The Richfield recorder. (Richfield, Idaho) 1909-1931, 1916-06-09
Tho White House,

INC pIcbiucut bcut LILO Aoio " ho 49,
ter:
The White House,
Washington, May s, 1915.
My Dear Senator: ! am very mucl
obliged to you for giving me an oppor
tunity to make clear to the judiciar,
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 o.
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 It
plain to you and to the country at
large how unfoundsd 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
VII IN
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.
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 a 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
clear-sighted and judicial, and, above
all, full Of moral stimulation. He is a
friend of all just men and 4 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. l knew, from direct per-
sonal knowledge Of the man, what l
was doing when l named him for the
highest and most responsible tribunal
of the nation.
Lauds His Ability.
or his extraordinary ability az . 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-
Iutely fearless in the discharge of his
iuties."
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
Pork city. for example, he gave truly
'emarkable proof Of his judicial tenn
,erament, and had what must have
,een the great satisfaction OF render
ng decisions which both sides were
Wiling to accept as disinterested and
Mr.. Brandeis has rendered many
otable services to the city and state
With which his professional life has
cen identified He successfully d.
ected the difficult campaign which re-
ulted In obtaining cheaper gas for tho
ity OF Boston. II was chiefly under
Is guidance and through his efforts
nat legislation was secured in Massa-
husetts which authorized savings
anks to issue insurance policies for
mall sums at much reduced rates.
nd some gentlemen who tried very
ard to obtain control by the Boston
levated Railway company Of the sub
avs OF the city for period OF SO
ears can probably testify as to his
,ility as the peoples advocate when
lblic interests call for an effective
hampton. He rendered these services
ithout compensation, and earned,
neither he got 1t or not, the gratitude
every citizen of the state and city
, served. These are but a few of
Q services Of this kind he has freely
ndered. 1t will hearten friends of 1
and public rights through
It the country to see his quality sig I,
lily recognized by his elevation to
. Supreme bench. For the whole
untry is aware of his quality and 10 |