'TpFtT t -. DECEMBER t IfH ti something itBour justice ' VAN DEVANTER The Xollowing article is repro duced from the Golden (Colo.) Globe: Judgd Taft is a most lovable man in many respects. Two of these qualities, viz: his good nature and lack ,of suspicion, have done him much injury.. Through them he has been taken prisoner by the Aldrich tribe, and now finds himself at vari ance with tho great majority of his party. He may be able to pull through, but if he does it will be on account of his popularity won be fore he became president. His visit to the west and the speeches made, have boon one of continued at tempted explanation of his acts. What he has accomplished is yet to bo seen. At- Minneapolis on Oct. 24th we are told that "he replied again as he did at Aberdeen, S. D., to the charge that ha had set up the supreme court with the understanding that the judges would emasculate tho anti trust statute' "Of course," said the president, "there is not the slightest founda tion in such a statement.- Of course I never had an understanding of any sort with any man I ever put upon the bench, and the man or men who make such a charge lightly, reveal the fact that they have no realiza tion of the iniquity, the corruption, that would be involved in such an understanding. " We must believe the president when he says, "I never had an under standing of any sort with any man I ever put on the bench." We must believe him also when he speaks of the "iniquity, the cor ruption, that would be involved in such an understanding. .Jt-jjvrely.. would have boon, wholly, inexcusable for the president to have such a personal "understanding" as ho himself declares would involve "iniquity and corruption." But did the men who caused tho president to make these appoint ments have any such an understand ing? Did . they not know what each of these proposed judges would do in. reference to certain questions? Was President Taft in any doubt as to what Chief Justice White would do toward overturning the majority opinion and following his own ex pressed minority" opinion, in the case of U. S. vs. Trans-Missouri Freight association 1G6 U. S. 290? Did not tho president have every reason" to believe that he would do exactly as he did in the Standard Oil Co., vs. U. S. 31 Court. Rep. 503? Did not the president have every reason to believe that each of the other three judges appointed by him would be in perfect harmony with Chief Justice White. Could ho not easily gather this from the recom mendations oral and written of each and all of these men. Take for in stance the following in relation to Justice Van Devanter. December 9, 1910. To His Excel- The Commoner. SttftscriHrs' jBwti$iiig Bept. SALE or exchange for east Nebraska land. ICO acres clear, well Improved, one mile south of Reeding. Kingfisher Co.. Okla. Price $40 per acre. Address Ira Holland, Route 7, Lincoln, Neb. G RBAT BARGAINS In cholco farms. T, A. Baggett, Guthrie. Oklahoma. TEXAS Land Exposition and Northern 1 Settlers' Conyentlon, Houston, Tex., 'January 15th to 28th, 1912. Homeseelc ers and investors should not miss this opportunity to visit Texas and see the Smith's first great Land Show. Lowest railroad rates ever offered from all sec tions of the United States. Eighteen lines into Houston. More than one thousand exhibits of farm products and machinery. Many notable speakers on program. Exposition open day and Sight. Full particulars about Texas and Texas lands and opportunities on rcauest. Texas Land Exposition, Pub licity Dep't., Houston. Texas. lency, the President of the United States, Executive Mansion, Washlng- twu " " ear sir: in reference to tho application of tho Hon. Wil liam Van Devanter for appointment as one of the Justices of the supreme court of tho United States, I beg leave to call your attention to an opinion written by tho learned cir cuit judge on May 2nd, 1910, in tho case of Thomas B. Stuart and Charles A. Murray vs. Union Pacific Railroad company and reported in Vol. 178, Federal Reporter, at page 753. This case is now pending in tho United States supreme court, and num bered 694, a writ of certiorari hav ing been granted therein at tho prosent term of the supreme court. I also forward for your inspection, under separate cover, a copy of the petition for tho writ of certiorari, and also a copy of our opening argu ments on file in tho supreme court. Millions of dollars of property will bo taken from tho people of tho states of Colorado, Kansas and Ne braska, and given to tho Union Pacific Railroad company, should the opinion of tho circuit court of appeals be affirmed. The appoint ment of Judge Van Devanter to a place upon the supreme bench would be construed, of course, as an in dorsement of tho position taken by him in this, the most Important caso ever decided by him. . I am a lawyer of over forty years practice, and while the question of politics should not enter into such grave questions as the ono here pre sented, I may be permitted to say that I have never voted any other than the republican ticket in na tional politics, although I have not at all times been in harmony with my party in local or state politics, when interests control it that I think are selfish or un-republican. With great respect, yours very truly, T. B. STUART. In answer the following was re ceived. ' December 13, 1910, My Dear Sir: Your letter of December 9th, and accompanying papers, was received and at once brought to the atten tion of the president. Very truly yours, CHARLES D. NORTON, Secretary of the President. In the opinion of Judge Van De vanter referred to in the above let ter it is said, "Finally the appellants rely upon the recent dicision in Union Pacific R. R. Co., vs. Harris 215 IT. S. 386 as definitely holding that the authority of the company to extend its road west of the 100th meridan was derived from the act of 1866 and not from the act of 1864. Of course if that be as stated, it must be followed." Judge Van Devanter then proceeds to argue that the su preme court overlooked section 9 of the act of 1864, and finds that the supreme court was mistaken in its conclusions. In short he reverses the decision of the supreme court of the United States, written by Judge Brewer, and among the last opinions written by him. The Van Devanter opinion gives the Union Pacific road and each of its branches a strip of land 400 feet wide from Omaha and Kansas City to Denver, Cheyenne and Ogden. Tt gives to them land of private citizens that have been held under government patent, and paid taxes on for over 'forty-fivo years. There are more than a score of cases now pending in Colorado, and these are barely starters of tho litigation. The U. P. R. R. will under this deci sion, be entitled to a strip of land 400 feet wide clear through the city of Denver to the union depot and out again to Cheyenne. Millions of dollars in value have thus been won by the railroad In Colorado, and probably similar amounts in Kansas and Nebraska. The above letter called the preBi jt'a fitfnntlnn to the situation. We are hardly willing to believe that so 15 good and wise a man as Proaidont Taft could voluntarily make such an appointment. Is it the result of an other one of tho tricks of tho Union Pacific," by and through which it Das controlled the appointment of every federal judge west of the Missouri river? Van Devanter knocks out tho Har ris caso, White knocks out tho Trans Missouri freight decision next will follow tho Northern Securities de cision. Each of these decisions woro fortresses of strength turned over by Roosevelt to Mr. Taft. Two of thorn have already boon handed ovor to the enemy, through Mr. Taft's appointments, and tho nation has lost every battlc field won by the pcoplo In tho last thirty years. T. 13. 8., In tho Golden (Colo.) Globo. ICI You can transform any kerosene (coal oil) lamp or lantern into dazzling brilliancy with our wonderful Bright Light Burner. 50 candlo power invisible and unbreakable Sleel Mantle. Brighter than electricity, better than gaa or gasoline, and perfectly safe. No generating simply light like any kerosene lamp. Nothing to get out or prdcr. Positively will not smoke or flicker. AGENTS WAMTF.H EVERYWHERE. Sella liko wildfire. nuuiiki wvniij An opportanj,y of aIlfe llmo work all or spare time. Experience unnecessary. 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