Weekly journal-miner., 1919-04-09
LEGAL BANGLES IN BIG LIBEL
 ACTION
(From Fridays Daily)

 action brought by Whitney against the Journal-Miner company and members of the Northern Arizona Bar association to make his complaint } more definite and certain, in that he be required to state his connection, if any, with the I. w. w. says the Republican.
 Whitney as counsel for John Stan field, who after being deported from Jerome in July, 1917, as an alleged I. w. w., brought suit against the Unit ed Verde Copper company, Yavapai county officers, ct al for $30,000, was criticised by the northern associa ton. He met their alleged attack with the libel action which was given a sensational turn yesterday with the filing of motions, affidavits and den- ials of the courts jurisdiction. | Whitney stated that the case was tentatively set for today but that his failure to get in touch with counsel for the defense. would result in the arguments on the motions not com ing up before Judge Stanford until week from Saturday.
 It is understood that a bitter fight will be made to have the case tried in Yavapai county, where all the de- fendants reside.
 A. H. Favour, E. S. Clark and Le Roy Anderson, three of the defend ants, through their attorneys, H. H. Linney, A. c. Baker and Howard Cornick, in their motion that the complaint be made more definite and certain, declare that the precise na- ture of the charge is not apparent and that under the allegations the defendants were not sufficiently ap. prised of the nature of the alleged wrongs. They ask that Whitney be required to state whether or not at any time mentioned in the complaint or upon any of the occasions men toned therein, he and John Stan | field, or either of them, were mem bers of the l. w. w. organization or in any matter directly or remotely affiliated with, or sy1npathizers with, the l. w. w. association or its mem bers.
 The defendants ask that Whitney be required also to state whether or not in representing John Stanfield as his attorney in the action, he, (Whitney) councelled or advised the I. w. W. organization or any of its members.
 He is asked also to point out wherein the publication of the arti- cle which appeared in the Journal Miner which gave offcnse refers to him.
 Charging that for the convenience i of witnesses the suit should be re- moved to Yavapai county, the de- fendants also assert that they be- lievc the ends of justice would be promoted by a change of venue of the action.
 Whitney ill his complaint alleges that anyone reading the article which ! appeared in the Journal-Miner would have cause to Suspect and believe that he was diSloyal in conduct to the United States"
 The article to. which the attorney took exception appeared in the Octo- Der 8, issue +under the headlines: Bar Association Takes Swat at Wob- plies. Attorneys, Set Forth Their Stand as to Handling Cases Filed by Alleged Sons, of Perpetual Un- rest" -.... ..- .--.
 Incorporated ill the article were re- solutions drawn by leading lawyers who en masse-v volunteered their serv- ices free to the defendants in the ac- ton brought by Stanfield against the United Verde Copper company ct al, it being the opinion Of the lawyers" i said the Journal-Miner. that it was l a clear cut case of persecution of the | county officers, copper firms and leading citizens of the county who had job of chasing d party of al legged wobblies out of Jerome iu July. 1917."
 The bar association held an attor- ncy representing a client of the char acter of wobblies was deserving of condemnation, as especially pointed out in a section of the resolution reading:
 "Whereas-The plaintiff in those actions are represented by attorneys and Louis B. Whitney, and if said at torneys are members of or sympa thizers with the l. w. w. or in any .' manner directly or remotely affiliat- ed with the organization, we believe it IS our duty as officers of the court of ti1is commonwealth to register our condemnation of such attorney and of their selling or giving their serv- 1 ices to clients of that character and lending their aid 10 such an organiza ton" | Whitney contends that the alleged attack caused him 10 be considered i guilty of unprofessional and disgrace ; ful conduct II The Prescott paper held that the resolutions epitomizcd the sentiment oi the bar regarding the wobbly sit- nation as it pcrtaincd 10 actions in