Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1921-09-02
LANDS REFUSES TO
COMMENT ON ACTION

Chicago, Sept. Judge Landls
declined tonight to comment on
the action of the American Bar
association in adopting a resolution
condemning his action in accepting
emolument for private work as
baseball arbiter.
II have nothing to say" he de-
clared.
Judge Lands was appointed
commissioner of baseball on Janu-
airy IL at an annual salary OF
$4,000. The contract was to eX-
tend for seven years.
For years Judge Lands has
been one of the best known Judges
of the country. He was appointed
United States district judge for the
northern district of Illinois IN
1905, He has attracted wide atten-
ton in many famous cases, propa-
bly, the best known being the VIZ
400 900 fine he assessed against
the Standard Oil Company or IN
diana on a charge of rebating. His
decision in the oil case later was
overruled.
I'm unfolding the honor Of the
profession of the law" Mr.. Carson
said in presenting the resolution
"of what use is it to prescribe cam
ons of ethics if we know that the
man on whim the judicial armine
rests has soiled that ermine py
yielding to the temptation OF ava
rice and private gain?
Here is federal judge who re-
ceives $500 year, yielding TO the
solicita ton of commercial interests
sapping his judicial strength by
taking St2,50O year rom basepaIl
players. ,,o
in the mire. 1t may be tnat I'M
parchment cannot reach nm put
one thing cannot escape us, that Is,
that from every judicial circuit anu
every bar rises the whitening scorn
of protest against the man VINO
would stain their honor
In defending Judge Lands as q
man convicted by the resolution
without trial, former Senator Lewis
declared it did not become the Dig
nifty Of the association to take haa'y
action. ala
land | have differed with him. but
[ cannot permit an attack upon hi'
character or his probity as man
who can be allured by money. :.
"While this man is on trial II
does not become this body to pass
n resolution which condemns him
without a hearing. You have reao
in the public press that he has &C.
Ia ln,ahnn nnEitinn anu
has accepted this salary. 1t may oe
that these things are true, pul
whether true or not, we should no'
present to the world a resolutlon
which violates fairness.
81 move you, sir, that the matter
be referred to a committee and give
him opportunity for reply.
LET Justice be done though the
heavens fall"
John M, Harlan, of Chicago, de-
clared the American Bar assicia,
ton was on trial and counselleo
publication of the association
opinion on Judge Lands dual po'
sition before condemning him.
There Is no practical doubXtha'
Judge lands is the commiyeionei
of baseball" he said, There may
be some doubt about the salary he
receives, but the American Bar AS
ISOLATION owes 1t to itself to tel
the American public whether the
association thinks 1t right for 6
Judge to receive salary for serV'
ice on the bench. :.
Judge Lands Is not the onl,
Judge with ability. Many judges
pressed by the high cost of Twins
and with meager salaries woult
be glad to accept outside employ
ment. If the association thinks !
is all right, they would be glad Il
know about it"
r. D. Robinson Of Galesburg
4 ILL.,, voiced his approval of the res
olution by declaring that IF a maj
in Judge lands court had violat
ed the ethics Of the court as Judg'
lands has done, he would be sen
to Jail for ninety days without tria
by jury" ,..-.
Stormy debate ensued, interrupt
ed by frequent outbursts of ap
plause, as speakers in all parts o
the convention hall arose to sup
port or denounce the resolution
Senator Sutherland, of Utah, chair
man of the meeting, finally pro
posed the motion of Mr.. Lewis t
refer the resolution to q commit
tee. 1t lost.
The original resolution then wa
| nasspd by viva yOce vote