Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1907-06-20
The Federal Courts.

and naming two other federal judg-
es, who were also prejudiced
against him, and asking that a
case in which Tucker was inter-
ested should be tried by some
other Judge than the three named.
1t is reported that the affidavit
charged a conspiracy between
Judge Pollock and the two other
judges of some kind to injure
Tucker and the company with
which he is associated. 1t is said
also that the affidavit recited that
these judges were taken by Mr..
Gardner Lathrop, the general So
licitor of the Santa Fe Railway
Company, and an attorney of the
Standard Oil Company, in a pri-
vate car on a fishing excursion,
and that Mr.. Lathrop wined and
dined the judges on this trip in a
most generous fashion.
1t has been a very common thing
for railway company to furnish
a private car to federal judges for
pleasure excursions on their re-
quest, which request, of course,
amounts to a demand. This has
been the subject of some comment
and some little censure, now and
then, from certain very bold news
papers. 1t is no worse, except in
degree, than the giving of passes
to officers and influential citizens,
which has been quite common
habit for years. 1t was no worse
than when President Roosevelt, in
1908, applied for and received,
gratuitiously, from the railways,
gorgeously furnished trains,
equipped with everything to eat
and drink, wines, liquors and
cigars, and servants to attend him
and his guests. These trips by
the President in the year 1908 were
made at cost to the railway COM
panies of more than $3.50, 900. They
we're made by the President in his
extensive campaigns for the nomi-
nation for the Presidency. In
making the trips at that time he
violated the law. But we are ad.
vised now that Mr.. Roosevelt has
reformed. And we are persuaded
that the federal judges have also
measurably quit this bad habit.
We therefore doubt if Mr.. Tuck
er will gain great deal of SYM
pathy by calling specific attention
to the fishing trip given the judges
on the private car by the attorney
of the railway and oil companies
We are not informed as to the
merits of the litigation in which
Mr.. Tucker and his company are
involved. 50 And if we were, il
would not be proper to discuss
them while it is pending. But one
incident in the case, as we under
stand it, is closed. Tucker wal
sent to jail by Judge Hook, who
was called in to deal with Tucker
and the charges he made agains
the judges. The AFFIDAVIT was
doubtless, prepared by Mr.. Tuck
er's attorney. The attorney wal
reprimanded. The case was no
tried before jury. Mr.. Tucke
was compelled to testify agains
himself.
| Mr.. Loomis, general attorne.
of the Union Pacific Railway Com
pany, and a man who is unde
very great obligations to Judg,
Pollock, was selected by Judg'
Hook to cross-examine Tucke
while he was being forced to testi
fy against himself. The paper
published that Judge Hook taunt
ingly asked Mr.. Tucker, while OF
the stand, If he, Tucker, did no
think that Judge Hook was preju
diced against him because h
selected Mr.. Loomis, the railwa,
attorney, to cross-question him.
1t may be that we have not give
the details just as they occurred
but the essential fact to which W
want to direct attention is that MI
i Tucker is in jail, without any tria
by jury. If he slandered or libelet
Judge Pollock, or either Of th,
other federal judges, they had th'
same recourse as any private citi
zen would have to proceed ciyilly
or criminally against Tucker 10
making his false charges.
We must reach a point in thi
country when Judge, either Stat
or FederaE cannot proceed agains
a litigant unless he is guilty .
\ disorderly conduct in the presenc,
Of the court. The fling Of a paper
no matter what IT might contain
lis no grounds for Judge, in |
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