Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-10-17
Associate Justice Harlan.

etates Supreme court. Justice JOIN
NJ Harlan. died at his home in Wash
iag,on. Saturday. His long career
upon the bench in the highest court
of the land, Is marked by many Incl
dents which distinguish him for what
he has been known for a generation,
as a man OF remarkable character
istics. Justice Harlan was often
STYLED the king of dissenters, and
many Who knew him have thought
that the greatest advocate III rtle
country was submerged in the JUS
tee on numerous occasions Harlan
has stood alone in his opinions. Of
which lie wrote many that were vigor-
Gus III their language and difficult To
refgt- in their logic. /, vas lie alone
who assaiicd the rule Of reason.
MOI learned in the law as Vere abe
great Judges some o. whom were his
contemporaries and colleagues in the
supreme court. he had a remarkable
gift Of dietion, and potency Of logic
that were exceedingly foreeful. His
statement OF 4 ease was mastery. and
In itself an argument
Justice Harlan was IS years old, last
June Could he have lived until next
june. he would have realized his
great ambition. and exceeded the SER
VICE OF any other man WHO had ever
sal ON that bench. As it was. his
service was longer than that of any
other justice except Chief Justice Mar
J. Field. Fields service was longest
81 years, 6 months ard 10 days: Mar
shalrS 81 years. I, months and 5 days;
Harlan's 90 years, 10 months and 8
days. Only hast Monday. while sitting
on the bench, in tile so-eaIled anthra-
cite coal trust ease, Justice Harlan
felt the first attack of bronchitis. He
asked Tor simple remedies. but re-
rnained al his post. ON Tuesday, he
was reported slightly i'll. and Chief
Justice White asked attorneys to con-
sidsr+ tfl.sssss Justice Harlan WAS sit
ting In their eases. although not ply
siea.ly present.
The death Of Justice Harlan came as
a great shock to his judicial asso-
ciates Ms well as o4tle' people of the
nation who had not realized that ne
was seriously i'll. He had been in
some ways the most picturesque fig-
ure on The supreme bench. His face
was the most familiar to visitors. and
oftenest pointed out to them. the
typical Judge, was often used in rel
doubt. one of the most popular men
in Washington. if not throughout the
country. However unpopular may
have been hts dissenting decisions in
the oil and tobacco cases, and others,
there. Is no doubt but that, in many
quarters, Justice Harlans courage and
independence found a ready popular
response He was a man of strong
feeling. and II has been said OF him
that his feelings often obscured mis-
Judgment. II is true. also. that his
premIses were often incorrect, as evil
denced hv the opinion of the majority
OF the court, yet, as an associate. lie
xuass inyaIiable 10 that high judicial
body because of his strength of char.
acter and the forcefulness witt
which he brought out the points of Z
.,ase "a me yiew of those of more leve
t,,aicig,l atfributes. His rugged Viril
,tv which scarcely abated with hi
yasrs t1aa /. wholesome influence upor
HE aseoria,as His great stature. sur
mounted NJ 4: noble head. attracte,
ua,;c,. ,ya.reyer he went. and mad
,t,, tanl. nc ha Was often called. .'th
iaeol ;nd,rc 4Iis MANY friendships
vi,h the statesmen ana politicians .
-. anntrv kent him better in
faryned shan most men of the purpose
and asnirations of both rulers an,