The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-07-21
Judge Takes Up the Adninis- tTatiOn of Justice In the
 Courts of the Country
NOMINEE FOR PRESIDENT
 IS WELCOMED CORDIALLY
Several Thousand Turn Out To Hear the Judge, Many of Whom Are Visitors or Hotel Guests in
 the Mountain Towns.

Hot Springs. Va, July 20.-Judge William H. Taft today assisted in the opening of court and in the dedication of court house at Germantown, Va, five miles from Hot Springs. Judge Taft accepted the invitation to be present at this ceremony on the ground that it was neighborhood affair. Tho subject of his speech was the adminis- traitor of justice by the courts He was greeted by large assemblage of sojourners at neighboring resorts and country folks, many of whom travelled far to see and hear the republican can didate for the presidency. He was given a cordial welcome.
 The strength of the judiciary, he de- clared, was based on the fact that it rested on the principle that the people share in the responsibility for the work of the courts, in the form of duty on jurles and in othe CT capacities
 He justified proper criticism of the courts by the people because by such criticism. "those who administer jus tice shall feel that they are under the critical eye of men and women en- titled to have the justice of the people administered without fear or favor"
 He could not come into the atmos- phere of the court, he said, without q feeling of deep regret that he had ever left the bench, He concluded his remarks by congratulating Bath coun- ty upon the fact that in 1t the two
  equally divided. which. he said was a guarantee against evils in the admin istration of the government.
 Judge Taft was frequently applauded throughout his address
 Mrs. Taft accompanied her husband to the court house. which was reached after drive over splendid mountain roads. <
 Judge Taft was presented to the as semblage by j. Rivercomb a member of the board of supervisors of the county, Judge George K. Anderson. tn, presiding judge, being present. ia presenting tn e visitor Mir. Rivercon,h referred to i'm as the most dts tinguished gentleman in the United States" He spoke of his wide and varied experience in public life, and in concluding, said:
 "I take pleasure in introducing to you the next President of the United States"
 "I don't like to introduce a joint discussion just at this time" said Judge Taft, in opening his remarks. "and [ venture to say tn at the last statement of the distinguish ed gentleman might not receive unanimous concurrence throughout the country But We arc not here this morning to talk politics. l appreciate much the hospitality oe Virginia and of Bath county. in in- viting me, stranger within your gates, to come and take part in this interesting ceremony. I thank your judge, Judge Anderson for allowing us to occupy his court room and to postpone for a time the business which awaits his disposition. l speak of the court room as belonging to Judge Ap- derson, for having been a judge, I Ike to amplify the position and its dp. fluence.
 This scene today. to any one who looks at it in comparison with other countries, suggests the blessing of a free govern nent. Those who have had any exper- fence with other countries will realize that :n many of them q government means to the people an entity different from them selves, something in a sense antagonistc to them. It has q different personality and the feeling with respect to it gener- ally among the people Is that the govern ment has the power and must look after itself. In such countries among the peo- pie there is an absence of a sense of re- sponsibility as to what is done by the gov- ernment, absence of desire to help tia government because they are a part of 1t, such as we have here today Such sense Of responsibility, such desire to help gov
 
 this kind the country over. They coma from the belief that we, the people are the government, and in courts of justice it is increased by the fact that the people take part in the administration of justice. that they are called upon the jury. that they are part of the tribunal that decides the issue of fact in courts of law, that they are part of the posse comitatus tha- goes out with the sheriff to enforce the law and make it effective to carry out the decrees of justice,
 As long as the people feel that these arc their courts, that this is their justice, thar when it goes wrong. when it results in in- Justice, they ought to be ashamed for it. and they responsible for it, we car: count on a continua nee of [. free governs inent
 "The administration of justice in ths perhaps better illustrates what have said and the people of 1t than eveh m the cltN, because II l understand the practice 1t is for al! the country people to gather about on court days to watch tbe proceedings, to learn the law as it Is from the bench, to take an in terest In the issues as they are presented to the jury of their neighbors to criticise as they have the right to in proper way the rulings of the court or the verdict 9t the jury, so that those who are adminis- iering justice shall feel that they are ,lnder the critical eye of men tand I may cay of women) entitled to have the jrt'- ice of the people administered without fear or favor