The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1911-10-19

EhttNafy HRkCfsnasns scS~
retary Nage1 and solicisor-GeneralI
Lehman Discussed as his Success
sor-Sketch Of Justice Harians
Notable Career-war situation In
Europe-The Revolution In China
democratic Railroad Commits
sioners Fall Down-Pian OF Dis
solution Of the Tobacco Trust.
Especial to The CaucasIan.)
Washington, D. c.. Oct. II. 1911.
Not only the whole country but the
national capital itself was shocked at
the sudden death of Justice Harlan
of the Supreme Court bench
This writer saw Justice Harlan
not more than a week before his
death, and was struck with his Wig
orous appearance, and also with the
fact that notwithstanding his ad
yaneed years. his body was well pre-
served and his mind not the mind of
an old man but of a man in the vigor
of manhood.
When the Supreme Court convened
on Tuesday morning of last week,
Justice Harlan sat with the Court
and seemed to be as we'll as usual,
except a bad cold. The next day,
Justice Harlan did not sit on the
bench, but stayed home to nurse his
| cold and get rid of it. 1t was known
during the day that he was not seri-
been called. Indeed, it was not un-
til that night that his family physi-
| clan was called in because his cold
| grew worse instead of better. Still
| there was no alarm, and no one knew
that he was in the least danger until
Friday, when it was reported that he
| was not so strong. The news of his
sudden death from bronchitis and
| pneumonia early Saturday morning
| therefore came with a most sudden
shock
Sketch of Justice Harlan.
Justice Harlan was born in 1888
and was therefore in his seventy
eighth year. All of those who last
saw him agreed that he looked like
he was safe for ten years more of
active service on the bench.
Justice Harlan was appointed JUS
tice of the Supreme Court when he
was only forty-four years of age.
only two or three justices of the court
were ever appointed to this great
bench at a younger age. One of that
number was Justice Iredell, of North
Carolina, in the early days of the
Republic.
It was generally conceded that
Justice Harlan possessed one of the
greatest legal minds that has ever
graced the Federal bench, next to
Chief Justice John Marshall. JUS
tice Harlan was named for that dis
tinguished Chief Justice, his name
being John Marshall Harlan. In this
connection, it should be noted that
next to Chief Justice Marshall, JUS
tice Harlan served longer on the
Supreme Court bench than any other
Justice of that court in the history
of the country. 1t has been Justice
Harlan's ambition to become Chief
Justice of the greatest court in the
world, and there are many who think
that President Taft should have pro-
noted him to this position when he
appointed Justice White few months
ago.
Justice Harlan early made a great
| TOT Inv sc{
and all admit that he was not only a
profound lawyer but of the purest
patriotic mould. His decisions were
always on the side Of justice and lib
erty. He has written some of the
most famous dissenting opinions in
the history of the country, chief
among which to be remembered were
his dissenting opinion on the income
tax case and his dissenting opinions
on the Standard Oil and Tobacco
Trust cases.
The distinguished jurist will be
buried to-day, and all the remaining
members of the Supreme Court will
act as honorary pall-bearers
President Taft viii Appoint a Fifth
{. Justice.
The death of Justice Harlan gives
President Taft an opportunity to ap-
point a, fifth member of that great
, tribunal. No other President, except
. President Lincoln, ever had the op-
J portunity during his term OF Office
to appoint majority of the mem
, harS af thaf eourf and uof even lin
| coin had that solemn duty and re-
} sponsibility placed upon him during
the first two years of his administra-
ton.
The names OF Attorney-General
Wickersham, Secretary Nagale. and
: Solicitor-General Leman, are the
) most prominent names discussed al