The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1908-08-08

of the other two branches may be
minimized. We believe therefore that
the election of Taft VIII have no little
| value as an assurance to the people
of the United States that the Federal
bench will be composed of men of the
highest mental and moral caliber. If
there were no other consideration
this alone would be sufficient reason
for the election of Judge Taft to the
presidency of the United States.
While Judge Taft has suggested re-
form and Improvement for the bench.
fourteen lawyers and jurists, who
stand highest in the country, have
pointed out in their code of ethics,
formulated for the American bar
many pertinent changes in the legal
standard of the legal profession. We
recognize the fact that this code OF
ethics is not in the nature of legal
reform. but rather in the nature OF
moral betterment. Improvement in
anything must arise from within,
| distinguished lawyers is highly signi-
fcant They too touch upon the sub
ject of the judiciary and recognize the
duty of the bar ito endeavor to pre-
vent political considerations from out
weighing judicial fitness in the selec-
ton of judges"
Too often in American life the cleo,
ton of a judge has been from politi-
| cal reasons alone. a condition of af
| fairs which is as despicable as it is
dangerous. The evils of selecting a
| judge for political reasons only is the
| first step in the corruption Of our
courts At the same time the senti
ment of the code is a common sense
attitude to take Therefore the word
"out weigh" should be emphasized
Few would stigmatize any Judge fol-
having engaged in politics to secure
| his election, so that political reasons
must only be condemned from the ma
ture of the political activity of the
candidate.
There can be no better Illustration
of what we mean than in the person
of Judge Taft himself. Judge Taft
has all his life been conspicuous in
politics, yet not breath of scandal OF
corruption or political demagoguery
has touched his reputation. This
must always be the ideal type of oul
judiciary.
| In one other matter the code touch
es a great evil of our modern life. We
refer to the question of advertising
by the legal profession. Business
cards and the like are largely matter
of custom governed by local condi
| tons. but the habit of inspiring news
paper advertising in the cases il
| which which the lawyer is concerned
or of criticisms Of the menner il
which litigation is carried on is char
acterized as not only unprofessiona
but dangerous.
Another feature, which is brought
to light is the custom of hunting III
and stirring up legal controversy, :
habit in vogue in our large cities
Scanning tax titles, wills and the like
for defects, which may form a basis
for litigation, then informing the in
terested party of such facts, is otter
productive of blackmail on one side
and of stirring up Improbable litiga
ton for both parties on the other
| This we believe has been a fruitful
source of money making for lawyer.
in the past and it will be interesting
to see what effect it will have upoI
such practices.
There are many other things which
have been touched upon in this code
| ooSiA e'S 'tliS Nctlilh9SliI Ice, anu LII
oaths which are administered to law
yers on entering the bar, but we hav,
endeavr. . give only such example
as will slow the general tenor an,
tendency of the best practitioners O
this country. Improvement must com
slowly. Much may be accomplishe,
by needed laws concerning legal prc
cedure but we think that the actor
of these men will have an untold in
fluence in raising the standards of tn
bar. Much more can be accomplishe
by high moral tone in the foremos
ranks of the profession than the mos
stringent laws which could be passed
We think then, that the people of tn
United States should take specia
pride and interest in the reforms sue
gested by Judge Taft and the Amer
can Bar association.
TILE On