The Waxahachie daily light. [volume] (Waxahachie, Tex.) 1894-current, 1916-04-10
SPEAKER G'O0DSMScUs.'
SEES ADMINISTRATION
Of JUSTICE j.
ABUSE, NOT ucE. or LAWS cAus'
ING UNREST.

Ro,nn, Tcxas--Hon. Jno. ". Woods.
speaker OF the House OF Representa-
avee. has replied TO the recent re-
quest OF J. & Cullinan. Chairman OF
he Texas Economic League, for eI-
prees,ons of opinion from the clifton
ship OF Texas as to the best methods
Of improving the Administration Of
Justice. sir. Woods reply says;
Texas f. an empire in territory.
lts people are cosmopolitan. liberty.
loving and have high ideals. It's gov.
eminent and the Administration Of
Justice within It's borders depends
not upon one class. not upon one fndf-
vidual. not upon one department..
whether Legislative, Judicial or Exec
alive, bat upon a cooperation OF all
individuals, all classes and all depart.
ments The Individual citizen -
charged with this responsibility as .
voter and as juror. Too many OF
ne best citizens fail TO discharge
these duties and thereby fail to con-
tribute TO the general good. Occa-
sionally the Judiciary falls to measure,
AZ to that high standard OF ability
which should characterize those who
wear the ernine. Sometimes it has
been true that those charged with
the enforcement OF the law have been
willing to listen TO popular ciamor or
sour: public favor instead of follow
ing a keen sense Of public duty.
"A State has been defined as body
81 free people united together for tho
common benefit to enjoy peaceably
what is their own. and to do Justice
10 others The first duty OF govern
ment. Is 10 promote the happiness
and prosperity Of it's people, and the
fundamental purpose Of law Is to de-
ine legitimate activities Of industry
md society. its purpose should be to
extend its privileges to the honest
md Industrious. as we'll as to visit
ts penalties upon the lawless. | be-
ieve that common sense and business
understanding are as necessary to
'ull and complete justice as legal
.echnicalitics.
1T is the abuse, and not the use, of
our laws that Is causing all this un-
est and fear of government. While
would not claim infallihility for our
statutes. do say that very great
per cent of the trouble is due to
aulty administration OF the law. II
matters not how efficient law may
20, unless It IS wisely and honestly
administered. injustice will prevail,
md no amount Of Legislative enact
nents can improve such situation.
Efficiency can only be obtained by q
more wise administration OF the law
improvements in the administration
IL justice can come through improve
nents in the ability of the men who
administer ii. -
Much complaint is made against
he inequality in the administration
if Justice, and this is wholly the fault
t,f those who apply ii. All men are
equal before the law, and there can
De no valid excuse for Inequality Ia
administering Justice. But. after all,
{ needs the patriotic cooperation OF
Ill the people. looking alone to tho
greatest good 10 the greatest ntmber.
o bring good government, wisely ad-
ninistered, and thereby bring Imp
,iness and prosperity to Texas, so
ar as government can do this. And
Z is not TO be forgotten that good
avs, wisely administered by patriotic
public servants have mueh to do with
he general welfare, and good laws
mwisely administered will destroy
government" IL