The broad ax., 1923-12-22

established a psychopathic laboratory,
directed by DR.. William J. Hickson,
an American doctor and surgeon who
had studied in the great German and
Swiss psychopathic clinics.
Into this laboratory stream the de-
fectives from a population Of two and
half millions Here accurate
diagnosis is effected through neuro-
logical, physiological, and psyche
pathic tests. Astonishing results have
been attained, creating demand for
information which has called its
founder to points as remote as Cali
fornia and New York.
In the earlier years of the court,
Chief Justice Olson assisted court re-
form in a number Of cities which
profted by organizing their local
courts and giving them business man
agement He thus became the logical
man for chairman Of the board OF
directors of the American Judicature
Society, and has held this position for
the past three years.
His great constructive work has not
been all smooth sailing. 1t has in
volved incessant labor in educating
press and public, in legislative cam
paigns and popular elections, and in
the work Of social and political organi
cations. His skill as publicist is at
tested by his inspiring success. He is
a man in love with his job, always
reaching toward new accomplishments,
restless, avid for struggle and mastery.
Not since the days of David Dudley
Field has any man or group OF men
50 profoundly influenced the trend OF
/ judicial administration in the United
\ States. In other countries his pioneer
work in specialized courts to solve
modern urban problems is exerting an
/ influence. His recent proof of the in
\ innate connection between defective
ness and delinquency, between disease
and crime, is educating public opinion
and stimulating scientific progress in a
score Of cities. "A few years more will
see an accomplished revolution, with
science serving as faithful ally to the
courts administering justice in criminal
and social branches.
The judge has but one avocation; it
concerns horses and cows and hogs;
he gives it cope on a big corn belt
farm where he raises pure bred stock
Here too his instinct to aim directly
at the sun is evidenced. Remembering
the days when he hunted barefoot the
furtive COW on the Kansas prairie, he
enjoyed a real triumph recently when
his Angus cattle set the high mark at
st. Louis auction sale
Soon after admission to the bar he
married girl he had known at the
Pecatonica high school, Miss Bernice
Miller, who is descended from Revolu-
tionary stock. They have two sons
and a daughter.
Judge Olson is intensely human, liv-
ing sixty minutes to the hour, inter-
ested, in no sceptic temper, in the
passing show. One must think Of
him as quoting:
"The world is 50 full Of a number Of
things
I'm sure we should all be as happy as
kings"
He must be something Of dreamer,
but he makes his dreams come true.
His mind deals almost wholly with the
concrete. He is most emphatically no
theorizer. He builds on verities. He
has the moral convictions of Lincoln
combined with the shrewdness Of a
Disraeli. With his bouyant enthus-
iasm and vivid memory he is delight
full raconteur. An embodiment Of sane
and genuinely constructive progress.
his career is an inspiration to all who
believe that our urban civilization is
not yet bankrupt