Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1908-07-21
TAFT ON JUDICIARY
Judge Assists in Defeating Court
House at Germantown, Va.
Jury SYSTEM IS LAUDED
People Share in Responsibility of
Securing Justice.
PROPER CRITICISM OF COURTS
Jurists Should Feel that Critical Eyes
Are Upon Them.
MORE PAY FOR MEN ON BENCH
Statement that Salaries Are Not
Adequate for Class of Service
Observation-Disclosures as
Next President,
Jurists Should Feel that Critical Eyes
Are Upon Them.
MORE PAY FOR MEN ON BENCH

liam II. Taft today assisted in the open
ing Of court and in the dedication of a
court house at Germantown. Va, five
miles from Hot Springs. Judge Taft ac-
ceptcd tho Invitation to be present at this
ceremony on the ground that 1t was a
neighborhood affair. The subject of his
speech was the administration of justice
by the courts. He was greeted by a large
assemblsge of sojourners at neighboring
resorts and country folk, many OF whom
Travelled far to see and hear the republi-
can candidate for the presidency. He was
given a cordial welcome.
The strength of the judiciary, he de-
clared was based on the fact that 1t rested
on the principle that the people share in
the ~ssponsibilty for the work of the
courts. in the form Of duty on Jurles and
in oth9 capacities.
He justified proper criticism Of the courts
by the people because by such criticism
"those who administer justice shall feel
that they are under the critical eye Of
men and women entitled to have justice
fthe people administered without fear
or favor" He could not come into the
atmosphere OF the court, he said, without
feeling Of deep regret that he had ever
left the bench He concluded his remarks
by congratulating Bath county upon the
fact that in 1t the two great political
parties are nearly equally divided which,
he said was a guarantee against evils in
the administration Of the government.
Judge Taft was heartily applauded when
he opened his address and was frequently
interrupted by applause. Mrs Taft ac-
companied her husband to the court house.
which was reached after a drive over splen-
did mountain roads.
introduced as Next President.
Judge Taft was presented to the assem-
blage b j. A. Rivercomb, member of the
board of su ,ervlsors of the county, Judge
George X. Anderson. the presiding judge
being present In presenting the visitor
Mr.. Rivercomb referred to him as the
most distinguished gentleman in the
United States" He spoke Of his wife and
varied experiences in public life, and in
concluding, said:
II take pleasure in introducing to you the
next president of the United States"
"I don't like to introduce joint discus
sion just at this time" said Judge Taft in
opening his remarks, "and venture to say
that the last statement of the distin-
guIshed gentleman might not receive unani-
nous concurrence throughout the country.
But we are not here this morning to talk
politics. l appreciate much the hospitality
Of Virginia and of Bath county in inviting
me, a stranger, within your gates, to come
md take part in this interesting ceremony
1--WE have come up into this beautiful val
ley for health and rest We are getting A
great deal of inspiration, those of us who
nave come into 1t for the pure air. Some
of us haven't taken the waters as yet I
have not felt the necessity, on the score
Of health, to do that, although l am bound
to say that the enthusiastic hosts at the
HCt Springs have suggested. ! sa d to them
that my feeling reminded me Of the epitauh
In a graveyard. L wac WELL wished to be
better. took physc and here l am, so
like a good husband | have ventured to al
low Mrs. Taft TO take the baths am
told that the waters of this valley are very
searching, very healthful but a little dis
appointing at first in developing a great
many troubles that you do not know you
have. IL then i were to embrace the op-
lOrtunity and take the waters and finl
out more sins of the body than l supposed
/ have, with fatal result. I should be
like the gentleman of whom DIR. Hill of
the Methodist church told me the other
day. He had been working very hard one
night, speaking to an audience He came
home to the house where he was a guest
and asked whether he might not have some
lunch The good lady said that she had
no anything except a mince pie. 'Well,
he said, 1 will try that It was good and
he tried II. But about the middle Of the
night he walked up with acute indigestion.
Doctors were called in. The case was very
dangerous dangerous indeed that the
coct RS advised the lady that she must
t,n her guest that he must be prepared to
meet his end. She said to him, you arc
not afraid to dep oh, no. he said, L am
"A n a bn I ann al a 10 a "a
under tn Sc circumstances Instead Of the
waters l have been taking the pure air OF
this valley.
More Pay for Judges.
I'VE are here today for a function, the
dedication of what is certainly a beautiful
court house. l am reminded as / look at
this court house of letter which Mr.. JUS
tice jackson OF the supreme court, wrote
to Secretary HoaT, the chairman of the
judiciary committee, with reference 70
what I am sure my friend Judge jackson
wiz have an interest in the salaries OF the
judges Said he: My dear senator, as
go about from city TO city and come into
these beautiful federal court houses
think that the policy OF the United State
government may be described as erect.
ing magnificent temples to justice and
starving the high priests don't know
about the judicial salaries in Virginia, hut
II this be a hint that shall lead in any way
TO the raising OF the compensation Of hard
working judges. I shall have done some
thing worthy OF the day.
This scene today TO anyone who looks
at It IN . comparison with other countries
suggests the blessing of a free govern
ment. Those who have had any expert
ehee with other countries will realize that
In many OF them the government means
to the people an entity different from
themselves, something In sense antago-
nistie to them. It has a different person.
ahty and the feeling with respect to Il
generally among the people is that the
government has the power and must lool
after itself. In such countries among the