The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1912-02-07

quasi-political questions, involving
the very foundations Of government.
We do not regard the necessity for
reducing the canons of legal ethics to
q written code, as near SO important
as the attitude Of the Bar towards the
enforcement Of the rules, whether
written or unwritten." Glass legisla-
tion will continue, and we need not
expect'a revision of the tariff in the
interest Of the people until the Bar OF
America awakes to the realization OF
It's full duty towards the administra-
tion OF the law in every department.
1t is not only incumbent on the indi-
vidua1 lawyer to observe the rules OF
ethics, but the. Bar Association
throughout the country should look
to.the enforcement of the moral duty
which each member owes. to all the
different branches Of the government.
Indeed; this is by far the most impor-
tant duty resting upon the Bar Asso-
ciations.: iGu% l.. t"-.:r. -.
:sThe legal profession Is now on trial.
We can not, shut our eyes TO the fact
that the people are becoming dissat-
'isfed with the manner in which it is
discharging It's duty, as sole trustee
of:the judicial department of the Gov
erpment.%, It: Is only necessary to note
the efforts on; the part Of the people
to take a more active part. themselves
In the administration Of justice, by
placing In their constitutions the pow
-ensD: recall the Judges; when in their
opinion they do not think; the trust is
being. properly executed. But q. short
time ago President Taft vetoed the
bill to admit Arizona as q State, on
the ground, that the proposed consti-
tuition contained the power to recall
the Judges. Nor can we ignore the
fact that the manner In which the ex.
ecutiye and Legislative departments Of
the government are being admins
tered, is not giving satisfaction to the
people and: that they are seeking re-
fief III various ways. For instance,
eff the States have; already
conferred upon. women, the right, Of
SUFFRAGE. IN order that life, liberty
and property may: be properly protect
ed. - It Is only: recently that Caltfor-
mia has clothed them with such pow
er,. and other, States will surely do
likewise, unless: there Is a; a;change for
the better In the: enactment and exc
cution ofthe; :laws:y:s. u; 49,.
} Is 1t not d reflection upon our pro-
fessian that although the. President
of:the United, States is, a lawyer, and
a, ;maiority,in both branches of Con-
sress are lawyers,s;;a tariff was enact:
ed,,i which causes )! great suffering
among the masses on account of-'the;
high price of 'Hving?' -
!, May not the women :of the country,
in self-defenses yet. find Unnecessary
to, demand the! right Of suffrage in
order':to put a stop to- graft, special,
privileges and oppression: from the
tariff .!J. - ';..'. - !.''"' ,'' 49,,
Before concluding our. remarks, we
deem: this ar-appropriate occasion to
quote the langaauge 81, certain eminent
lawyers. uttered in a friendly spirit
and for: the uplifting. OF our 'profes-,
sion, II the language which, we are
about to quote had originated from
the enemies Of our profession, we
would not have thought; of sreproduc-
Ing, It. .~.,.. ~, ,e,.>,y.t,,r
Mr.. Taft, at the meeting o. the Con-
ference on the Reform of Criminal
Law land ?: Procedure, thus clearly
shows that he does not think the le-
gal profession has properly discharg-
ed ,its- trust: "One Of the strongest
influence for looseness, in the conduct
Of criminal trials, In my judgment,
has been the presence of lawyers in
our legislatures, who have sought to
,abate and limit by statute the power
of Judges, and to take, away this
source Of respect for their: rulings,
which is so apparent in every Eng
lish court of justice. What I believe
to be an ,unfounded fear of judicial
tyranny, and an Unreasonable distrust
of Judges, have, led to statutory limi-
tations upon their power in the con-
duct of trials in criminal cases, ~-.ich
have, made the trial by jury in this
country, and especially in the Wes-
tern States, an entirely different in
stitution from what it was understood
to be at the time of the adoption ofour
constitution. In. many States, Judges
are not permitted to comment upon
the facts at all. They are not even
allowed to charge the jury, after the
arguments of counsel, but they are
required Ito submit written charges
to the Jury, upon. obtuse questions of
law, with no opportunity to apply The
principles. concretely to. the facts OF
the case, and with the result that the
questions, both of law and fact, are
largely left to the untutored and un-
disciplined action of the jury, 'infu-
enced only by the contending argu-