Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-01-12

app o ntment was -
made. JUSTICE wALLING.
Justice Walllng is not n real stranger to
Philadelphia by any means He has many
friends in this city, especially among law
yers and Judges and n couple of years ago
he presided In one of the courts of Quarter
Sessions here, where he made a most favor
able impression. He remarked at that time
that few weeks residence in Philadelphia
had given him n most favorable impression
of the city and its people, and that next to
Erie which has been his home for years. he
thought he would prefer living here to any
other place. And now he finds that he will
be compelled to live here great deal of the
time-whch suits him all right.
Justice walling is product of an Erie
County farm. having been born in Greenfield
township, that county, in 1855. In those days
farming was not simple proposition as
1t is now, and young Walling found plenty of
hard work to do with little time for study.
When he was eight years of age his father
died. and his thirteen-year- old brother and
his mother undertook to manage the farm.
There were three sisters, too. who helped,
and between them they managed to get along.
Chopping Winters Firewood
If you look at Justice Walling now you will
largest man physically on the Supreme Court
bench. He is square -shouldered. straight
and powerful looking. He got the start of
his physical stalwartness in the woods of
Erie County. where as n youth he cut down
trees, barked them, sawed them and did
everything else that lumberman is sup
posed to do. AS youth he the gamut
Of farm occupations, and getting the tree
into the house in the form OF hrewood was
his principal occupation more than one
winter.
He helped, too. with other farm jobs and
he studied. To get an education was his one
ambition and more than once he did as Lin
coin did, read by the light OF blazing log
fire. Although the opportunity for schooling
was limited he managed to obtain a good
common school education, and then his
mother managed to send him away for a
year.
The year up. young walling came back
home and got a job as a school teacher.
More than once he has smilingly referred
to this as his first political job. He worked
studied, taught district school and then de-
cided TO go to the State Normal School at
Edinboro. From Edinboro he went to the
Lake Shore Seminary in North East which
was near his home. and he paid his expenses
at the institution by working during the
hours he was not in class
After graduation he taught school another
year and then he began the study of law.
He passed the bar examinations with flying |
colors and was admitted to practice In Erie
County In 1878. For time he had office
In North East and IT was here he married |
Grace Marshall, school teacher and daugh- |
ter OF North East township farmer
Law and politics seem to mix naturally |
with young Walling. and three years after |
being admitted to the bar he was elected |
District Attorney of Erie County on the Re
publican ticket. He moved to Erie and in
1884 at the expiration of his term as District |
Attorney he was elected to the State Senate
He entered the Senate the same year that
United States Senator Boies Penrose entered
the House from the sth Ward of PhiadeI-
phia, and he and Penrose became warm
friends. Another friend made at that time
was John P. Elkin. who was also serving his
in the Legislature.
A friendship was formed then between
walling Penrose and Elkin which has never
been broken Politically all have progressed.
Penrose went to the United States Senate,
Wallng Is now Supreme Court Justice.
and 1t Is a coincidence that he succeeds
10 that place made vacant by the death of
mis- friend Elkin. who one OF Mr. Wall
ngs strongest supporters for Supreme Court
honors.
Nineteen Years on Bench
In 1895 Justice walling became the Repub-
lean candidate for Judge OF Erie County
md he was elected. This was the year that
Mckinley defeated Bryan. Walling led the
ticket in Erie County. In 1905 Mr.. Walling
vas nominated ana elected without opposi-
ion and he would have been reelected with
out opposition again had he not left the
Erie County bench for the Supreme Court
Justice Walling was candidate for the
supreme Court two years ago and received
iattering vote He was also strongly
irged for appointment TO the Federal Court
n Western PennsylYania several years ago
md back In 1901 he was strong candidate
or appointment TO the supreme Court.
The record made In 10 years on the bench
5 said to have been one Of the reasons
which Influenced Governor Brambaugh in
.ppointinz judge Waninz,