The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-10-28
REPAIRING PROFESSIONAL CAPITAL

We have ALREADY commented upon Judge Park
erfs arraigument Of Colonel Roosevelt for his dis
regard Of The Ninth Commandment. he New
! York jurist shows eonelnslyeiy that the new
New lork Boss. IN refusing not only to retract
@disproven statements regarding political oppo'
nents. but in re-iterating such statements, HIM
self commits the highest form OF moral larceny
IL spite OF his own declaration that he Is EN-
4 bodying The command. Thou shalt not steal as
the alleged issue in chief Of his campaign
There is disclosed, however. IN the charge
which the Colonel brings against Judge Baldwin
Ut Connecticut, peculiarly brutal and offensive
ignorance. In seeking to array the forces OF
Enion Labor against the Democratic cause gen
orally, the eA-Prcsident stated on the stump and
continues to repeat that, while member of the
I bench, Judge Baldwin rendered decision in
which he held il to be the law that II was compe-
tent for laborer when forced to accept work to
NAyoid stravtion, 10 waive by contract the employ
er's liability In damages for the negligent injury
10 such faborer III the course of his employment.
sNDf course the Connecticut reports give the lie
sgairect to such statement, which is ridiculous
then applied 10 any lawyer of learning sufficient
Rxo justify his elevation 10 judicial place The
nerest legal tyro knows that the doctrine Of as
mption Of risk. even in its strictest application,
1ever included the power Of an employer to hold
iInself harmless against his own negligence or
ut of his responsible servants. A laborer is
ntItled under all circumstances 10 work in safe
III, except as the character of the labor for which
30 engages is III itself necessarily and apparently
Axardous. So Jealous is the law of this right
INT It has almost from time immemora inter
ened to vitiate any attempted contract whereby
Ipbf
Night to compensation for the wrong of another
The matter is founded on public policy and is at
Ethe bedrock OF the law, and to charge that a law
yer has held otherwise, or that Judge has other
Nlse decided, is equivalent to charging gross ig-
torrance in the practice of his profession.
Yet this is exactly what Theodore Roosevelt
- done IN the case of Judge Baldwin. Not
nnly that, but having done it, he does II again
And repeatedly. He may have been himself ig-
Aorant in the beginning Of the law which his
hole career has seemed to hold in utter con
3eunpt, but he cannot be longer ignorant His
1kiteration of the charge. therefore, can be ex-
Flained only upon the theory that he is deliberate
$lY dlsrcgarding truth in order to appeal to To-
&norance. He is exciting passions when there is
10fhing reasonable tor passion to feed on. He is
ltirring prejudice where there is nothing To
dFDHet IL. IuciueHIallN. ne is attack
6ng from the vantage ground Of his own great
zefninenee the professional integrity Of a com
<Eetent lawyer He is taking BY force of arms a
measure Of Judge Balwin's capital, which con
S1oats In his professional character. And he is
6oang this with open eyes and with almost admir-
31e brutality.
Roosevelt is wonderful man-most wonder
~, perhaps, in that he can do, and survive the
Ing, things which an ordinary and not submat-
LII honesty would wreck itself in attempting
AIs peculiar appeal may may not again prove
ENAective in New York. But however that NAV
ee, we trust that Judge Baldwin will in this in
4nce 60 before the Courts which the Colonel so
4neartlly despises and seek from them redress in
law against man whose ignorance of what the
EIaW Is seems only to be EXCEEDED by his contempt
n Its principles after be has accidentally discov-
Sad them.
pER NJGTOT+G