The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1908-04-01
UNFIT LEersLAroRs.


The st. Louis Times argues that
sons recent court decisions should
serve as a lesson to iawmaksrs. say
ing:
states are notoriously unit for the
work cut out for them. They intro
M ns %ss s.. 4 ssi% and q shsy , ySss
are supporting. Hearing. where bills
should be considered IN every detail
and with great seriousness. frequent
" degenerate: as every state capital
display OF cheap wit at the expense
Of the men who are engaged In pre-
senting their arguments.
That this IL true OF our own State
of Alabama is an unfortunate fact that
cannot be successfully controverted.
and by unfit" We do not mean men
who are venal and corrupt. for there
has been but little of that in Alabama
OF late years. When we say man
IL UNIT to be lawyer or a doctor
we mean that he is not learned in
law or medicine sufficiently to fit him
hOt thp piOtNSsiVhs anu II 80 Viz shih0.
perhaps to a great extent. with those
who are to make the laws. Without
any knowledge OF law or Legislation
they are as little qualified to make
laws as the average farmer or me-
chanic would be to practice medicine.
But the worst form OF untitness is
that which permits a legislator TO act
and vote under dictation: not bc-
cause he has been corrupted or brib-
ed, but because he Is either afraid to
trust his own judgment. or lacks the
moral courage to resist the appeals
or threats. The troubles which have
come about in various States as the
result Of unfair and unjust anti-rail-
road legislation are primarily due TO
the fact that executives or solf-consti-
tuted leaders in the Legislature. eth
er through miscohceptlon or desire
for gain or revenge, have by persua-
sion or threats succeeded In getting
laws enacted which have been exceed-
ingly hurtful. not only to the corpor-
atoms against which they are Ill
rected but hurtfuI to the State and to
| the people.
We are convinced that one of the
main causes of ill-considered or Inn
proper legislation is the ever present
desire for change. II member from
any county does or fails to do as the
people desire. his constituents--gen-
orally melted thereto by those who de-
sire the place for themselves--at once
conclude that he has been unfaithful
or negligent and, proceed to displace
him. as general thing gaining moth
ing by the change. II when a good
and properly qualified man is sent to
the Legislature the people would con-
tinue him in Office they would be the
gamers. for his experience at each
session would better fit him for good
work for the people and the State.
This is not a case. "a a general thing.
whore change is for the best. but rath.
err one where experience Yields good
results II coupled with qualifications.
To copy again from The Times:
Some of the bills come out of en-
grossment with serious errors. Some
indeed. are signed by governors with
out careful study. The latest copy
of the Missouri session acts has cor
rectionsf made I'M composition by the
printer and Indicated In parentheses.
Small wonder that the courts are
called upon. not for mere tnterpreta-
tiop, but to point out the most flag
rant abuses OF legislative time and
authority. Many States of the Union.
urged by popular clamor and yellow
journalism. passed railroad bills at the
sessions of a year ago. The courts are
now destroying many of them for rea-
sons that sh ould- have been plain to
the assemblymen who drew the bills
and forced them through the hopper.
When the people get to the point of
selecting their members with greater
care they will have servants at the
capital who will give more attention
to real public needs and less to clam
or. Good laws do not float home on
waves of new-fangled. undigested
popular" opinion;