dropped. But about a year after
the first suggestion of this nature was
made to him, Chief Justice Fullers
friends again in a kindly and sincere
spirit which he e-fully appreciated, VEN
turned still more earnestly to urge
upon him that he owed it to himself,
to his family. and to his friends that
he take early advantage of the op-
portunity for retirement from the
bench. which had been his at any time
since he had been 40 years Of age. This
intimation was followed by others, and
from the same sources, and at last the
Chief Justice, perhaps conscious Of the
fact that already intimations had ap-
peared in the public press telling OF
his contemplated retirement at an
early day, was persuaded that the time
had come when he should take his per-
sonal friends into his confidence. This
he did in the manner. and with the
words here reported.
Il have not been unmindful of the
suggestion that at my age It may be
the better part for me to retire TO the
/ serenity and comfort of private life"
he said. But | should say TO you now
that have already placed my resigna-
tion in the hands of Divine Providence.
1t may be accepted at any time. It is
certainly to be accepted within two
years. await with serenity the call.
II have done this because it has
| seemed TO me that in these times when
great events ere in progress-wh, II
is apparent that some severe test Of
the stability Of a Repubncan-Demo-
cratic form of government is now or
is about to be made-when there are to
be observed certain preachings and
agitations made possibly, in sincerity,
but containing seeds of grave danger
it is imperative that ! should remain
at the post to which / was called so
long as I have my faculties. to the end
that our tribunal the master work Of
our Federal Constitution, may still
stand as rock in permanent support
of the fundamental principles upon
which our. great commonwealth is
founded. You now have my reasons for
not accepting heretofore your sugges-
ton that / voluntarily retire from my
high office And you have my reasons
for not accepting it now"
A few months later Melville w. Full
Ter had his resignation as Chief Justice
of the United tSates accepted by that
Divine Providence in which he placed
implicit trust
Copyright. 1911, by Z. J. Edwards. All
Rights Reserved.
Tomorrow Mr.. Edwards will tell ~
Little Secret History Of the United
States supreme Court"