The Bottineau courant. (Bottineau, Bottineau County, N.D.) 1895-1929, 1916-06-01
PRESIDENT WILSON
STATES HIS REASONS
FOR APPOINTING
BRANOE|S

0UUD U4v0@O +. s.
In response to an inquiry from sena-
tor Culberson. asking the president for
the reasons actuating him in making
the nomination OF Mr.. Brandeis for
associate Justice Of the Supreme court,
the president sent the following let
ter:
The White House,
Washington, May g.. 1915.
MY Dear Senator: | am very much
obliged to you. for giving me an oppor-
tunity to make clear to the judiciary
committee my reasons for nominating
Mr.. Louis D. Brandeis to Hll the va
cancy In the Supreme court Of the
United States created by the death OF
Mr.. Justice Lamar. for l am profoundly
interested IN the confirmation Of the
appointment by the senate.
There is probably no more important
duty imposed upon the president in
connection with the general admins
tratton Of the government than that
Of naming members Of tho Supreme
court, and l need hardly tell you that l
named Mr.. Brandeis as a member of
that great tribunal only because | knew
him to be singularly qualified by learn
ing. by gifts. and by character for the
position.
Many charges have been made
against Mr.. Brandeis. The report of
your subcommittee has already made 1t
plain to you and to the country at
large how unfounded those charges
were. They threw a great deal more
light upon the character and motives
of those with whom they originated
than upon the quali1 cations of Mr..
Brandeis. ! myself looked into them
three years ago, when l desired to
make Mr.. Brandeis a member OF nv
cabinet. and found that they proceed
ed for the most part from those who
hated Mr.. Brandeis because he had re-
fused to be ~serviceable to them in the
promotion OF their own selfish inter-
ests and from those whom they had
prejudiced and misled. The propagan-
da in this, matter has been very ex-
traordinary and very distressing to
those who love fairness and value the
dignity Of the great professions.
perceived from the first that the
charges we're intrinsically incredible
by anyone who had really known Mr..
Brandefs. / have known him. | have
tested him by seeking his advice upon
some OF the most difficult and perplex.
ing public questions about which it
was necessary for me to form a judg.
ment. | have dealt with him in mat
tiers where nice questions OF honor and
fair play. al we'll as large questions of
justice and the public benefit were in
svolved.
In every matter in which ] have
made test OF his judgment and point
Of view ! have received from him coun.
gel ~singularly enlightening. singularly
clear-sighted and judicial. and, above
all. full Of moral stimulation. He is a
friend OF all Just men and a lover of
the right; and he knows more than
how to talk about the rtght-he knows
how to set It, forward in the face Of
Its enemies. ! knew. from direct per.
sonal knowledge of the man. what I
was doing when l named him for the
highest and most responsible tribunal
Of the nation. i.
Lauds His Ability.
OF his extraordinary ability as a law.
yer no mar who 10 competent Il Judge
can speak with anything but the high.
est admiration. You will remember
that IN the opinion OF the late Chief
Justice Fuller hs was the ablest man
who ever. appeared before the Supreme
court OF the United States. HE 10
ALSO" the chief Justice added. .abso-
iutely fearless II the discharge Of his
duties
Those who have resorted to him for
assistance In settling great industrial
disputes can testify to his fairness and
love Of Justice. In the troublesome
controversies between the garment
workers and manufacturers Of New
York city. for example. he gave q truly
remarkable proof Or his judicial tenn.
permanent. and had what must have
been tho great satisfaction Of render.
Ing decisions which both sides were
willing to accept as di~sinterested and
oyen-handed.
Mr.. Brandeis has rendered many
notable services to the city and state
with which his professional life has
been identified. He successfully di.
rected the difficult campaign which re-,
suited In obtaining cheaper gas for the
city Of Boston. II was chiefly under