Evening star., 1914-10-06
The Resignation.


s"rhe judiciary committee Of the House
of Representatives. through its subcom-
mittee, has heretofore, in so far as am
advised. completed its investigation OF
tie charges preferred against me. and
sonably familiar with the eYidence knows
not only that no allegation against my
ofictM conduct has Been sustained Dut
that each charge has been aftirmatively
refl1ted.
'aThe proceeding has, however. aligned
the entire local bar on one side OF the
other Of the controversy. and has thus
created a condition which could not be
otherwise than embarrassing to me here
after in the discharge of my duties.
81 could not but feel strong gratitude
toward those lawyers who have SO cor
daily attested my good behavior, nor
could I perhaps hope to escape pos
sible intolerance Of those who have
sought to destroy my character and repu-
tation as a means of revenging them
selves upon me because 1 did not decide
their cases as they desired.
Time might smooth -out~-aN bitterness
and resentment. but have resolved to
relieve myself from all the embarrass-
ment of this peculiar situation, and here
with tender my resignation as justice
Of the Supreme Court of the District Of
Columbia to take effect upon November
| Is, 1914.
Duties which I owe to causes already
tried. in the settlement of bills of ex-
ceptions and other preparation for ap-
peal, cannot. to my regret, sooner be
| fulfilled"
Charges to Be Dropped.
The understanding in Congress is
that the charges instituted against
Justice Wright will be dropped since
the resignation, the subcommittee that
had charge Of the case recommending
to the full judiciary committee of the
House that no further steps be taken.
| What step Justice Wright will take
after his retirement from the. bench to
push the libel case against Wade II.
Cooper was not known at the White
House, which has no interest in these
proceedings. Justice Wright's friends
say that he will fight the libel suit to
a finish, taking personal charge.
Mr.. Cooper. who filed the original
clined to discuss the resignation today.
| He is a man of marked ability, and
sincerely hope he will have great
success as a member of the bar" he
said.
The Presidents purpose, it was said
today. is to fill the vacancy created
by Justice Wright's resignation within
a day or so, so that the Senate, before
adjornment, may confirm the nomina-
tion of Mr.. Siddons, as we'll as of Mr..
Brownlow, if he Is chosen for. Com
missioner in place of Mr.. Siddons.
Fights Ineffective.
| The Presidents interest in both these
men has been made known through the
columns of The Star for some months
Against Mr.. Siddons rather sharp
fight has been made. but it has not af-
fected his standing at the White House
The contest against him was carried on
at the Department of Justice and was
effective there while Attorney General
| McReynolds was at the head of the de-
partment.
| Opposition to Mr.. Brownlow has been
manifested in intermittent letters sent
to the White House, but these have re-
ceived little attention. Mr.. Brownlow
has had number OF strong friends. in
Guiding Commissioner Newman, to
quietly advocate his selection, and
these have had all the weight neces-
sary to convince the President that he
will be satisfactory as one of the mu-
nicipal heads of the District,
To Practice Law Here.
1t is understood Justice Wright will
take up the practice of law in Washing
ton. He has not decided whether to omen
Offices alone or to accept one of several
Invitations that he has received to as
sociate himself with law firms.
The last official act of Justfce wr;.ht
before sending in his resignation was
to sit with the general term at the adj
mission OF new lawyers today. When
he left the bench and proceeded to his
lprivate office at the other end Of the
corridor he was besiesed by Iswvers
who extended their good wishes for his
success in the legal profession