Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1916-06-08
ONE DEMOCRAT OPPOSED
Three Republicans, LafolIette,
Norris and POindexter, Vote
with the MISUNDERSTANDING
ton of Mr.. Brandeis Was Sent
to the Senate January %.

Washington, June 1.-The nomination
of Louis D. Brandeis of Boston to the
Supreme Court to succeed the late
Joseph Rucker Lamar was confirmed
by the Senate to-day by vote Of Al to
%. The vote. taken without debate,
ended one of the bitterest contests ever
waged against a presidential nominee.
Mr.. Brandeis will be the first jew to
occupy a seat on the supreme bench.
Only one democrat, Senator Newlands
voted against confirmation. Three re-
publicans, Senators LaFolette Norris
and Poindexter. voted with the demo
cratic majority. and Senator'S Gronna
and Clapp would have done SO, but were
paired with Senators Borah and Ken
yon. The negative vote of Senator New
lands was complete surprise to the
Senate and the Nevada senator, recog-
nizing that his action had aroused COM
ment later made public a formal eA-
PLANTATION.
Il have n high admiration for Mr..
Brandeis as publicst and propaEandst
of distinction" said Senator Newlands.
II do not regard him as a man Of
judicial temperament, and for that rea-
son | have voted against his contirma
ton"
throughout the fight President Wilson
stood firmly behind his nominee, never
wavering even when it seemed certain
that an unfavorable report would be
returned by the Senate judiciary com.
mttee. Before the committee voted he
wrote n letter to Chairman Culberson,
strongly urging prompt and favorable
action.
The nomination Of Mr. Brandeis was
sent to the Senate January ?S. It was
referred to the judiciary committee and
| Immediately a food of protests against
| confirmation and memorials in favor
thereof began to pour in.
A subcommittee consisting of Sena-
tors Chiffon. Fletcher. Walsh. Cummins
and Works were appointed to report on
the nomination. 1t adopted the unusual
course of holding public hearings. Cliff
ford Thorne, railroad commissioner OF
| Iowa, was the first witness, protesting
! against confirmation on the ground that
Mr. Brandes had been guilty of unpro-
fessonal conduct in handling the five
per cent. rate advance before the inter-
state commerce commission Sidney w.
Winslow. president of the United shoe
Machinery company. testified that Mr.
| Brandeis had been guilty Of unprofes-
sional conduct in relation to his COM
pany, and shortly thereafter Austen c.
Fox, New York attorney, appeared
before the committee MS the representa-
tive of Is citizens of Boston, headed by
A. Lawrence Lowell, president of lIar-
ward. and took charge of the opposition.
Then United States District Attorney
George w. Anderson Of Boston, at the
request of the committee, undertook di-
rection Of the case for those favoring
confirmation.
In all Al witnesses were heard and l,50o
pages Of testimony taken. William II,
Taft Simeon +. Baldwin, Francis
Rawle, Jos. II. Choate, Eihu Root,
Moorheld storey and Peter W. Medrim,
all former presidents of the American
| Bar association. wrote protests to the
| committee against combinations and
Charles w. Eliot. president emeritus %
| Harvard. and many others wrote in
| favor Of confirmation.