The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1916-08-12

$3.50
w. e. McEWEN, Publisher.
"ANOTHER SUPREME COURT RADICAL"
The following estimates of Judge John H. Clarke,
court appears in the last issue of the Literary Digest
when President Wilson named John Hessin Clarke
to succeed Charles Evans Hughes in the
there was sent out from the White House a brief
biographical statement which, as the New York Eve
ming Post Ind) observes, calls attention to the nomi
nees progressive tendencies if to challenge any who
would find political significance in the appointment to
make the most of it, Judge Clarke has always
q Democrat says the New York World (Dem) }, but is
sngularly like Justice Brandeis in having been sue
cessful corporation lawyer whose practice only
to quicken his sympathes and activities for the
of political and social JUSTICE When new justice
takes his seat, writes Cleveland correspondent to
the New York Call (Soc), there will be radi-
cal on the bench Not radical Justice Brandeis
but something of near-radical.' This fact does
disturb the papers already mentioned any more than
1t does the New Haven Journal-Courer (Ind), the
Springfield Republican (Ind }, the New York American
(1nd.) the Philadelphia Record (Dem.). But fol-
lowing closely the heels of the Brandes appoint
ment the choice of such radical is likely be viewed
with some doubt and misgiving by the conservative
part of the public in the New York Tines lind
Dem.) opinion. President Wilson comes in for some
criticism from New York and Pennsylvania papers
for choosing justice from Ohio giving that
state and Massachusetts two representatives in
the supreme court, while New York and PENNSYLVANIA
population. not
represented This objection, of course weight
In Ohio. There his nomination brings pleasure to the
people, according to the Columbus Dispatch (1nd)
which says Judge Clarke served with such distinction
in the federal district court for northern Ohio he has
been so fair and fearless Interpreter of the law
that Republican papers promptly Joined in the chorus
OF praise and approval In short, the Dispatch
thinks he is of the stuff of which supreme court justices
should be made
Judge Clarke's qualifications seen by President
io1Jr~
statement already mentioned. It reads:
John Hessin Clarke, the present United States
Dlstrct Judge at Cleveland, born at Lisbon Ohio
September IS, 1857; graduated at Western Re-
serve university in 1877 and admitted to the Ohio
bar in 1878. Up to the time of his appointment as
district judge in 1914 he pracced law in all the courts
OF Ohio, having a large and varied practice
IN politics he has been lifelong Democrat, having
run against Mark Hanna for United States senate in
1903 He has been conspicuous in progressive move
ments in Ohio and in the country.
He has been for some time the president of the
Short Ballot league in Ohio. Judge Clarke is bache-
Tor and has devoted the leisure his life to wide
Ing, so that he is Of broad varied culture
and probably the most gifted orator in Ohio Since
ne has been district judge in Cleveland he has taken
especial interest in the naturalization and
ton Of foreign-born citizens
1T Is further noted by the press that though rail-
road laWyer-at time counsel for the Nickel Plate
raliroad-Judge Clarke advocated two-cent fare law
In OHIO, and was ally of the late Tom L. Johnson
IN the Cleveland fight for hreecent street railway fares
HIS choice by the president for supreme court is
INCIDENTALLY created by many papers to the influence
vi war secretary Baker, fellow adherent Johnson
Three events in his judicial point to his posses
sion OF certain brand of radicalism writes Socialist
correspondent from the same city to the New york
Call:
f1rst-He ordered the shops of the Wheeling
& Lake Erie railroad at Brewster Ohio reonened whom
;1ne ROADS receiver closed them to expenses This
saved a towns wage-earners their jobs
Secondly-He advocated teaching aliens American
cuzensh1p and sought to make impressive ceremony
OF foreigners induction into the privileges and
duties OF citizen of the United States
'Thirdly-In preparedness" address in r1ovo
land he declared preparedness must start with tho or
1nsmen III we expect labor fight our nations hat
lies VIZ must give labor nation worth fighting for
said Clarke '
III IS evident from this record, says the New York
american \lnd.)' that Justice Clarke is "peoples
man well fitted to sit by Brandeis on tho surname
BENCH and the American congratulates the nroade+ ~
his choice. So does the Cleveland Plain Dealer <nor
declaring that Louis D. Brandeis and John Fl c1arke
lake 10 the nations highest sympathy with
0'p1"'lons Oh tne average man, woman and child
ana an appreciation of their rights under the laws
Inc poncy OF appointing such is thus justified
Is an editorial In Law Notes (Northport. NJ W:
IL ~ were possible to create bench of nine ind qes
Identical in mentality viewpoint and trainnp ito
eons would nave no point of superiority over those
ID one OF us members PATIENTLY then while character
ana learning are Indispensable granting these qualities
he strongest bench is that which represents the
views on all the questions which go to the for
mutation OF public policy. conservative balance
OF power there must be- because law a. conservative
'sclence to be conservatively administered
But that administration is helped and not hindered
Dy the presence OF minority which urges the claims
OF another viewpoint If the majority tends unduly