The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-01-26
PARKER BITTER
AGAINST RECALL
Denounces Roosevelt, Who, He
Says, Is Leader of Destruc-
tive Movement.
PEOPLE ARE DECEIVED
Success Would Substitute Viei-
lance Committee for Present
Judicial System.

Columbia. S c.. January 26.-Judse
Alton b. Parker. of New York, who
once contested the presidential election
with Theodore Roosevelt, delivered an
address in this city to- might before tho
South Carolina Bar Association, In
which he expressed himself as opposed
to the recall of the judiciary and took
exception to some of the criticisms of
the bench made in the past by Dir.
Roosevelt He said in part:
If put into practice and carried 10
Its inevitable conclusion, recall Of
Judges IL the substitution OF popular
opinion for legal procedure, It is JUS
tlce or Injustice. meIod out, not as the
law of tho land. but according to sup
/; posed public sentiment. Recall of
Judges spells In tho ultimate result
recall OF the judicial system and the
substitution Of a vigilance committee.
Never before. think. In the history
or civilization has any blind leaasr Of
the blind advocated as progressive a
return to the chaotic conditions inner
ent In administration of justice by
caprice rather tnan by the rules OF law.
The recall of judges. however, is
but the first step toward the cherished
goal of the leaucrs OF the movement
aim Is the recall OF the power of tho
courts TO declare void such legislative
acts as are forbidden by the Constitu-
tons, State and Federal.
WHAT has happened OF late TO lead
SO many to favor stripping the members
of the judiciary of their independence
and shearinE them of the power to
enforce the Constitution? surely the
judicial standard has not been lowered
of late.
Ino cause OF the change in public
sentiment then is not to be found in
the lowering of the judicial standard
IL mad Its beginning during the In
cumbency OF the last President More
combinations to restrain trade and
prevent competition came into exist
ence during his incumbency OF the
ofhce than In all our previous history.
When the protests of the peoplc
against the rising lido OF higher prices
began to be heard. he sought with
his accustomed political shrcwdness
to shift the responsibility from the
shoulders OF his party. To that end
he inveished against the lmpotency
OF the law and tho we'll meaning but
fossillzed Of mind judges; laying the
responsibility OF our evil state TO the
law and It's ministers.
Was ever accusation more unjust?
leges against which protest is raised.
from the courts? No, not In a single
instance They came by statutes PASS
ed by legislative bodies and In most
Instances approved by chief executives
The reports which came TO him of
the effect OF his campaign against the
judiciary enabled him to go out OF
office fully approaching that through
his Skill his administration and his
party had ESCAPED for time nj least
tho responsibility which was justly
theirs. What his present motive may
be we need not conjecture.
His grievance is that tho decision.
arc In such hagrant and direct con.
tradlction to the spirit and needs OF
the times. 1t means to his multitude
of readers that courts should decide,
not as the people have commanded In
their Constitution. but according 20 tho
notion OF himself and nils followers ga
to the moods of the times
Through his leadership, while Pres
ident and since. large and uniformed
following has been recruited through
out tho United States, who are wax
ing. many OF them unconsciously, "a
battle against the supremacy OF the
law. The uniformed think because
they have been deceived that the courts
are in effect vetoing legislation that
the people want, not that the courts
are merely setting aside enactments
that the people have forbidden the leg
islative department OF the government
to pass. II they should be made to un-
derstand the whole truth before 1t is
TOO late, the movement. in form against
the judiciary, but In reality against
Its power TO hold in check the would
be usurpers of power not granted by
the people, will end