The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-07-20
WENT AFTER
 ROOSEVELT Jerome at WarmSprings,
 Georgia OVATION BY ATTORNEYS Criticises President for Criticising
 Opinion of Judge. District Attorney of New York Spoke On Public oplnion snd the Duty of Lawyers In Infiuene-
 inx It.
OVATION BY | ATTORNEYS

Warm Springs. Ga, July is--Ine fez .ure of t- ly's pr -r1m of the Georgia Bar Association convention. was inc address of William Travers Jerome, District Attorney of New York City. who took as his subject Public Opinion" AZ co.
 Tine address was received with great enthusiasm by the five hundred Beor- lga lawyers in attendance. Other ad- dresses of tho day were by Hon. Aiex- M ander Akerman. of Macon, on The Power of the Municipal Court and by Col R. E. Dismuke, on the topic, Fors- ] ed Bank checksg
 In the course of his address MT Je- rome referred to President Roose- velts criticism of q United States Court judge. sayingl
 ssThere is one injustice which public opinion not infreuuentiy does, ana It is one which lawyers can do much te correct. and that is. the criticism or judges for decisions which they could not avoid making if they obeyed the
 The recent spectacle of the nations chief executive. himself not q iewyer. criticizing in a public document Federal judge for his decision on point of law, has not. I believe, commended itself to our profession. The laws are our laws Public opinion made them end can change them. Every. citizen has a right to criticize them and seek their adoption or repeal put wniis they are our laws, we want our judges to obey them and not substitute for them something they deem In accord with thing so nutuable and so dffh- cult to ascertain as public opinion. The soundness of 6 judges legal Judgment and the wisdom of a particular law should not expose the judge himself to criticism.
 Regord for Public 0pinion. .sThe man who declares that he is indifferent to public opinion" said Mir. Jerome eff he be not fanatic. Is too often something of a fool and q knave 3---a knave to lie and q fool to think you believe him. To a public officer the discharge of his duty with or In difference between the running of an engine with oiled or 'sanded bearingss
 How potent public opinion is evs anywhere evident to the lawyer. What more solemn declaration of it's will can a people make than to declare in. it's constitution of government that a thing shall not be done and that the legislative body shall enact suitable laws to prevent the doing of the pro- hibited act? And yet has Maine. for example, been able to force its pro hibitive laws? Do not it's sworn of- fiers almost everywhere. fail to ful- fill their oaths of of1ce7 Like 6facers do not fall in their duties where crimes, such as a larceny are committed.
 Law to. Protect Tracks.
 "In my own State the constitution prohibits gambling and enjoins the legislature to pass laws to prevent it The legislature. however. has dared to pass a law which. while in form. aimed to prevent gambling on race tracks. was notoriously designed to protect . the public opinion permitted. What ever its cause and whatever it's his- tory, public opinion stands today as the most important single influence in the life of the nation.
 sIn many parts of the country and especially in our great cities mans ability to command a hearing must largely depend upon the newspapers and 1t is by that the greatest justice and sometime the greatest injustices ie done, Some public sentiment is the greatest force in our public life. Sure ly the newspaper is incomparably lhe greatest factor in it's formation and spread"
 As to the part the speaker contend- ed lawyers should take In influencing public opinion, Mr. Jerome said:
 Work of Lawyer.
 If the power of public opinion be 90 great and if each of you has not in- considerable capacity to influence it, 1t seems almost needless because so ob- vious, to point out how of all classes O! men the lawyer especially can indu snce It. and is under duty to do so.
 Our legislative bodies are largely composed of lawyers and many of our chief executive and administrative ,f- ficers are lawyers. For veal or tor woe, in proportion to our numbers, we are or can be the most influential body of men in the country.
 This power brings responsibilities which cannot honorably be avoided. With the almost unlimited and extend ing power of public opinion our duty grows greater and more clearly de- fined. If right minded men do not form and direct it others will. All public welfare depends upon its being wIse and progressive and not revolutionary TO make 1t such we must often incur its wrath. Hard as 1t Is to bear, but when we are brave, right and honest. we may count confidently on .ts coming to us"
 read the report on interstate law, and other committee reports were presen-- ted.
 fudge Advocate of the Philippines, dis cussed the attitude of the United States "a the Philippine possessions, criticis- tns inc policy of retaining the islands ana urging that the F1lipinos should he given their place among the nations of inc earth. receiving the same treat ment from the United States as that granted Cuba
 If is expected that the convention vi1l reach a final adjournment with
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