The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1912-01-21

III this view Is to be changed and
the decisions of our courts are to be
considered in the same way and upon
the same presumptions and with no
greater respect for authority than i'm
the case of political opinions, the au.
thorltN of the courts will inevitably
decline, the independence OF the Judi.
eial branch will cease, judicial decis.
ions will interruDt the law ALWAYS
to sun the majority Of the moment.
and the recall will be the natural and
logical expression of the relation TO
he assumed between the people and
the court"
The cause of this Impotence. said
Senator Root, does not arise from any
deterioration in the character of the
Judges and he stated it as his belief
that there had never been time when
the favor of the rich or of men DOW.
erful III social or business affairs
. played 50 small a part in Determining
the selection OF Judges. Admitting
technicaities and delays which i'm
, pede the course of Justice, the speak
er thought the courts less responsible
| for these shortcomings than the bar
| and Justly so inasmuch as the bar
makes up a great part of all the leg
! lslatures and is responsible for the
the stupid and miscellaneous legisla
ton regarding procedure which ham.
pers the courts IN their efforts 10
do Justice
1T is the bar, ne continued. which
| knowing all the facts and familiar
| with all the evils, insists upon the
continuance of oar methods TO pro.
mote the immunity OF criminals and
the hindrance of Justice to the point
of denial
When the speaker had outlined the
! new conditions that confront the
country incident to the extraordinary
industrial development of the last half
century and which demand the re.
I adjustment of relations between
! great bodies of men, and the estab.
lishment of new legal rights not con.
templated when existing laws Were
passed or existing relations mfwssh
passed or existing limitations upon
the powers of government were pre-
Scribed in the Constitution, he de-
clared that the readiustment must of
necessity be gradual process.
ultimately said he, step by step.
through the ordinary processes of self
government through investigation ed
ucation, the spread OF true under
standing OF facts and full discussion.
the process of reddiustment will re
worked out to conform to the mature.
instructed, considerate judgment Of
the selfgoverning people of the coun-
try"
Turning to the problem of the ap-
plicaiion OF the Law, Senate" ItGGt ,e-
minded his hearers that the jIdaa S
always confined within the narrow
limits of reasonable Interpretation,
and said: 1T is not his function CT
within his power TO enlarge. or IN
prove. or change the law. Ills duty
is to maintain it, 10 enforce it, whc;h-
er it be good or lad, wise or foolish,
accordant with sound or unsound
economic policy. 1t j. very import
ant 10 have reformers and adyocatps
OF all good causes and thoughtful aud |
public spirited citizens who are keen |
ly alive to the defects in our Sys'e.1 |
OF laws and soicitous TO find means |
to cure them. But the courts are |
excluded, by virtue of the special du- |
ty imposed upon them, from PLAYING |
any OF these parts. Their duty is TO !
maintain and enforce the law as il |
is at the moment. to interpret it in |
sincerity and truth under the sanction |
of their oaths and in the spirit OF JUS. |
tice. 10 accept loyalty any change
made in it by the iaw-making power,
but TO stand firmly against any at