Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1916-08-10
JACKSON h. RALSTON


who took a very prominent part in
the affairs of the Far " vsti ARD was
OF Virginia and Kentucky stock.
Mr.. Ralston came East about thirty
years ago and took up his residence
in Hyattsville. Prince George county,
Md During the years that nave fol-
lowed the establishment OF his resi-
dence, he has devoted himself to the
practice Of law, as a profession, and
the study and solution of public ques-
tons as a citizen.
He has gained almost a worldwide
reputation as an authority on Inter-
national Arbitration. He was Umpire
OF the controversies existing between
Venezuela and Italy 10 1903 and sat
at Caracas. Venezuela Tor six months.
settling the disputes betw cen these
two nations, where he had 70 finally
pass upon claims against Venezuela
and in favor OF italy for more than
$5,000,0OO. The Venezuela Claims
Commission consisted Of two Com,
missioners ana an Umpire and the
duty developed upon tlie Umpire 20
render decision for Il In a great
many instances. file had previously
been counsel for the United states in
what has become kHown as The
pious Funh Case" he controversy
there WAS between the United States
and the Republic OF Mexico. growing
out Of certain missionary properties
which Mexico had seized prior to the
cession Of California 60 the United
States The contention ran over a
number OF yours, and finally. 81 the
demand Of the United States WAS re-
ferred 10 The Hague TfibHnal for set
tlcmeht Both edes aefe rerresent-
ed in tie argument before this In
ternatiOnal Court Tue United States
being represented by Mr.. Ralston.
The opinion ol the Court Ia making
Its award adopted 10 4 large extent
~ argument made ny Mr.. Halston
on behalf ~ The United states. As "A
result OF this hearing which was held
at The Haane IN lieliaad Mexico was
compelled 70 pay % the United states
a considerable snm " money and a
perpetual annual spnI 81 sf2 0HW.
Growing out Of theea two experi-
nncea Mr. Raiainn Meame 40 thor
ouglily acquainted win arhitfal law.
that q demand was matte upon him 10
put these in such aeHHite form as
might be used IN tbs future ~
result he 81 tho author Of Venezuela
an hrbitrations OF 1908 and Inter
national ATbiifai Las and Proceed
nre. both u which have been often
cited by the State department and
arc regarded az authority BY Euro
puan International Lawyers II would
seem that IN slew Of his exceptional
experiences along this llBe, N elected
20 Congress. he ought 70 De OF equally
unusuai service "a the Nation
Not oniy IN foreign affairs has Mr.
Raiaion benn prominent. bot In do
nestic matters
ne whs counsel Tor the American
Federation Of Labor Ia the Buck
Stove and Rnnge eaae There the
officers Of The American Federation
OF Labor were CHARGED with contempt
Va violating au injunction OF the So.
prsme Court III the District az Coz
inmhia prohibiting the publication Of
The namc og the Buck Company. 80 the
I'VE Bout pair1Bikp List and main
tanning 4 haycati M RAistOn'a con-
teati0ns IN the trial court were over
ruled. He received comparatively
little satisfaction from the Court Of
Appeals Tor his ulicGfs. but the SUI
promo Court of the UBifed States de-
cided fhe case ~ his favor upon the
very points urged b. him ia the trial
court tbs TRIAL lndN0 attempted TO
anjnst himself 90 the decision OF the
Supreme Court ~ the tuifed States.
hnd ln a second proceeding the latter
Court decided IN faynf 81 Mr.. Raj
aion'E clients ahn mara thus freed Of
she contempt CHARGE
Ills connection with the now
famous Federal 'Empi0yea' Liability
Act ought mot 10 go unmeHfioned.
ln 1906. Congress- had attempted Ia
remove nnmo % the hardahipa then
existing in the law 81 negligence, and
the supreme Court N 1898 had do
eiarcd this aci Unconstitutional. Mr..
Balslon was asked bg SIR Fuller, rep
rusentius the Railway Traiamen
Union, to rrcast the aet In aWeh way
M 10 meet the objections OF the SUI
prome Court and 10 irail an act that
would be constitutional Tho uecgs-
eity for such an act 10 railway en-
ployena consisted IN this. Under the
law as u existed before fhe act. a
railway employee injured hy the neg
ligonce Of a follow employed was
popcrless 90 recover from the rail-
road for such injury tbs VAS under
what waa technically kEoNn ~ the
Fellow servants Doctrine. rail-
gAnce OF the railway primarily and
partly BY bis own negligence, how
ever small was likewise barred from
recovery under what was known as
the Doctrine Of ContFibntary Negii-
genee Both ~ these doctrines we're
Of common law origin and both work
ed manifest Injustice i was the APP
parent desire OF Congress TO change
these hard technical rules, making
them more consonnnt with reason.
The first attempts At II had failed by
reason Of the Supreme gouri'a decla-
ration OF us ahcpnsiituii0Hality Mr..
RalstOn framed an act 10 meet these
diilicultics and II has witbstood at
lacks upon u from many directions
and accomplished ths purpose do
sired.
IN the resent election in Maryland.
wherein the constitutional amend
ment regarding the referendum was
involved. Mr. ltalafnn took a very ae-
tive part, The referendum had been
the subject OF much study by MIR.
falsiDn and he made many public
speeches upon Il at that time. The
amendment carried in the state BY
an enormous majority.
Mr.. haiHion'a wife Ia the daughter
81 The former senior partner OF the
tate Justice r Miller, OF the United
States Supreme Court
u Sir. Ralston II elected 10 Con-
gress. the Firm District can be as
Bured Of his active work for the bet
termsnt of9the Nation and the Con-
gressiOnal District The Baltimore
Sun published of him on MAY ga the
following editorial. "The Democrats
OF the Fifth Congressional District
are 10 be congratulated upon the
ngminasion Of candidate such as
Jackson II. Ralston. All OF us do not
agree with some Of MIR. Ralafon,s eco
npmlc theories but there can BE- 40
disagreement az 10 his intellectually.
He y one Of the strongest lawyers In
tho State and man Of commanding
ability In nearly every direction. il
Is not often that we get d man OF such
caliber on our lists OF Congressional
candidates. II Congress were COM