Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-05-08
ACTION ON BRANDEIS
AGAIN POSTPONED



Brandeis as a member of that great tri-
bunal only because knew him to be sim
gularly qualified by learning, by gifts
and by character for the position.
Many charges have been made against
Mr. Brandes; the report of your subcom-
mittee has already made 1t plain to you
and TO the country at large how un-
founded these charges were. They threw
great deal more light upon the charac-
ter and motive of those with whom they
originated than upon the qualifications
of Mr.. Brandeis. | myself looked into
them three years ago. when I desired TO
make Mr.. Brandeis member Of my Cab
met. and found that they proceeded for
the most part from those who hated Mr..
Brandeis because he had refused to be
serviceable to them in the promotion of
their own selfish interests and from those
whom they had prejudiced and misled.
The propaganda in this matter has been
very extraordinary and very distressing
to those who love fairness and value
the dignity of the great profession.
81 perceived from the first that the
charges were intrinsioally Incredible by
any one who had really known Mr. Bran
deis. have know him. / have tested him
by seeking his advice upon some of the
most difficult and perplexing questions
about which II was necessary for me to
form a judgment I have dealt with him
in matters where nice questions of honor
and fair play. as well as large questions
of justice and the public benefit were in
Nolved In every matter in which | have
made tests of his judgment and point of
view have received from him counsel
sinEularly enlightening slngularly clear
iiI1iriQ1 q
of moral stimulation. He Is a friend of
all just men and n 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 his enemies. I
knew from direct and personal knowledge
of the man what I was doing when I
named him for the highest and most re-
sponsible tribunal of the nation
"Of his extraordinary ability as n
lawyer, no man who is competent to Judge
can speak with anything but the highest
admiration You will remember that in
the opinion Of tie late Chief Justice Fuller
he was the ablest man who ever appeared
before the Supreme Court of the United
States. "He H. Also the Chief Justice
added. absolutely fearless in the discharge
of his duties
Those who have resorted to him for
assistance in settling great industrial dis
putes can testify to his fairness and love
versies between the garment workers and
manufacturers of New York city, for ex-
ample, he gave truly remarkable proof
of his judicial temperament, and had what
must have been the greatest satisfaction
of rendering decisions which both sides
were willing to accept as disinterested
and even-handed
"Mr. Brandeis has rendered many
notable services to the city and State
with which his professional life has been
identified. He successfully directed the
difficult campaign which resulted in OBJ
tanning cheaper gas for the city of Boston.
1t was chiefly under his guidance and
through his efforts that legislation was
secured in Massachusetts, which authorized
savings banks to issue insurance policies
for small sums at much reduced rates.
And some gentlemen who tried very hard
to obtain control by the Boston Elevated
Railway Company of the subway OF the
city for a period of 90 years can testify
to his ability as the peoples advocate
when public interest calls for an effective
champion. He rendered these services
without compensation and earned, whether
he got 1t or not, the gratitude of every
citizen of the State and city he served.
These are but few of the services of
this kind he has freely rendered. 1t will
hearten friends of community and public
rights throughout the country to see his
quality signally recognized by his eleva-
tion to the Supreme bench. For the whole
country is aware of his quality and is In
terested in his appointment.
II did not in making choice of Mr..
Brandeis ask for or depend on indorse-
ment.' l acted upon public knowledge and
personal acquaintance with the man and
preferred to name lawyer for this great
office whose abilityand character were
so widely recognized that he needed no
Endorsement, i did, however personally
consult many men in whose judgment |
have great confidence, and am happy to |
say | was supported in my selection by |
the voluntary recommendation of the At |
torney General of the United States, who !
urged Mr. Brandeis upon my consideration |
of any suggestion by ME.
let me say by way of summing up, |
my dear Senator, that l nominated Mr.. |
Brandeis for the Supreme Court because |
II was and is my deliberate judgment that, |
Of all the men now at the bar whom II
las been my privilege to observe, test and |
xnow, he is exceptionally qualified, | can
not speak too highly of his impartial, i'm
orderly and constructive mind,
his rare analytical powers, his deep hu-
man sympathy, his profound acquaintance
with the historical roots of our institu-
tons and insight into their spirit, or of
he many evidences he has given of being
mbued to the very heart with our Amerl-
,an ideals of justice and equality of op-
of his knowledge of modern
conditions and of the way they
pear upon the masses of the people or of
lis genius in getting persons to unite in
common and harmonious action and look
With frank and kindly eye into each
,thers minds who had before been heated
This friend of justice and T
# men will ornament the high court of
Hhich we are all so justly proud.
L am glad to have the opportunity to
ray him this tribute of admiration and
If confidence; and | beg that your COM
nittee will accept his nomination as COM
ng from me quickly with a sense of pub
ic obligation and responsibility.
with warmest regards, cordially and
.incereIy YOURS,