Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1904-07-14
MR., WHITNEY PUTS
HIS IDEALS HIGH
Address Of Their President tc
the Association of County
Attorneys.
HONESTY TO COME FIRST
ABSOLUTE Fairness and Franknsss in All
Acts Must Be Preserved to Hold
the Confidence Of the
Public.
HONESTY TO COME FIRST

Oltulnwa Ia. July 14.-aPresident u
H. Whitney, of Sioux city today de-
liNcred his address 10 the .uee'ine OF
the association of County Attorneys y.
was brief but earnest presentation or
the proper ideals that should be nelo
before the public prosecutor. Mr. WA'e-
ney said in substance:
Let us never forget that it Is great
homo. and a great responsibility TO be
{. public prosecutor OF the STATE OF
Iowa. We ninety-nne men control me
criminal machinery of the state. AIN
important criminal prosecutions ma
their way to our offices. The whole
public looks to us for effective prosecu-
tcn of criminals. Sometimes the judges
are criticised and sometimes Jurors
justly so, yet after all the responsibility
of the Judge commences only upon the
return o.! the Indictment. and that OF
The juror when he is placed In inc jury
box, while our responsibility COM
ncnces from the very inception ofNthe
case.
Sometimes this responsibility is NOT
properly met. and out of the failure
comes belief by the people that they
cannot trust the courts. Prophets may
rnunerate many dangers, but Goo
save us from this. There are some
red blood spots dotted here and there
over the face of our country and some
of them may be traced to lack of con-
tidence in the courts. THE Laws Re-
sponsibiity for Lawlessness.' is down
for discussion by the State Bar assoc
iation in this city. Let us never give
them opportunity to discuss. The
County Attorneys Responsibility for
I.aWleSsness
The only Way for you TO work out
that higher responsibility. to make it
a living, influential fact, is to always
do that which under shifting circum-
stances. good conscience dictates in the
right. know of no staff upon which'
10 lean. i'm matters so various and conn
p,icated as surround us, as good judg-
ment and good conscience.
Let US cultivate the confidence of our
people and secure it. Success will new
er be ours unless we do. Let the people
know that our office is above reproach.
The older members know, and the
younger ones will soon find out, that
every community is full of men who
will seek TO use the public prosecutor
for personal. private and base ends. An
early repulse to such attempts will be
worth Il regiment of efforts later on.
Permit me to also suggest the inn
portance of being frank and absolutely
open with Your grand jury. Never
have II secret buried out of their sight.
by so doing you cam guide them better
than they can guide themselves. This
is no reflection ON them.
BE equally frank and honest with
court and witnesses. Your position is
unique. The counsel defending the
prisoner at the bar has every object to
acqut his man. innocent or guilty.
The same must not be true of the
prosecutor. The state has no object in
! convicting an innocent man. 1t has
every object not to convict him.
Especially permit me to urge the ut
| most franlSness and honesty with the
defendant. AT times he sends for you.
AT times you may properly seek him
| He may be compelled to resort to per-
| jury. but as for ourselves. let us never
even resort to small receptions with
! him.
E;mbezzlement and seduction cases
are often made the basis of a money
! settlement. In some cases 1T is best:
vet I feel that prosecutors ought to
shun participation in these settlements.
We can never afford to have the faint
est suspicion go abroad that we have
caused the arrest of amy man for amy
purpose except to punish him for crime.
| A different action may bring a fee. but
that same fee will deprive you of public
| confidence.