Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1916-11-02
JACKSON H. RALSTON

Mr.. Ralston came East about thirty
years ago and took up his residence
in Hyattsyilie. Prince George county,
Nd. During the years that have fol-
IoNed the establishment @. mis- resi-
dence. he has devoted himself to the
practice of law. as a profession, and
the study and solution OF public ques-
tons as 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 in 1903 and sat
at Caracas, Venezuela. for six months,
settling the disputes between these
two nations. where he had to finally
pass upon claims against Venezuela
and in favor OF Italy for more than
SIS, 00O, 900 The Venezuela Claims
Commission consisted OF two Com,
Tnissioners and an Umpire and the
duty developed upon tho Umpire to
render a decision for 1t In great
many instances. He had previously
been counsel for the United States in
what has become known as "The
Pious Fund Case. The controversy
there was between the United States
and the Republic of Mexico, growing
which Mexico had seized prior to the
cession OF California 10 the United
States The contention ran over a
number OF years, and finally, at the
demand Of the United States. was re-
ferred to The Hague Tribunal for set
Element. Both sides were represent
ed in the argument before this In
fernational Court. the United States
being represented by Mr. Ralston.
The opinion of the Court Ia making
its award adopted to large extent
~ argument made by Mr. RAlston
on behalf OF the United States AZ
result ofthis hearing. which was held
at The Hague In Holland, Mexico was
compelled 70 pay 70 the United States
a considerable sum 81 money and a
perpetual annual sum OF S42.0
Growing out OF theEe two expert
enees. MIR Ralsioh became so thor
oughly acquainted with Arhltral Law,
that demand Was made upon him to
put these in such definite form a.
might be used ia the future. As a
result he II the author OF "Nenezuei-
an Arbitrations OF 1909 hud Inter-
national Arbitral Law and Proceed
ure. beth Of which have been often
cited by the state Department and
are regarded aA authority by Euro
pean international Lawyers. IL would
seem that IN view of his exceptional
experiences along this line, II elected
20 Congress, no ought TO be OF equally
unuausI service TO the Nation
Not only ia foreign affairs has Mr..
Ralston been prominent. but IN do
nestle matters.
He Was counsel for the American
Federation Of labor tn the Buck
Stove and Range case There the
officers OF the American federation
OF Labor were charged with contempt
IN violating an injunction OF the SUI
preme Court Of the District OF Coz
iumbia. prohibiting the publication OF
the name Of the Buck Company. in the
we Don't PatrouiEe List. and main
tanning boycott hr Ralatou.a con-
sCationa IN the trial Court we're over
ruled Tie received comparatively
little satisfaction from the Court 81
Appeals for bis cl,eats. but the sa-
prem0 Cogfi Of tho uaited States de-
Clded the case 10 hls iaspE gpoa the
very points urged by hlsa Ia the trial
court The trial lndFa attempted 10
gdiafi hlmFrt 70 the decision % tha
3upfema Court 81 the tultaa states.
and % second proceeding the latter
Court decided ia favor Of MF. Raj
ttnA'# clients. also NcrN thea freed of
Tao contempt charge.
His connection wlth tho now
fam9as Fed1rsi "EmBloyus' Liability
Act ogEht not TO ~ unmgntionnd.
IN 1906. Congress bad attempted 10
fsmote some ~ the Bardahlpa then
eaistlne ia the Ihw o. neglieence. ard
the Supreme Court N 1905 had do
cared this act unconstitutional. Mr..
RAMON was asked b. Sir. Fuller. rep
roecnNpg the Railway TFainmens
Union. Eecast the act In such $ way
NJ 70 meet shs ghjeriions of ihs ~.
pTemo Court and 10 dtsfg ga act that
would be- constitutional Tho Becea-
atty for such an act 10 railway em-
ployeea consisted Ia this Under the
Law as II existed before ! The act.
railway employee Injured b. ihs neg
ligeuce Of a fcilow employee was
powGfiess 70 recover itom gAe rail-.
road for such iuiarY This was under
what Was technically known as the
Fellow Servants Doctrine, A rail-
way employee Injured b. the negli-
gense ol tho railway primarily and
parity D. bic own negligence. hoW-
ever small was likewise barred from
recovery under what was known as
the Doctrine OF Contrlbutary NegIi-
gence Both OF these doctrines were
o. common law origin and both work
cd manifest injustice. u was the APP
parent desire OF Congress TO change
these hard technical rules. making
them more coRsonant with reason.
The FIRST attempts 80 Il had failed by
reason OF the supreme Courts decla-
ration Of its unconstiiutionality Mr..
RAlAton framed an act 20 meet these
difficulties. aud II has withst0od at
tacks upon IL from many directions
and accomplished the purpose de-
sired
In the recent election in Maryland.
wherein the constitutional amend
ment regarding the referendum was
involved. Mr. Rnlstnn took very &C.
tive part, The referendum had been
the subject Of much study by Mr.
RalstOn and he made many public
speeches upon II AT that time. The
amendment carried Ia the State by
an enormous majority
SIR. RalstOn's wife is the daughter
81 the former senior partner OF the
late Justice T. Miller. Of the United
States Supreme Court
u Mr.. Ralston IL elected 10 Con-
Rress, the Fifth District can DO as
sgred OF his active work for the bet
tertnent OF the Nation and the Con-
gresslonal District. The baltimore
Sun published Of him On May 81 the
following editorlaf: The Democrats
OF the Fifth Congressional District
are 10 be congratulated upon the
nomination of a candidate auch IA
Jackson II, RRiston. All OF us DO not
agree with some OF Mr. Ralstou's eco
monte theories but there can be no
disagreement q 8 TO his intellectually.
He is one Of the strongest lawyers in
the State aud man OF commanding
ability In nearly every direction. IL
IL not often that we get q man OF such
caiiber on our lists OF Congressional
candidates. II Congress we're COM
posed of men 81 the intelligence and
strength OF Ralston, II would be the