Sequachee Valley news. (Sequachee [Sequatchie], Tenn.) 1896-1952, 1916-06-08
, The White House.

The White House,
Washington, May 8, 1915.
My Dear Senator: l am very mucl
obliged to you for giving me an oppoE
tunity to make clear to the judiciarl
committee my reasons for nominatinl
Mr.. Louis D. Brandeis to I'LL the va
cancy in the Supreme court OF tbs
United States created by the death o.
Mr.. Justice Lamar. for I am profoundly
interested in the confirmation OF th'
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 q 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 q great deal more
light upon the character and motives
OF those with whom they originated
than upon the qualifications Of Mr..
Brandeis. l myself looked into them
three years ago, when desired to
make Mr.. Brandeis = 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 e1-
traordinary and very distressing to
those who love fairness and value the
dignity of the great professions.
l perceived from the first that the
charges were intrinsically incredible
by anyone who had really known Mr..
Brandeis. have known him. have
tested him by seeking his advice upon
some Of the most difficult and perplex-
ing public questions about which 1t
was necessary for me to form Q judg-
ment. have dealt with him in mat
tiers where nice questions of honor and
fair play, as well as large questions of
justice and the public benefit were in
volved.
In every matter in which | have
made test of his judgment and point
OF view have received from him coun-
sci singularly enlightening singularly
and judicial, and, above
all, full Of moral stimulation. He is a
friend Of all just men and q lover OF
the right; and he knows more than
how to talk about the right-he knows
how to set 1t forward in the face Of
it's 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.
OF his extraordinary ability as q law.
yer no man who is competent to fudge
can speak with anything but the high
est admiration. You will remember
hat 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
llso," the chief Justice add 81, "abso-
utely fearless in the discharge Of his
luties."
Those who have resorted to him for
assistance in settling great Industrial
disputes can testify to his fairness and
owe Of justice. In the troublesome
between the garment
workers. and manufacturers of New
'ork city. for example, he gave truly
charitable proof of his judicial tenn
erament, and had what must have
cen the great satisfaction of render
1g decisions which both sides were
filling to accept as disinterested and
ven-handed.
Mr.. Brandeis has rendered many
otable services to the city and state
18th which his professional life has
cen identified. He successfully d.
1cted the difficult campaign which re-
llted in obtaining cheaper gas for the
ty of Boston. 1t was chiefly under
Is guidance and through his efforts
lat legislation was secured in Massa-
lusetts which authorized savings
inks to issue insurance policies for
nall sums at much reduced rates.
nd some gentlemen who tried very
,rd to obtain control by the Boston
levated Railway company Of the sub
avs Of the city for 4 period of %
'srs can probably testify rs to his
,iiity as tho peoples advocate when
lblic interests call for an effective
Iampion. He rendered these seryices
ItAout compensation, and earned.
neither he got 1t or not, the gratitude
every citizen Of the state and city
} served. These are but q few OF
Q services Of this kind he has freely ,
ndered. 1t will hearten friends OF
and public rights through ,
t the country to see his quality sig. ,
lily recognized by his elevation to
e Supreme bench. For the whole
untry is aware of his quality and is
|aPactad In