The Washington times., 1916-01-29
BrdndeiS a Crusader !
For the PubLic'S Good
Nominee. for Supreme Court Called peoples IN
paid Attorney"--ForsOOk Quest of Mere Money
- Years Ago to Plead for Social Justice.

Louis d, Brandeis, tho lawyer whH
has probably .sacrifced more fees thlu
any pleader in the history Of jurls
prudence. has been nomipated by tie
President as an associate Justice OF TIE
gupreme Court )f the CEited States.
"The peoples lawyer" they call hr
Erandeis up in Boston. Nearly twem =
years ngo he led the Nght for cheaper
gas in that cultured town-and he won
Il. He was unpaid save by public ap-
prevail From that day 10 this one
has found him in oregon, Illinois, Ohio.
Washington. New, York and other
jurisdictions where some voice had 10
be raised In behalf Of social Justice
Gnd where remuneration v'ps of no cAn-
sequence.
Probably the most notable appear
ance of the ''peoOle's unpaid attorney"
was his appearance on behalf of tho
shippers In the 8 per cent rate increase
cases before the Interstate Commerce
Commission. That a man CT the at
tainments and ability OF Mr.. Brandeis
should volunteer to serve without COM
rensation in such an issue became the
subject of nationwide comment.
FOrsOOk Quest Of Money.
Years ago the prospective new justice
Of the highest tribunal torsook tho
quest of mere money. He lad amassed
"a comfortable fortune-every dollar
earned by his brain. He became n
pleader for the uplift. for social justice
the fee-less representative of the com
nIon cause-whether the interests of u
community or an under dog individu-
al were involved.
It is probable that Mr.. Brandeis has
waved aside at least a million dollars
In fees since he decided to become u
crusader for the public good.
The United States Government may
not accept the free services of any one
but II there were a way In which Louis
ID. Brandeis might donate his services
on the Supreme bench It is likely that
he would do It.
The career of Brandeis. of Boston.
has been a human interest career.
There has been little Of the spectacular
In his methods. and yet the very i'm
portance OF his public service has
forced attention and columns OF space In
the newspapers and magsEines His
activities have ranged from teTing rail-
road presidents how the common car
riers of this country might save 81 ,0OO.-
900 day, to ,upholding before the courts
and at the bar Of public opinion the
justice and constitutionality Of laws fol-
wage bCdlG "OhSA
workers.
Dynamo of Energy.
The man himself Is q dynamo of en-
ergy. His brain Is one trained In con-
centration. and yet comprehensive
enough to embrace at one time the
ramification of a dozen issues.
How can he do II all7" asked an ad-
mirer once after Mr.. Brqndeis had fig
ured SUCCESSFULLY In State courts. be-
fore the committees Of Congress. In
mass meetings and before the body to
which he has now been appointed. and
his name was linked with some of the
greatest issues of the day.
Physically Mr.. Brandeis doesn't ap'
pear to be q reservoir of constant &C.
tivity. His speech is deliberate. soft
minus the vocifcrous. echoes of th'
demagogue. He wins by logic and even.
tempered pleading and not the rantingi
of the professional crusader. He hal
not cultivated the art of theatricallsn
| in his occupancy OF the stage of public
! things. He has worked quietly. per
sistently,. but with almost uniform sue
! cess.
His eyes are those OF the dreamer
and yet ne is intensely PRACTICAL III
! analytical student OF the trend o.
events, Of finance. figures. big business
and social unrest. His shoulders sr'