The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1919-08-02

clusion Of all local or resident
aliens, or in other words. our laws
are good enough for Greeks and
aliens to come here and work and
be protected the same as our
laboring citizens and others, but
If they should be killed or die here
while they had their relatives or
dependents. in Greece or Italy
where ever they might be, then
our courts and our lawyers must
not be trusted.
Some gentleman from Chicago
with supposed brass collar from
Greece, must step in and tell our
courts and resident administrator
to get out, and let him in, and II
any local lawyer wants to take the
job, this Greek consul or their
special deputized agent must po-
litely tell us that their consul does
not allow large fees in conditional
cases, but whatever is. one-half
must 60 to this special agent-and
there bucked on the proposition,
and set about to have this act OF
the 37th general assembly modi-.
fled or repealed.
The latter Is the simple. ordi-
nary thing to do. Its clause and
special legislation are against the
policies Of our laws and against
the interest of the American law
yer who is willing to take his
chances of getting business on his
merit, and not at the back Of the
brass collared consul.
Our laws as they stood before
this act of the 37th general as
sembly were precisely like nearly
all the laws of the states, gen.
orally, and were sufficient, both
under our constitution and general
laws, to enable our courts to ap-
point an administrator to take
charge of the estate. and more
especially to appoint one to collect
the damages due the estate, and
said damages to be paid to the
living heirs, clear from creditors,
and not to the general estate at
all
Our constitution Is just as lib
eral to foreigners and aliens as to
ourselves, and so far as / am con-
cerned, i am not especially con
cerned about foreigners or resi-
dent aliens using our laws for
their benefit, but that benefit
must be, as directed by some for
eign consul or otherwise. 1t Is
one of the "entanglements with
foreign nations" that l am op-
posed to-
take it, the legislature, prob
ably, as Senator Frailey writes
me. passed such laws as We con-
templated, but simple way Is,
to leave this chapter entirely out
of the revision, and If necessary,
directly repeal it.
am very much in favor OF
American courts and American
LAWYERS. and feel that they should
not be drawn under suspicion, and
must have the guidance and su-
preme directions Of some foreign
lawyers to show the justice they
have done alien defendants.
There is no trouble under the
treaty, in the consul filing his
papers as power Of attorney, show
ing his right to take this money
and transmit 1t to the rightful
owner, as that has been the force
all along, but our own courts have
denounced, and about all the other
courts, the right Of any foreigner
to come at his mere will, and dis
place our regularly appointed ad'
ministrator, and become plaintiff.
and take charge Of the case as If
the state Of Iowa did not exist.
am very much interested In
this matter, and trust what have
said will receive your kind at
tention, and we fill all work IN
the harness together.
Very truly yours,
F. T. HUGHES.