New-York tribune., 1906-07-20
JEROME ON "OPINION."
Tells Georgia Bar Association Public
Sentiment Is Mighty.

Warm Springs. Ga. July 19.-District Attor-
ney Jerome delivered an address on Public
Opinion. It's Power. Some of It's Evils and In
justices, and the Duty OF Lawyers to IT, be-
fore the Georgia Bar Association tonight He
said:
There % are men, guided BY high sense s Of duty ,pS,
see IL, regardless Of the majority opinion which
en c me pS9me sn %ho sear Iar wn @ S Is % dsrsn
TO public opinion. il he be not fanatic. IS TOO
lie and q TOOL to think You believe him 10 public
face Of pTbo Opinion Is Ike the difference in the
running Of engine with oiled or sanded bearings.
da a9T 70 PGSeps e sMge PT2c %Ra rs Solemn
Of its win can people make than TO- deGaTe 71 In IN
be done. and that the legislative body shall enact
hibited act? And yet has Maine for example. been
able 70 enforce its prOhibitive laws? Do not its
their Oa1hs Of Office? Like oficers do not fail in
their duties where crimes such as larceny are con-
In my own state the constitution prohibits gam
prevent it. The Legislature. however has dared to
pass law which; while In form aimed 20 prevent prevent
to protect It. and this was possible only because
Of laws. notably those concerning the social evil
restriction on the sale OF aSS9T % an0 s9na1y y 5 GS
evils, too, Of public opinion but whatever us cause
DAY as the most important single influence in the
To say that the rule of public opinion has incl
dental evils Is after an Snly 20 SAY tnaS @ Il Is IKE
observation and experience make me believe that
the people are consciously unjust ungener-
eVerythng but @ @pecuniaFy dishonesty ana often
overlook trsasaGtions Which from moral point OF
In many parts Of the country. and especially in
hearing must largely depend upon the newspapers.
and it is by them that the greatest justice. and
opinion is the greatest Single force in our pubIic
et @ factor S in it's foTatiOn and spread Wise d
English wTiteF IN an acute ana friendly criticism
dscharging three functions. viz. Narrator" ''ad-
vocate" and weather vane." IL Is as narrator
that it has. believe, Its greatest influence. BY it's
aIl facts pubc and private ii furnishes The ma
teriai for the formation of public opinon and gives
that publicity without which government by public
seeks should seek. to discharge its functions
to me that there it's influence. though still great
has diminished II would seem, moreover. IL
do with the loss of influence Of the editorial page
Being less ephemeral and partisan in characIer
a in tone and their greater length has given
the result that their influence on public opinion has
been steadily increasing. and 50 far has been
When the newspaper frankly acts s, as "adyOsate.
helped or harmed. as the cause advocated IS goo1
or bad and is accepted or rejected, but public
pepaTnr PP9h Is facts nS if wi1 isstates ana aes
it does serious and to individuals, often irreparabe
There Is one injustice which public opinion not
do much to correct and that Is the criticism OF
Judges for decisions which they could not avoid
making IL they Obeyed the law The recent spec
tace Of the nations Chief Executive. himself
not a LAWYER critciSing in a public document
federal Judge for his decision point of law, has
not I believe, commended itself to our profession
The laws are our laws. Public opinion made them
and can change them. Every citizen has right
10 critIclse them and seek their amendment or
neal hut while they our laws We want
i11dges to obey them and not substitute for them
something they deem in accord with thing so
| mutable and difficult to ascertain public
opinion The sOundness OF judges legal judgment
and the wisdom OF particular law may well be
called in question, but an honest decision should
not expose the Judge himself to criticism
II the power Of public opinion be great, ana
IL each OF has not incOnsiderable capacity 90
influence it, II seems almost needless. because so
the lawyer especially influence il and Is under
obligations to do
Our legislative bodies are largely composed OF
lawyers, and many of our chief executive and ad-
mnistrative officers are lawyers. For veal or for
be. the most influential body OF men in the country
hOnOrably be avoided With the almost unlimited
and extending power OF public opinion, our duty
grows greater and more clearly defined Easy as
it is to bow to public opinion and go with II, Il IS
our duty not 10 do so except where Il is clearly
il others win. All public welfare depends upon
its being wise and progressive and not Fevou-
tionary To make II such we must often incur it's
wrath hard as il is to bear but when we are
brave. right and honest may count confidently
fFe OrrniU IN