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 The Green Bag VOL. XVIII.

No. 3

BOSTON

MARCH, 1905

GOVERNOR CHARLES S. DENEEN BY EDWIN BURRITT SMITH

, the new Governor of Illinois, is first of all a lawyer. In fact, his successful career as a

firm of Deneen & Hamill, which continues in general practice and in excellent standing at the Chicago bar. Thus Mr. Deneen, lawyer is the basis of his present political though mainly occupied with exacting of prominence. During the past eight years ficial duties since 1896, has kept in touch he has served as the highly efficient State's with the general practice of his profession. Attorney of Cook County (including Chi Though engaged in politics, his principal cago), Illinois. He so administered that activities have always been professional; important office as to make his name known and he has won and holds high standing as and respected throughout the State, to say a sound and able lawyer. In 1895 Mr. Deneen was appointed gen nothing of the even wider reputation thus eral counsel for the Board of Drainage acquired. Mr. Deneen was born in Edwardsville, Trustees, the public corporation created to Ill., on May 4, 1863. His father was for dig and maintain the great drainage canal many years professor of Latin and Ancient connecting Lake Michigan with the Illinois History in McKendree College, Lebanon, Ill. River. In 1896 he was nominated by the Here the son received his education, gradu Republican county convention for State's ating in 1882. He taught school from 1882 Attorney. He was elected to that office at to 1885, meanwhile studying law. Upon the November election and re-elected in his admission to the bar in 1885, he removed 1900, running ahead of Mr. McKinley. to Chicago where he was quite unknown. Upon the expiration of his second term he For the next four years he served his ap retired almost immediately to assume his prenticeship as a clerk in a law office, duties as Governor of Illinois, to which po practiced in the criminal court and taught sition he was chosen last November, run in the night schools of the city. In 1892 ning ahead of the national ticket with the he was elected a member of the lower house largest vote ever given any candidate in of the General Assembly of the State. He the State. Mr. Deneen 's first great opportunity came served one term, acquiring a knowledge of legislative methods that will be of value to with his election as State's Attorney in 1896. How well he improved it is shown him in his present position. This varied preparation naturally led to by the universal esteem in which he is held an active professional career. Mr. Deneen both at home and abroad. It is not too was about this time admitted to junior much to say that he was the best State's partnership in the law firm of Blanke, Attorney Chicago ever had. The contrast Chytraus & Deneen. Upon the election of between his administration of the office and the senior member to the bench, the firm that of some of his recent predecessors was of Chytraus & Deneen succeeded to the busi greatly to his credit and most gratifying to ness. In 1898 the firm was again dissolved the people. While of course some of his because of the election of its senior mem predecessors made good records, none of ber to the bench. It was succeeded by the them equaled him in the executive work