Brewer, David J. (David Josiah), 1837-1910

Supreme Court Justice Harlan is surprised that President Roosevelt has been having trouble appointing his son, James Shanklin Harlan, to the Interstate Commerce Commission because of his familial connection. Such objections if followed, Harlan points out, would preclude any family member of a Justice from being appointed to any sort of federal or state judgeship. Harlan feels that Supreme Court Justices recognize the weight of their office and would be able to impartially judge the actions of family members, and moreover act as one of a group, which would not allow them to act unilaterally in any case.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-07-05

An article in The Sun reports on an event at Carnegie Hall featuring Supreme Court Justice David J. Brewer and New York Governor Charles Evans Hughes as speakers. While Hughes briefly spoke on public officials’ duty being towards the people rather than their own ambitions, Brewer caused a stir by harshly criticizing President Theodore Roosevelt’s time in office, demanding that he not be given a third term, and calling Hughes a superior politician.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-11-21

William Michael Byrne is working on a program that is based on his belief that the republic is invested in “assimilating races and extending the influence of freedom throughout the continent,” a sentiment which he feels is also expressed by Justice David J. Brewer. Byrne plans to speak to his Italian countrymen, believing that the appointment of Judge Palmiere and himself will show that “the Republican party is not antagonistic to men of foreign birth or traditions.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-07-23

Art Koch reveals the subject and context of the third “TR-era image” which is a political cartoon showing Theodore Roosevelt shooting holes in a dictionary with two revolvers. Koch reveals that this cartoon from September 1906 pokes fun at Roosevelt’s directive to the Government Printing Office to use a simplified form of spelling in government documents, and he lists some notable Americans who supported Roosevelt’s reforms. The fourth image in the series shows a typical street scene of storefronts, horse drawn wagons, and telephone poles. 

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal

Creation Date

1906

An article reports on an event featuring Supreme Court Justice David J. Brewer and New York Governor Charles Evans Hughes as speakers. Hughes spoke on public officals’ duties towards the people, rather than self-serving ambition, while Brewer accused President Theodore Roosevelt of attempting to seek a third term. The event was hosted by the Civic Forum, a new organization with the purpose of promoting debate on issues of public interest, which included Secretary of War William H. Taft as a vice president.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-11-21

The document contains a list of United States judges who may retire and be replaced during the next presidential term.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-10-26

An article reports on allegations made by Supreme Court Justice David J. Brewer that President Roosevelt has been playing “hide-and-seek” with the American people regarding whether he will run for a third term. The article holds that Roosevelt has made his unwillingness to run again clear enough and criticizes Brewer for inserting himself into political debates as a justice on the Supreme Court.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-11-22

A summary of recent cases in which injunctions have been granted in Federal Courts restraining members of labor unions from conspiring to injure the trade and business of employers.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-01-11

Theodore Roosevelt stands at an open window, greeting a group of men singing Christmas carols. The carolers are John D. Rockefeller, Joseph Benson Foraker, Henry H. Rogers, Edward Henry Harriman, David J. Brewer, and James Roscoe Day.

comments and context

Comments and Context

Cartoonist L. M. Glacken’s Christmas Day cover drawing in Puck featured a frequent theme of the day — a frequent practice, now largely moribund, of carolers singing hymns and Christmas songs house to house. The “Outs,” they sometimes were called, especially when not invited indoors for warmth and refreshments.

Henry Martyn Hoyt reviews Judge Caldwell’s performance as a district and circuit judge.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902-10-11

Assistant Attorney General Hoyt encloses a memorandum on Judge Henry C. Caldwell’s career.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902-10-11