Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-09-02
j. s. BAR REbUKES
JUDGE K. NJ. lands
PhiIadelphian's Resolution Says
Baseball Salary Shakes
Public Confidence
PASSED AFTER HOT DEBATE
BY the Associated Press

Cincinnati. o.. Sept. Before the
session of tho American Bar Association
was called TO order this morning there
were informal expressions Of opinion
among the delegates MS to what Fed
cral Judge kenesaw NJ Landis. of Chi
cago, would say concerning the resolu :
ton condemning him. adopted last night
by the association after a stormy de-
bate.
The resolution was drawn late yes
tprday by the Executive Committee of
the association and was presented by
Hampton l.. Carson. of Philadelphia,
formerly president OF the organization
II is said the action of Judge LandiR.
who Is national commissioner OF base
ball, in accepting 'privHte employment
and private Pmoumpnt" while active
on the Federal bench met with the
unqualified condemnation of the Bar
Association.
The resolution denouncing Judge
Lands read as follows:
Resolved. That the conduct of
Kcnesaw NJ. Lands In engaging in
private employment and accepting
private e:nolument while holding the
position Of Federal Judge and re.
Coiving q salary from the Federal
WIN Vut
fled condemnation as conduct un.
worthy of the Office of Judge. deroga.
tory TO the dignity Of the bench and
undermining public confidence In the
independence Of the judiciary"
Carson Scores Judge
I'm upholdinC the honor of the pro-
fession Of the law" Mr.. Carson said in
presenting the resolution. ''of what use
is it to prescribe canonS Of ethics if we
know that the man on whom the judicial
crninc rests has soilcd that crmine by
yielding to the temptation Of avarice
and private gain?
Here IS Federal Judge who re-
ceivps $500 year yielding to the
solicitation "f commercial interest. sap
ping his judicial strength by taking
$42 500 a year from baseball players.
at is simply dragging the crminc in
the mire II may be that impeaCh-
ment cannot reach him. but one thing
cannot escape us, that is. that from
every judicial circuit and every bar in
the country rises the withering scorn
Of protest against the man who would
stain their honor. To ignore this thing
would have been to leave this Convcn-
tion hanging our heads in shame nt the
exccrnble conduct Of this Judge.
Lewis Pleads for Fair Play
Rising to defend Judge Landis as
man convicted by the resolution with =
out trial. James Hamilton Lewis. OF
Chicago. declared il did not become the
dignity of the American Bar Associa-
tion to take hnsty action.
"As member Of the bar in Chicago,
having practiced many times before the
Judge in question. cannot permit my
self to consent TO resolution proposed
for such hasty action he said. 81
know Judge Landis and have differed
with him both in public and in private,
hut | cannot permit an attack upon
his character or his probity as a man
who can be alured by money.
"Whilr this man is on trial X doe.
rot become this body TO pass n reSolu
ton which condemns him without a
hearing. You have read in the public
press that he has accepted this baseball
position and has accepted this salary
i may be that these things are true
but whether true or not. we should
not present to the world a resolution
which violates fairness.
Il NOV" YOU, sir. that the matter bt
referred TO n committee which may
serve due notice upon the alleged culpri
and give him opportunity for reply
Let Justice he done, though the heavens
fall.
Bar Is on Trial" Harlan Says
Il. d. Robinson. Of Galcsburg. III.
voiced his approval of the resolution b!
declaring that IF man in Judg
/ Lands court had violated the ethics %
the court as Judge Tandis has done. h,
would be sent to Jail for ninety day
/ Withnut trial hv iuPv -
Another member Of the Chicago bar
John VI, Harlan, declared the American
Bar Association was on trinl. and cOun
Sclcd publication of the association
opinion on Judge Landis' dual position
before cOndPmning him.
There - no practical doubt tha
Judge Lands is the National Commls
sionrr Of baseball" Judge Harlan said
There may be some doubt about th
salary ho receives. but the American
Bar Association owes it to itself II W,
have esprit de corps and pride in on
profession. to tell the American publ
whether the association thinks it righ
for a Judge TO receive salary fo
service off the bench.
Other Judges Need Money
Judge Landis is not the only Judg
! with ability. Many Judges, pressed B.
the high cost of living and with meage
salaries would be glad to accept uutsid
employment. II the association think
il is all right they would be glad t
know about it.
I'm justice to these others. let II
, announce whether il is proper or not
Stormy debate ensued, lnterrupte
frequently by outbursts of applause a
|, speakers in all parts of the convento
hall arose to support or denounce tn
resolution. United States Senate
, George Sutherland, of Utah, chairma
of the meeting, finally proposed tn
motion of Mr.. Lewis to refer the reso
luton to committee. The motto
was lost
Without further delay the origins
resolution, as drawn by the Executiv
Committee, was passed by viva voc
vote.
A motion that certified copy Of tn
resolution be sent to Vice Presider
Il Coolidge for presentation TO the Senal
mar another copy to the Speaker of ii
fnsS OF Representatives fyas made b
luoahuAa A Ketchnm fo3 tsr AttOrue