The Washington times., 1921-05-19

Solemn requiem high mass for
Chief Justice Edward Douglass
White, Of the United States Supreme
Court, who died at 2 o'clock this
mophing in Garfield Hospital, will
be celebrated Saturday morning at
10 o'clock in st. Matthews Roman
Catholic Church. The interment
will be in Oak Hill Cemetery.
CITY IN MOURNING.
The mass will be sung by Monsig
nor Thomas 8. Lee. rector of st. MAJ,
thew's Church. Dignitaries Of tho
Catholic Church In this and other
cities are expected to assist in the
funeral services.
shortly after noon today, Presi-
dent and Mrs. Harding called at the
residence, HI Rhode Island ave-
nue. northwest. to express their grief
and sympathy to the widow Of the
dead Chief Justice.
The associate justices OF the United
states Supreme Court will serve as
honorary pall-bearers. They will
meet Saturday morning at the home
of the late chief justice and accom-
pany the remains to ST. Mathews
They are expected to accompany the
family, relatives, and close friends
Of the chief justice to Oak Hin Germ
cssf Jus,ce write vas born
in the parish OF Lafourche. Loufsiana.
November 0. ls45. He came OF a
family OF lawyers. his father and HE
paternal Rrandfathers having both
been judges. His forcbears had bean
for several generations Roman CAtho-
lies and the future chief justice was
educated in that faith.
His first schooling was at Mt. St
Mary's, near Emmitsburg. Nd, AMI
later he attended the Jesuit College in
New Orleans and Georgetown I'd. c.
University. His collegiate career was
interrupted by the civil war. in which
he served in the Confederate army.
RETURNED TO LOUIsIANA.
After the war he returned to LOUISE
ana and, while practicing law. became
a sugar planter. Elected to the
Louisiana Legislature, he was chosen
speaker of that body in 1874
In 1873 Mr.. white was appointed
an associate justice of the Supreme
Court Of his State. a position which
he filled with eminent ability until
lSBl. wntu ne TcStBucu 10 tHtST
contest for the senatorship. After .
finally chose him, to succeed Senator
Eustis
When Senator White was appoint ed
to the supreme bench Of the United
States by President Cleveland in 1854
he was probably one of the most sur
prised men in the country.
The Wilson tariff bill was under
consideration and Senator White was
doing his best to obtain protection
for the Louisiana sugar planters, who
have always subscribed to that Re-
publican doctrine.
DIFFERED WITH CLEVELAND.
He had had repeated arguments
with President Cleveland, and on the
day of his appointment to the bench
said to his wife on leaving home that
morning: We'll, am going down TO
the white House to have another
quarrel with the President
As soon as President Cleveland saw
him. he grasped him heartily by the
hand and said: white. how would
you like to go on the Supreme Court
benchy'
During his years as associate JUS
tice Mr.. white was brought promi-
nently into the public eye on two o.
casions, when he spoke against the
constitutionslity OF the anti-option
law and when he advocated the views
OF the President in regard to the
Sherman antitrust law.
Justice White soon became known
as one OF the few justices in the
history of the court who delivered
his opinions practically without ref
erence to notes. They were written
in advance, revised and laid before
his colleagues before they were ds-
livered in court. but when the actual
delivery took place Justice White.
looking the assembled lawyers in
front OF him squarely in the face.
would proceed offhand to recount a
complicated statement OF facts as ~.
forth by the evidence in the case.
after which he would go into the in
abandon as an ordinary man would
discuss any commonplace subject.
His masterful opinions delivered In
this way frequently amazed the more
astute legal minds at the bar.
He was appointed chief justice OF
the Supreme Court by President Taft
on December IL, 1910, taking the oath
OF office a week later. In this selec-
ton the President broke two precs-
dents of long standing. choosing an
associate justice as well as mem
Der of the opposing political party.
He remained single until 1894. !
when. at the age OF forty-nine, he |
Virginia Montgomery Kent. |
the widow of a Washington lawyer. |
And according to report at that time, |
q sweetheart Of Justice whites youth