The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-04-26
OUR NEW FEDERAL JUDGE.

If every judicial appointee of Prcsi-
dent Wilson shall meet the standards
OF ability. disintcrestcdncss, breadth
and capacity for the bench to as great
degree as does Charles A. Woods. Of
South Carolina, selected as judge OF the
Fourth Circuit the Federal bench Will
increase greatly in the confidence OF
the people in this case, the President
followed the course of President TAFT
who. disregarding all pressure and
casting Influence out of the scales.
chose the ablcst lawyer in South Caro-
lima If not in the entire district, Henry
4. NJ. smith for n vacancy on the same
bench. Judge Woods is man of
many abilities. but he is in no sense
a politician. He was elected associate
justice of the supreme Court OF South
Carolina after n strenuous contest. but
there was no, then, as there has not
been since, the slightest faint on his
judicial crm!nc. He is man of the
highest character, a jurist of unsullied
record, man who has lived and
walked and wrought as became n judge.
The Times spatch desired this ap-
pointment to go to Virginian and
eNerted its energies TO that end. but
now that those in authority fail to
coincide in our view, we are free to
say that no better appointment could
have been made. Judge Wood is one
OF the ablest lawyers and the ablest
Judge that South Carolina has known
in decade. lie was at the bar for
thirty years, and for ten years has
been an associate justice OF the high
est tribunal OF his State. In all that
period, he has borne the reputation
OF being a man and a lawyer OF the
highest ideals, who observes strictly
the Hottest standard of private and
public conduct. The South Carolina
bench fifty years ago was inferior to
none IN the nation: the decisions OF its
judges glow with fadeless lustre in
American Jurisprudence The most
notable equity decision OF The first half
OF the last century came from the
quill of splendid South Carolina
judge, Davis Lewis Wardlaw. The times
have changed In South Carolina. and
the bench has changed with them.
Tillmanism ripped the robes off the
backs OF most OF the able and dis
tinguished judges so that their places
might be filled by "cornheld lawyers"
and peanut politicians The Supreme
Court was deliberately packed in order
that political doctrines might become
Law. Despite the new order. good men
have gone upon the bench there. and
Judge Woods is one of them. He was
elected because OF his sheer lcga! abili
~. With the spirit of progress gu!d-
Ing his hand. he has written decisions
that are milestones in the social, legal
and economic progress of the state
Woods, a. j." at the bottom of an
opinion has been a symbol in South
Carolina Of the fnality OF right
Virginia Will like her new Federal
Judge. He is personable man. a man
of real culture. the possessor Of fine
moral and intellectual power. He is a
student and a friend OF learning. a
widelyread man who keeps thorough
ly N touch with the world outside the
courtroom. He is a graduate OF
Wonord College, one Of the fine old
Methodist Colleges OF the country.
ana has been one Of its trustees. lie
Is an excellent public speaker, espccl-
ally upon educational themes. Not only
because OF MS position. but also be-
cause Of mis- splendid qualities as citizen
and man viii he be welcome to f .ch
mona ana 10 Virginia
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