Evening journal., 1908-10-03

q larger or wider experience in your pro-
fession? Grant your present capacity and
ability, and conoede also the limitations
Of him who has excited your contemptous
scorn. is it not the characteristic OF
larger learning, wider experience and more
accurate scholarship to view with con-
sideration the painful mistakes Of limited
learning. to contemplate with charitable
indulgence the tyro's inexperience and
to aid with helpful encouragement the
plodding of sincere erfort to supply the
deficiencies from which no mortal is born
free7
You and ] are both young, at IN, thresh-
hold OF active professional life, and it does
seem to me that our hands should be
extended to help rather than to add to
burdens already heavy.
MY hope is that in my frank expression,
ne oifense is given to you, for none Is in-
tended, and that YOU Will appreciate the
spirit in which this lesson is written.
You close your letter with the assurance
that my reply will not be made public II
l object. Never in my life have 1 said or
written anything to any person that
feared to be disclosed. You are free to give
this letter the same publicity tha. your at
tack on Frank H. Davis has had
Believe me, very sincerely yours,
Ruby r. Vale.
Law offices Ward and Gray, dupont
Building, Tenth and Market streets.
Wilmington. Delaware.
Herbert H. Ward. Andrew c. Gray.
John r. Neary.
Robert H. Richards. ESQ, 400 Ford
Building. City
Dear Sir: To your letter Of septenber
18th. 1908. asking whether I consider
the professional attainInents of Frank
II. Davis. Escsiire. such as to qualify
him to hold and perform the duties OK
attorney general. muse reply thatsl
do not. I have personally enGeavored
ITO persuade him for his own good to
retire from the ticket. About my inter-
view with him I am at liberty only 10
say that he declined to SO withdraw.
NY opinion Of Mr.. Davis professional
weakness is based partiy upon infor.
nation and partly upon knowledge. 4
understand that he has personally con.
Quoted few. If any, civil trials before the
SUPERIOR Court since his admission to
the bar. During my fnur years in the
Office OF attorney general Mr.. Davis
represented several defendants charged
with various crimes. including several
capital cases: but my impression now
Is that he invariably associated with
himself in all important criminal cases
some other member of the bar who
conducted the actual trials. He may
have occasionally examined a witness.
point to the court or carried the burden
of the trial.
/ am convinced that his lack Of ex-
perience In court work. both civil ana
criminal his unreadiness TO meet the
exigencies which constantly arise in
trials before the court. ana his general
professional weakness. unit him for
the duties and responsibilities OF the
high office for which he has been
nominated
/ have aimed in this letter to ex-
press my opinion of Mr.. Davis with
moderation and justness, not only be-
cause ] would avoid the appearance Of
self-praise as a former incumbent OF
the Office to which he aspires but also
beacuse of desire not to unnecessarily 1
wound the sensibilit;es Of one for whom
! have always had a very friendly feel
Ing. But these reasons. II they stood
a.one are sufficient to CONTROL nv
Judgment and action.
The reasons indiscrcetlv hut openly
rred bv his partisans. before and az
the time Of the convention, for his
nomirRooD render his candidacy i'm
possible. even If he were profession
ely most competent An attorney
general must be without pledges either
ezLress or implied, and free from ALI.
ances or influences which might make
it impracticable for him to enforce ali
the laws of the State which come with
in his official cognizauce I remain,
Very truly yours,
Signed, H. H. Ward.