Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-03-17
Continued From Third Page.)

been sure Of majority If the war had
gone a short time longer.
When the war was over, he went back,
like the rest, to his old occupation.
Then, unsolicited and unexpected
came that opportunity which, in the
opinion of those who know, is consid-
cred the most important work of a
strictly legal kind within the gift of the
Federal Government--the Office of So
licitor General
There is scarcely a law firm in the
world which is given the opportunity to
handle cases involving so wide variety
of legal questions, or involving greater
financial interests. or lying so close to
the average person. For example, IN
single group of tax cases handled by
Mitchell as Solicitor General there was
involved $320.000,000 of public money.
About a third of all business before the
Supreme Court is governmental business,
handled by the Solicitor General. There
are many such cases. and his handling
OF them has helped to establish in the
;6ence in his abilities. It has also estab-
lished for him a first-rate reputation
with the court itself. This Is obviously
@ matter of the first importance.
Mitchell suits. the court to T. The
court abhors verbiage. It likes, as the
justices say. ito dig down in" When
one of those respected gentlemen in
black gowns who sit before the marble
pillars under the golden eagle opens his
mouth and in scarcely audible voice
makes a remark or asks a question,
tremor runs along the frame of most of
the lawyers who stand before it, like
schoolboys doing a piece for the class.
Mitchell always studies his subject
meticulously and then boils 1t all down
to not more than Is or 20 minutes of
presentation. He elevates pleading to
an art--for art Is but elimination of the
uneSSential.
The story is told that on one occasion,
when he was handling a case in which
number of Government departments
were interested, representatives of those
branches were in the courtroom In full
force. The opposition held forth at some
length. Mitchell rose and spoke for IS
minutes by the clock. There was con-
ents. One of them met him on the
street. it is said. and protested, and at
the very moment he was telling Mitchell
that he really should have given them
E1ore time, the court already had de-
cided in his favor. He eliminates. But
when the court digs down in they al
ways find Mitchell has anticipated the
question and has the answer ready.
His is an integrity of mind as well as
of cnaracter-a characteristic essentially
displayed during his recent years in
Washington. AS Solicitor General his
functions were those of both counsel and
judge. He could decide absolutely which
Government cases should be carried on
to the Supreme Court and which should
be stopped at the threshold.
aTbo Covar,,v,or,t rr.yaS 1oy taa
says. whenever justice is done to one
ef its citizens.
Daring the last three years, "a times
have we gone before the Supreme Court
and expressed the opinion that lower
court was wrong In deciding some ques-
ton in favor of the Government. In
80 of those cases the Supreme Court
agreed with us. Fortunately, in the
other case we had enough sense to sub
NIT the case to the Judgment of the
court.
This does not mean that we In the
department are easy adversaries. If We
think the Government is right and that
you are seeking something you are not
entitled to. the lawyers for the United
States will contest your claim tooth and
nail"
Integrity and self-control, physical
end moral courage, a fine, trained and
experienced mind, strong in ideals of
public service, finely organized nervous
system balanced by physique which
will be adequate If he gets his outdoor
life, man with a strong sense of duty,
a reserve but kindly man who is gracious
and fond of wit in others. upon whose
face rests charming smile when he
tells humorous Story--a man with
not mean thing in him-Such Is the
pew Attorney General.