Evening star., 1936-11-13
|bRANDE|S IS 50
YEARS OLD TODAY
Supreme Court Justice Con-
tinues to Show Gus
tomary Vitality.


Associate Justice Louis Dembitz Bran
deis, noted liberal" Of the Supreme
Court. Is 80 years old today.
True to the habits Of industry
formed during many years in the fore
front Of the fight for the liberal doc
trine, Justice Brandeb spent the day
at his usual tasks. foregoing any cele-
bration Of the anniversary.
The oldest in point Of years Of the
nine justices, he has been eligible for
retirement for 10 years, but has given
no indication that he intends to re-
linquish his post.
During the recent hearings Of i'm
portant New Deal cases, he has mani
tested much interest in the social
PHILOSOPHERS Of the Roosevelt admin
ttration.
Fights Wealthy Interest.
As q, young lawyer in Boston he soon
evinced passion for truth and justice
that kept him in the thick Of the
fight against what he regarded as the
inequitable tactics Of wealthy interests
Although his early practice found
many corporations among his clients,
he did not want to be known as g cor
poration lawyer. preferring the role of
attorney for the people.
Frequently he declined large fees. in
cases in which he did not believe his
services would further the public in
terest. Despite this rigid adherence
to his code of ethics, however, he had,
by 1907, accumulated q fortune of
$1,000. 900, according to one biographer.
Perhaps the best proof Of the young
crusaders sincerity and effectiveness Is
found in the fight Of the wealthy in
terests to prevent his appointment to
the high court.
Named By Wilson.
When Associate Justice Joseph r.
Lamar died 20 years ago. President
Wilson picked Brandes as his sue
cessor and sent his name to the Sem
ate for confirmation.
The volume Of protest from Wall
Street and the conservatives was
nothing short Of astonishing Bran
deis was attacked as a Socialist" q
Jew radical and as UNIT" for the
Supreme Court.
In face of this storm, however. there
were many who sprang to his defense.
Newton D. Baker presented q brief
urging his confirmation. 1t was
signed by a long list of noted liberals.
including Frances Perkins, now Secre-
tary of Labor. Senator Thomas J.
Walsh argued with great force that
the only crime of which this man is
guilty is that he has exposed the in
iquity Of men in high places in our
financial system"
Still his opponents were not
through. They laid before the Sem
ate Judiciary Committee q petition.
signed by six former presidents OF
the American Bar Association. includ-
ing former President Taft and Elihu
Root. declaring that Brandeis lis
not q fit person" to be q member Of
the Supreme Court.
The Senate, however, took q diff
ferent view and confirmed his ap-
pointment by vote of Al to %.
Friend Of Holmes.
After taking his place on the bench.
Brandeis became a close friend Of the
late Associate Justice Holmes. They
saw eye to eye on most questions and
their strict adherence to their con-
ception Of the law gave to the world
the phrase. Justices Holmes and
Brandeis dissent" 1t is significant
that in later years many of their
dissenting opinions were adopted by
the majority Of the court.
The philosophy Of Justice Brandeis
is summed up in his belief that be
hind every argument is some ene's
ignorance" Searching always for the
truth rs an end to controversy, he has
acquired an extensive knowledge Of
statistics and economics, and his opin-
ions In cases of this kind have elected
high praise from the legal profession.
Although Brandeis pays little atten-
ton to birthdays, his admirers are
making much over this one.
The University of Louisville, his
native city, called q special convoca-
ton in his honor. In Jerusalem
leaders of the Palestine Jewry paid
tribute to the justice as perhaps the
only Jew who belongs to the histories
Of two peoples, the Americans and
the Jews"
Tonight special services will be held
at Adas Israel Synagogue. where Rabbi
Solomon Metz will speak on "Brandeis,
q Modern Sage" Morton Wilmer.
president of B'nai Birth, will
lead q forum on "Brandeis, Champion
Of the People"