Evening star., 1921-02-21
WELTYEXCOR!ATES
j. S. JUDGE lands
Subjected to Hot Crossfire of
Questions as He Urges
Impeachment.

somewhat stormy SceneSe occurred
before the House judiciary committee
today with the presentation of i'm
peachment charges against Federal
Judge Landis by Representative
Weity. democrat. Ohio. Mr.. Welty
read his charges, as outlined before
the House last week. and was subject
| cd to cross-fire of questions.
Representative Walsh. republican,
| Massachusetts. wanted to know if Mr..
Welty had any proof that Judge
Lands in acting as supreme arbiter of
! organized base ball had neglected his
official duties. The Ohio member said
he would unload the facts"
When you are trying to catch a
rabbit you've got to follow his
tracks," he said in reply to another
question. Il am trying to unburden
myself"
Volstead Admonishes Welty.
well. give us the facts and don't
make so many speeches" admonished
Chairman Volstead.
The Ohio member then offered a
telegram from District Attorney
Cloyne of Chicago saying 921 criminal
and 300 other cases were pending in
Judge Landis' court.
How many were tried last year,
Chairman Volstead asked.
IF you want to know you can find
out" Mr.. Welty replied.
I'm not going to be insulted by
you" declared the chairman. Il want
a civil answer"
Declaring it was outrageous that
Judge Landis should be drawing
$42,500 from organized base ball.
Representative Hustled, republican,
New York, insisted the committee
wanted facts on which an indictment
could be drawn.
In other words. a legal way to i'm
peach him if we can" suggested Rep
resentatfve Boise, republican. Iowa
Lively Crossfire Of Questions.
The crossfire of questions became
hot.
Il am going to show that these
base ball players are guilty of brib-
ing Judge Landis, Mr.. Welty shouted
This statement was made in con-
nection with indictments for throwing
games. but the questioning quickly
shifted to other subjects. Mr. Gard
wanted Mr.. Welty to get down to
brass tacks on his charge that Judge
Lands had neglected his official
duty.
Acceptance by Judge Landis of SAP
500 as supreme arbiter of base ball.
while serving on the bench. might go
uncha llenged IF the motive. ba elk OF
it were not so apparent" Represents
tive We1ty declared.
Cites Action Of ID. &. Court,
Calling attention to the action Of
the Supreme Court of the District of
Columbia in assessing damages of
$240.000 against the big league base
ball associations in suits brought un-
der the antitrust laws. and the in
dlctment of players in Chicago for
4 h ~ yiY7S Af~
While these matters were pending
in the courts, this Illegal trust made
Judge Landis its chief arbiter And
why should they select a federal judge
as umpire? Was it because they want
ed to tell the people. We are not an
is at our head? Was it because these
base ball magnates wanted to create
favorable sentiment with the hope
that the Supreme Court of the Dis
trict of Columbia would be reversed?"
In this connection Mr.. Welty read a
letter from Chicago, the name of the
writer withheld. quoting a base bali
magnate as saying that Judge Landis
as lawyer meant nothing to organ
lied base ball. but that Judge Lands
as federal judge was worth any
price he might wish to ask
IF that was the intent" Mr.. Welty
declared. does the act not bring it
within the law of bribery? If the
magnates who were fined are per-
mitted to employ Judge Landis what
would prevent the indicted PLAYERS
employing him?"
Sees Yielding to Illegal Combine.
Judge Landis has a right to Weld
to the f1eshpotS of illegal combina-
ton" said Mr.. Welty. but he should
not bring all our judiciary into i'll re-
pute. If the country approves the
dual role of Judge Landis then the
II INa AA
new standard for our judiciary. be-
cause there are others who would be
pleased to employ some judge for he
is worth any price he might wish to
ask
But l do not believe that the Amer
lean soul is SO dead as to permit any
of us to escape our duties in this mat
ter.