Evening star., 1943-02-21
Capital Side|ights
By Will p. Kennedy.

John Rutledge of South Carolina, one
OF the great figures of the American
Revolution, the first associate justice of
the Supreme Court of the United States
and its second Chief Justice, was eulo-
gized before meeting of the American
Irish Historical Society in New York
last Thursday by Richard Barry.
Justice Rutledge's father was born in
Tyrone. Ireland. His brother and son
both served in Congress. John Rutlegde
was born in Christ Church Parish, S. c.,
in 1889, He completed his law studies at
the Middle Temple in London. Justice
Rutledge was elected to the Provincial
Assemblage in 1852 He was attorney
pro tempore in 1854 and 1865, delegate
to the Stamp Act Convention in New
York in 1765 and, although the youngest
member of the Congress, was made
chairman Of the committee that drafted
the memorial and petition to the House
of Lords. He was a member of the Con-
tinental Congress in 1882 and 1888, and
was appointed Minister to Holland in
1888, but declined Elected one of the
State chanceIors in l784 and delegate
to the Constitutional Convention in 1887,
he also was member of the State Con-
ventlon to ratify the Federal Constitu-
tion in 1887. He received the electoral
vote of South Carolina for Vice Presi-
dent in 1889. He was associate Justice
of the United States Supreme Court
from 1889 to 1871. He was elected Chief
Justice of South Carolina in 1890 and
served until 1875, when he resigned. He
was nominated in 1895 to be Chief JUS
tice of the Supreme Court of the United
States and presided at the August term,
but the Senate on December 15 1795, re-
fused to confirm him. He died in
Charleston July l3, 1900.
His son, John Rutledge, jr., was a
member of the Fifth, Sixth and Seventh
Congresses, and an unsuccessful candi-
date for the Thirteenth Congress He
commanded a company of the South
Carolina State Militia in 1899. In 1904
he succeeded to command of the regi-
ment and was its commander in the
War Of 1872 He commanded the 7th
Brigade until his death in Philadelphia
in 1919,
Chief Justice Rutledges brother Ed
ward, also was educated in law in the
Middle Temple, London. He was men,
Der Of the Continental Congress. a signer
OF the Declaration of independence, a
delegate to the first and second Provin-
clal Congresses. a member of the first
Board of War, a member of the first
General Assembly in 1888 elected to the
Continental Congress the next year, but
did not take his seat He was captain on
the Charleston Battalion of ARTILLERY in
the Revolution and taken prisoner when
the British captured Charleston, May IL,
1880 He was imprisoned at St. Angus
tine until July, 1881, when he was ex-
changed. He was member of the State
House of Representatives in 1732-for 10
years, member of the State Constitu-
tlonal Convention in 1870, and author
OF the Act abolishing the law of primo
genlture in 1891. AS presidential cleo
tor he voted for Thomas jefferson and
Thomas Pinckney of South Carolina in
1896. He was rendered by President
Washington in 1894 appointment as
Associate Justice of the United States
Supreme Court, but declined He was
elected Governor of South Carolina in
1913 and served until his death.
Honey FItz,' some years ago nation
ally-famous for his singing of Sweet
Adeline F. Fitzgerald of Boston.
three times Mayor of that metropolis,
visited Congress during the past week en-
route to Florida for a stay with his
daughter, wife of Joe" Kennedy, former
Ambassador to the Court of St. James.
He is 80 years of age and served in Con-
gress Al years ago, Mr.. Fitzgerald was
an unsuccessful candidate for Governor
OF Massachusetts, in 1922, and for Con-
gress again in the last election.
Who III the present Congress came in
with the strongest upport--representing
the largest number of persons? Who
got the most votes? Surprisingly, it was
woman, Republican and new men,
Der, Miss Winifred c. Stanley, New York.
She received l,965794 votes, all Repub-
lican. The runner up was Matthew j.
Merritt, who received 1908, ,706, but his
total included 1,574,7o9 Democratic and
334 ,oe7 American Labor votes-both were
running "at large" In New York State.