The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1916-06-01
The White House,
Washington, May 5, 1915.

| obliged to you for giving me an oppor-
tunity to make clear to the judiciary
committee my reasons for nominating
Mr. Louis D. Brandeis to fill the va
cancy in the Supreme court Of the
| United States created by the death of
MIR. 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 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 it
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 cX-
traordinary and very distressing to
those who love fairness and value the
dignity of the great professions.
I perceived from the first that the
charges were intrinsically incredible
by anyone who had really known Mr..
Brandeis. l have known him. | have
tested him by seeking his advice upon
some of the most difficult and perplex-
ing public questions about which it
was necessary for me to form judy
ment. | have dealt with him in mat
ters where nice questions of honor and
fair play, as we'll as large questions of
justice and the public benefit were in
volved.
In every matter in which l have
made test Of his judgment and point
Of view have received from him coun-
sci singularly enlightenng, singularly
clear-sighted and judicial. and, above
all, full of moral stimulation He is
friend Of all just men and 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
its enemies. | knew. from direct per-
sonal knowledge of the man, what
was doing when l named him for the
highest and most responsible tribunal
of the nation.
lauds His Ability.
or his extraordinary ability as law
yer no man who is competent to judge
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-
lutely fearless In the discharge of his
duties"
Those Who have resorted to him for
assistance in settling great industrial
disputes can testify to his fairness and
love Of justice. In the troublesome
controversies between the garment
workers and manufacturers Of New
York city, for example, he gave a truly
remarkable proof of his judicial tenn
permanent, and had what must have
been the great satisfaction Of render
ing 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 d.
rected the difficult campaign which re-
suited in obtaining cheaper gas for the
city of Boston. 1t was chiefly under
his guidance and through his efforts
that legislation was secured in Massa-
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 sub.
ways of the city for period Of SO
years can probably testify as to his
ability as the peoples advocate when
public interests call for an effective
champion. He rendered these services
without compensation. and earned,
whether he got it 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 through
out the country to see his quality sig
ually recognized by his elevation to
the Supreme bench. For the whole
country is aware of his quality and is
interested in this appointment.
did not. in making choice Of Mr.