Evening star., 1922-06-07
= HE history Of the United States
10 q composite Of many fac
tors, and the student who

10 q composite Of many fac.
tors. and the student who
seeks to comprehend the full
story Of the development Of this
government and the people who COM
pose the nation must go to numerous
sources and pursue various lines OF
research. Usually the influence OF
the federal judiciary in the evolution
Of the national organization is COM
paVtively neglected, inasmuch as a
feeling prevails that the courts have
served merely through Interpretation
and enforcement Of the laws. and that
the springs of action have lain In
other quarters. But it has come to
be recognized in recent years that
the work of the judiciary. partic-
ularly the Supreme Court of the
United States, has been one Of the
most important factors for the ma
tional development, and q work just
published has in a valuable manner
presented that view to Americans.
This work is Tho Supreme Court
in United States History" by Charles
Warren. formerly assistant attorney
general of the United States and now
a resident of this city. The book is
Little, Brown G. Co. of Bostop.
While naturally of especial interest
to the legal profession, Mr.. Warren's
work is not a law book, as he states
in his Introduction. 1t Is a work of
history. written to trace the influ-
national advancement. to show the
part 1t has played In the establish
ment of the foundations of govern
ment and in the maintenance of the
principles of justice in the course of
the changing years.
+ + y +
The Supreme Court was established
1872 years ago. with six justices. John
Cushing, James Wilson. James Ire
dell. John Blair and John Rutledge. as
associate justices. It met first in
New York. later in Philadelphia and
finally in Washington. 1t was faced
by an underlined task. It's Jurisdiction
was vague. its powers uncertain. 1t
was viewed with jealousy by the
anti-federals. who regarded 1t as a
foe to democracy and to state sover-
eighty. II had even no established
prepared abode. 1t has. indeed, never
occupied a place specifically built
IOE IL, save dS Co-lSHdHl Will lNG
legislative branch of the government
in rooms that were spared" for Its
use.
In these circumstances. the story OF
the courts development and dis
charge of its duty is dramatic one.
Mr.. Warren tells it with appre-
citation of the full Significance of the
task the court has been called upon
to discharge.
To tell the story of the Supreme
Court Is to recite in terms of law
cases the great issues that have
arisen throughout the life Of the re-
public. To understand 1t, however. II
is not essential that the reader be
versed in the law. Mr.. Warren tells IT
both as a lawyer and as a historian
He describes the personalities COM
posing the court, from the beginning
to the present He traces their politi-
cal antecedents and shows the infiu-
ences that operated in their selection
He shows the reactions caused by the
courts decisions in momentous cases
He gives wildly the effects of those
decisions upon political developments
upon the fortunes of men and of par
ties.
To comprehend the magnitude Of the
task of the Supreme Court it is neces-
sary to recall the uncertainties pre-
vailing generally in this country re-
garding the very nature of the gov
ernment established by the Constitu-
ton. To measure the value OF the
services Of the court in the century
and a third of it's history 1t is neces-
sary to read the record of abuse and
criticism to which it has ever been
subject. to see the twistings of the
weathervanes of politics as its de-
cisions were hailed with cheers by
partisans upon one occasion and with