The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1911-09-24
president Taft as Guest Of St. Louis
Yesterday Has Some Criticism
for the American
Judiciary.
IMPEACHMENT HANDY
Real Reception is Given the Distin-
gllshed Citizen All During
His Stay In the
City.
TGate city Leased Wire Service.

ST. LOUIS, Sept. 23.-Adm1ttlng
that the courts of the United States
are mot what they ought to be-"
President Taft here this afternoon
advocated more liberal use of the
impeachment of judges, as a substi-
tute for the judicial recall, which he
denounced
Today, his first west of the Mis-
sissippi, was indeed the presidents
busy day. He made three important
speeches, one of them thes third set
speech which he was determined to
make when he left Washington. This
was the speech on the tariff board,
which was delivered before a big
mass meeting In the Coliseum to-
night. But his pronouncement as to
the tariff board faded to unimport-
ance beside his remarks at this after
moons luncheon of the City Club,
where he criticised judicial proceed
ure At brea fast he bemoaned the
defeat of reciprocity in Canada and
announced his intention of sitting
still under the elbow which hits him
between the eyes,
On the Pay Roll.
Some times feel,' declared the
president at the City Club luncheon,
that some socialistic association
could well afford to pay me for trav-
cling about the country and furnish
ing real reasons for discomfort in
stead of those they now use. One OF
there would be the character and
procedure of the administration OF
justice in our courts. This evil is one
of the most easily reached by legis
lation, and one in which reform Is
needed more than in any other
Now the suspicion of the people
Is such, and the movement of al
legislation has followed it, that
much power has been taken from the
judges. | know that under the Eng
lish system where the judges have
great power and great responsibility
the judges must be honest and able
If you will look at the statistics yor
will be ashamed as Americans be
cause we fail to punish crime. If oul
judges had the power of the English
judges, they too would be able to ad
minister the law, carry on the court.
and punish crime The number o.
homcides that go unpublished /!
enough to bring the blush of shame
to the faces of all Americans ap
peal that the tendency of Legislation
now should be toward giving judge.
more power and making them NOR,
responsible. You cannot make ;
judge responsible by threatening t,
cut his head off without hesitation
as you would under the so-callet
judicial recall / admit that thi
movement toward recall has basi
IN the fact that the courts have no
been what they ought to be. But yo,
ought not to kill the courts for tha
reason, and that's what you would d.
by making the judges tenure Of oi
nee dependent upon an election, Il
which other issues may intrude.
impeachment Of Judges.
We have the method of impeact
ment for Furnishing judges. Impeac
them. impeachment of a Judge woul
De healthy thing at this time.
nave known of several cases of threa
ened impeachment in congress whic
snonld have been pressed to conclu,
Ion
But the difference between tn
congressman and the Judge had bee
hxed up by compromise, and the ii
ciuent was forgotten.
II the method of impeachment e
present is not fair enough let us hav
some other method, that will make
easier to punish judges But hav
some sort of judicial proceeding
IN his speech tonight, the presider
discussed the creation, history an
work of the tariff board and argue
IN Justification of his veto and tn
tariff bill. His speech was academl
and analytical
Received Royal Welcome.
st. Louis gave the nraaidant q 10.