The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1920-06-21
AMERICANS FALL
SHORT OF EXPECTATIONS
For a People of So Great Intelligence,
They Frequently Present Sorry
Spectacle Declares Hughes.

Cambridge, Mass, June 2l.--Charles
+. Hughes. speaking at the centenary
Of Harvard Law school here to day. de.
elarcd that "in the act Of governing
ourselves We not only fall short OF
what we should expect in free people
of so great intelligence. but we ire
quently present sorry spectacle His
subject was, Some Observations on
Legal Education and Democratic Prog
ress"
"A passion for legislation is not a
sign OF democratic progress" he said,
"snd in the mass of measures intro
dueed in the legislatures 81 our free
commonwealths there is too little evi-
dence of perspective and an abundance
of elaborate and dreary utilities. 0c
casionally, constructive measure of
great benefit is skillfully planned but
we are constantly impressed with the
lost motion and the vast waste in the
endeavor Of democracy to function
wisely"
Ut tFkfNAAabAF AhattEs ahAs AAhEAit'
continued is that the tendency to en-
act uncertain laws seems TO be increas
ing. and. what is still worse, that the
people tolerate il and that there are
but faint demands for improvement.
Our material progress seems TO have
created complexities beyond our polit
ical competence, and disregarding the
lessons of history there has been a dis
position to revert to the methods of
tyranny in order to meet the problems
Of democracy. Intent on some imme-
date eXigency and with slight consid
Grafton Of larger issues. we create au
tocratic powers by giving administra
tive officials who can threaten indict
ment the opportunities OF criminal
statutes without any appropriate den
nition Of crime.
I'VE went to war for liberty and de-
with the result that we fed
the autocratic appetite" he declared,
and. through fiction permissible |
only because the courts cannot know !
what everyone else knows, we have 4
seen the war powers. which are essen /
.ial TO the preservation of the nation /
in time Of war, exercised broadly after 4
The military eNigency had passed and /
IN conditions for which they. were never 4
and we may well wonder. in 1
Iiew OF the precedents now established. I
whether constitutional government a.
heretofore maintained in this republic 1
.ould survive another great war even
waged
Apart from these conditions. We
annot afford 10 ignore the Indications
hat perhaps 10 an extent unparalleled
n onr history. The essentials Of liberty
ire being disregarded Very recently
has been laid by respon
ible citizens al the bar Of public opin
on of violations Of personal rights
which SAVIOR Of the worst practices Of
tyranny And in the conduct Of trials
'eforc the courts We find q growing
esdency on the part of prosecutors 10
csort to grossly unfair practices.
Mr. Hughes declared that "if admin
strativc action i fettercd by minute
imposed by the legisla
ure, II necessary departments are con
rolled bv the constant re,iew Of all
controversies a. TO facts by ordinary
ourts ~ Justice primarily adapted 10
thcr needs. the opportunities for i'm
ediuc litigation viii lcayr vast activ
ies to the mercy Of the cunning. self
n and avariciou- and the means Dc
irued for protection will defeat their
vu purpose On the other hand. pres
ut methods are oha iously crude and !
md to an iutolerable personal. govern
rent he said.