New Britain herald., 1923-07-09
His Life's History

The name of William R. Day is in
 delibly linked with that of William
 Mckinley. When the latter was
 elected president. Justice Day was lit-
 tie known outside of Ohio, where he was born in 1s49. He had graduated
 from the University of Michigan, studied law in law office. taken q few law lectures. and began the prac- tice of his profession. He had been elected judge of the common pleas court in Stark County, Ohio, when 37 years of age and in 1889, President Harrison had offered him the position of judge of the district court for the northern district of Ohio, but i'll health forbade his accepting.
 Shortly after. the election in 1897, President Mckinley left it be known that he would make John sherman, then old and near the end of his career, secretary of state, and that he would name his fellow townsman, William R. Day, as assistant secre- tary of state.
 It is doubtful if the new assistant secretary of state had ever met a foreign ambassador until he came to Washington in 1897. sherman could not carry many of the burdens of his office. The untrained diplomat in the second position in the department had to shoulder the responsibility of the department in such tactful way as not to offend his superior. How well he filled the office and year later the office that Sherman had occupied IS secretary of state was expressed later by Mckinley when he said Day absolutely never made 8 mistake"
 It fell to Secretary of state Day to attempt to avoid the crash with Spain over Cuba. The shrewd moves to avert war were his. To him later, came the work of restoring peace. President Mckinley selected him as chairman of the commission of the United States to meet the commission end the war. The treaty of Paris is monument to him.
 With this duty over, President Nc Kinley named him 8 circuit judge of | the United States for the sixth circuit | Here he Served until President Roose- welt appointed him to the bench of the supreme court of the United States in 1903.
 A man of slight build with thin face, Justice Day never enjoyed TO- bust health, Once he had to give up his work for half year in order to seek health in the pines of northern Michigan A great student, this Ohio man was extremely reticent Prob ably the only intimate man he allowed 10 share his inner thoughts, was President Mckinley. So reticent was he in public life in Washington be- fore he was elevated to the bench that he became known generally as The Silent Man"
 The Day family was not fond of society life, Unlike some of his as- sociates in official life. Day, when in the state department did not spend but lived in an unpreten- tieus residence. trusting to his ability and demeanor to bring the requisite lightly to the position he held
 Justice Day had one hobby. IL was baseball. Few games he missed when business would permit his attending
 Was Notable Figure.
 William R, Day had been notable figure in the national government for mere than 3 quarter of 3 century serving conspicuously in executive and Judicial capacities.
 Brought to Washington in 1897 by President Mckinley who appointed him assistant secretary of state he was advanced to the sec retaryship and later was appointed to the supreme court. from which he re- signed on November IA, 1922, 10 be- come umpire of the mixed claims commission set up to settle claims arising from the war.
 From this post also he resigned on May f5 last after it had developed that the activities and requirements of the bench, where he had worked 'irelessly for g years, had greatly Impaired his health.
 Freed of all official responsibilities he then went to his home in Ohio as one of the three justices of the supreme court on its retired list.
 Famous Decision,
 While he did not specialize in any