The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1916-06-01
THE BRANDEIs soUARBLE

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 3, 1916.
My Dear Senator: | I'm very much
obliged to you for giving mo an oppor-
tUnity TO make clear to the judiciary
committee my reasons for nominating
Mr.. Louis d. BrGndeis to I'll the va.
cancy in the Supreme court OF the
United States created by the death OF
Mr.. Justice Lamar, for | 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
tration OF the government than that
OF naming members OF the Supreme
court, and | need hardly tell you that |
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 qualifications OF Mr..
Brandeis. myself looked into them
three years ago, when | desired TO
make Mr.. Brandeis a member OF my
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 tho
charges were intrinsically incredible
oy anyone who had really known Mr..
Brandeis. I have known him. have
tested him by seeking his advice upor
some Of b most difficult and perpleA.
ing public questions about which Il
was necessary for me to form a judg.
ment ! have dealt with him in mat
ters where nice questions OF honor and
ali play. as well as large questions OF
Justice and the public benefit were in
volved.
in every matter In which I have
made test Of his judgment and point
n view ! have received from him u
sel singularly enlightening, s~ingularly
rlear-sighted and judicial, and, above
Ill. 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 right-he knows
how to set It forward In the face OF
Its enemies. knew. from direct per.
sonal knowledge Of the man, what |
was doing when | named him for the
highest and most responsible tribunal
Of the nation.
Lauds His Ability.
or his extraordinary ability as a law.
yer no man who is competent to fudge
can speak with anything but the high
est admiration. You will remember
that In the opinion Of the late Chief
Justice Fuller he was the ablest man
who ever appeared before the Supreme
court OF the United States. HE is
also" the chief Justice added, "abso-