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Senator Knox and the President.
When Senator Knox Of Pennsylvania
parted company with President Roose-
welt over the matter Of q proper court re-
view provision IN the Hepburn Railroad
Rates bill for awhile Il appeared that
the President was in accord with the
Senator upon this question, although
later he poremptonly broke away from
him ho must have had an inkling Of
Che Presidents opinion Of judges who do
not rule as be desires, as was so emphati-
cally displayed in the official message to
Congress, wherein he faycd Judge Hum
phrey Of Chicago for his ruling in tho beef
packers trials
Speaking on the court roviow question
of the Rates bin IN the Senate on March
2sth. Senator Knox said: as tho rula-
0on of courts 20 government by the people
forgotten Tho courts are an integral
and vital part Of our government, and Il
would be a sad day for American civiliza-
ton ii their function were degraded or
weakened. They are the balance wheel
and check in our system between con
tending passions and policies This Is
not idle rhetoric. 1t is the sober truth
that the courts arc tho guardians Of our
rights and liberties. Il is high time that
the people should remember this and
should soborly reflect upon the current
horesios il is high time that public
sentiment and conviction should Loyalty
support the judicial power recognize tho
patriotism and good faith of the courts,
and maintain their authority and indie
pcndonco"
Viewed ia the light Of the President 5
subsequent eflicia diatribo against the
rulings Of Judge Humphrey in the beef
packers eases, those words from tho
mouth OF Senator Knox appear like a
warning to the American people 10 break
the force OF what he may have felt was
soon TO omanaio in official form from the
White House Ihcy are in the nature
OF am admonitiou to the people TO sustain
their courts and have confidence in Tn,
rectiiude of their delverancos, ever
though they should be taken to task by q
layman in the White House solely be
cause the courts were not In accord Will
what he conceived to be the real spirit
and intent Of the law
Even were President Roosevelt a law
yer Of ability and high standing, instea,
of the layman that be Is, his insolent chal
longo of q decision hy'a capable and ox
poriencod judge, in the determination o
cause IN court Of justice would stan,
as an astounding precedent AS Il is
it stands without parallel. That Il /
untruthiul and uncallcd for is atteste,
by the high standing of Judge Humphro,
and the excellence of his professions
record. He has been a lawyer for mon
than a quarter of century, served fou
years as United States district attorne,
and since 1901 has been a Federal Cour
judge And yet the President Of th
United States, who is not lawyer. chal
lenges his decision on grounds Of law.
Even more serious, if such thing b
possible, was the Presidents signi6can
hint 10 other judges as contained in thi
remark in his message: 81 can haril,
believe that the ruling of Judge Hum
phrey will be followed by other judges.
What is this but a suggestion and
threat Any judge that comedies witt
the ruling Of Judge Humphrey must ac
cept this as fair notice that so long a
Mr.. Roosevelt is President he may no
expect an official advancement or pre-
ferment Of any kind at his hands. Wen
Mr.. Bryan President how the countrl
would ring in denunciation Of such auda
cious evidence Of interference with free
dom Of action on the part of our judiciary
II seems reasonable 20 presume tina
Senator Knox must have had an init
NATION Of President Roosoyolts state a
mind towards judges who might hav
the temerity 10 differ with the head q
the administration IN Judicial interprs