The Sentinel=record., 1911-05-14
OPPOSED ID
 JUDGE RECALL
PRESIDENT TAFT TALKS TO CONFERENCE ON REFORM OF
 OUR CRIMINAL LAW.
Fears Effect of Work of Jurists if They Themselves Are Continual ly on Trial--Would Result in
 Restraint.

New York May F. President Taft came out publicly tonight in the most pronounced fashion against the recall of the judiciary In his speech at the Hotel Astor before the confer ence on reform of the criminal law and procedure. the president made his attitude plain. Most of tue speech had been devoted to comparison, highly unfavorable to this country, of the judicial systems of Great Britain and the United States. He lamented the tendency manifested even in En- gland but more particularly in this country, to put limitations on the power of the judge.
 "Aas' now he aaid with the rosi- ton of the judge reduced to one something like that of the moderator in a religious assembly or the presid- ing officer of political convention. the judge is to be made still less i'm portant and to be put still more on trial and to assume still more the character of a defendant in court do not suit small percentage of the electors of his district. he may be compelled to submit the question of his continuance on the bench during the term for which he was elected. to an election for recall in which the reason for his recall is to be includ ed in two hundred words and his de- fense thereto be equally brief.
 Tt can hardly be said that this proposed change, if adopted, will give him greater authority or power for usefulness or constitute a reform in the enforcement of the criminal law of this country. It certainly will not diminish the boyer of irresponsible ity of counsel for the defendant. Let us hope that the strong sense of hu- nor of American people, which has so often saved them from the dangers of demagogory will not go lacking in respect of this 'nostrum.
 The statistics which show the crimes that go unpunished in this country as compared with those in England.' said MT. Taft, "are start ling and humiliating to son of America. A study of the English sys- tenn will show that it's procedure and guarantees in favor of the individual as to indictment, trial and conviction and provision for the security of the liberty of the individual are exactly the same as ors.u
 Wherein is the great difference then between the effectiveness of tAe two system? I believe 1t to exist in the character. experience and learn ing of the judges. in the power which they maintain and exercise in the course of the trial for the saving Of time and the simplihcation of the is- sues and in the respect and obedi- ence given to their intlmations from the bench as to the proper behavior of counsel in the conduct of the case If there is any other reason for the difference. it cannot be found in pro- cedure.
 Tt must he found, in lighter regard for law and it's enforcement on the part of our people.
 "A consequent less rigorous public opinion in favor Of the punishment of crime. which relieved prosecuting officers and grand juries from the highest standard in this regard and which finds it's way into and exerts it's influence in the jury panel dur ing the trial and in the jury room during the consideration of the yer dict also is responsible.
 'T wish to comment on the effect
 
 that the change in the power of the judge in this country in the matter of the management of the trial has had upon his ability to shorten the meth ods of counsel for the defense and their conduct In the courtroom.
 What I believe to be an Infound- ed fear of judicial tyranny and an unreasonable distrust of judges has led to statutory limitation upon their power in the conduct of criminal trials which have made the trial by in this country and especially in the western states an entirely different from what fl was under.