The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-05-04
CHICAGO JURIST SAID
TO BE CONTEMPLATING
GIVING up JuDCESHIP
Reported Retirement Is
Scheduled for. June
TO Keep Ball Post.


in endorsing last Mon
day q bill drawn by Senator Dial, OF
South Carolina, making 1t an Of
tense for q federal Judge to accept
any other position OF pecuniary
profit, today aroused again the
rumors of the resignation Of Judge
X. M. Lands, who accepted the post
last winter Of high. commissioner
Of baseball at $42,500 a year.
Have I got to be denying these
reports every week!" asked the
judge when the report was brought
to his attention.
Then it is not true? he was
asked. ...
Il will not be quoted on the sub
ject," the Judge said. when get
ready to take action in the matter
will take you into my confidence"
Last winter when impeachment
charges we're filed against Judge
Landis by Representative Welty
Of Ohio, whose term has since ex-
pired. the Judge said. They will
never impeach me-"
III both houses Of congress, by .
majority resolution, express disap-
pointment at my attempt to benefit
100000 persons who have, .
wholehearted interest in baseball, I
will send my resiknation as fed
eral judge to Washington by tele-
gram" the Judge said then.
, At about the same time Senator
Dial demanded that the senate In
!, vestigate the action of Judge Lam
dis in criticizing officials Of . bank
t at Ottawa, ILL.,, for paying Francis
0 J. Carey, aged -, its teller only
!, $50 month and putting large
/, sums Of money In HIS charge. Carey
Q confessed to embezzluing nearly
8 $4,000, was sent home unguarded,
: by Judge Landis, until the Judge
: could think over" his punishment.
and later was sentenced to federal
reform school.
Judge Lancis said the present
rumor about his resignation prob
ably had arisen through conversa-
tions he had with Charles Nagl.
custodian of the federal building.
I II told Nagl that when l left the
court l wished to take some OF the
chairs with me, as they are cher
ished by me. They belong to the
government and l asked him If
!. could purchase them"
Judge Lands would not say why
he had refused recently to set any
cases beyond June Is, fact which
caused reports that he would re.
n sign in June.
II To Quit in June.
,fI Chicago, May 4.-(United Press.
Mountain Lands will
give up his job as Judge Of the fed.
l. eral court here In order to devote
r all his time to his position as high
Y baseball commissioner. His resig
nation, according to present indica
o tions, will take effect early in June
1t has long been known among
o Judge Lands friends that h
would give up the bench. go.
o Since the attack was made OF
him in congress because Of the fac
o that he held two positions, the judg'
has planned to quit the court.
% He would not quit under fire
70 however, and would not leave Will,
of the impeachment proceedings wer,
& pending.
lie The impression among the Judge
friends was that he decided to re
Of tire from the bench as soon as b
m accepted the baseball position.
at However, because Of the fac
e. that he was a federal Judge CAV
ar added weight to his prestige an
importance as baseball's dictator
m caused him to stay on the benc
Or for short time.
I'd With the resignation OF Judg
Landis the federal court will los
is one of its most picturesque chara,
IS, ters. His ready wit, his broa
be spoken humor, his vigorous ou
i'd spoken method Of dealing with a
r tOrneys, witnesses, court attach,
r. and those on trial before hil
il made him nationally known.
n Lands has been setting dates {
ty. all cases for decision not lat
on than June l. He has started ma
al ing arrangements to obtain q fe
le, mementces from his court roo
zee They include his desk, Q chair q
,e- a few trinkets.
nd Judge Lands said today he b
lrs not presented his resignation y
ais Il have not said anything whi
could be construed as q stateme
that have resigned" the jud
said.
Several months ago the jud
told newspaper men, In confiden
that he would resign.
M Breaking of this confidence BY
Chicago newspaper today result
~ in the fact becoming known beft
the Judge had planned.