The New York herald., 1921-02-22

LANDIS'S DUAL ROLE
SHARPLY CRITICISED
Welty, in Committee Hearing,
Hints Baseball Job Is
Close to Bribery.
vOLSTEAD Is SURPRISED
Judges Action in Taking Out
side Position Seen as Dam
ger0us Precedent.
vOLsTEAD IS SURPRISED
Special Despatch TO THE New YoaK HnrArD.
New York Herald Bureru.
Washington. ID. c.. Feb. 2t.

Special Despatch to THE New YoaK HERALD.
New York Herald Burreu.
Washington. ID. c.. Feb. 2t.
The opening to-day of the House
judiciary Committee investigation into
the impeachment charges against Judge
Kenesaw Mountain Lands Of Chicago
by Representative Welty (Ohio) re-
vealed that probably q majority of the
committee opposes the action of Judge
Lands in remaining on the bench while
acting as an arbiter for organized base
hall, but does not believe the holding OF
rJsh ci!ices should subject him to inl-
parchment.
II seems probable that the report OF
sle committee in disposing of Mr.. Wei
tv's impeachment charges will carry an
official condemnation of Judge LanGis
action and that bill making 1t crime
for a Judge to accept another office
while remaining on the bench may be
pressed In the new Congress. Such
bill has been introduced by Mr. Welty.
During the hearing Representatives
Hustled IN. W, Berris (Ohio) and
Soodykoontz CIV. va.) openly attacked
Judge Landis's action in holding both
Offices, although stating that at present
1t is not Illegal. Several others pri-
vately expressed the same opinion, ana
Representative Volstead (Minn.). chair
man of the committee, stated that he
was surprised at the strength of this
sentiment 1t was pointed out that every
Federal Judge is overworked and can
not devote much time to other work
without neglecting his official duties
The action of Judge Lands in sus-
pending sentence on the Ottawa (lll-)
bank clerk convicted of embezzling on
the ground that he was underpaid also
figured in the hearing to-day. but IT is
probable Mr.. Volstead said, this VIII not
be inquired into because ii is not before
the committee at this time. Senator
Dial (S. c., who attacked Judge Lands
because OF this action, has asked the
committee for hearing.
Mr. Welty. who was the only witness.
charged that organized baseball mag
mates had in effect bribed Judge Lands
"a Offering him the post OF national ar
bitter because they hoped by this means
TO check the prosecutions OF the Chicago
White Sox and the Federal Leagues
antitrust suit. He quoted one OF the
baseball magnates as saying
tx NJ. Landis. lawyer, meant nothing
to organized baseball. but X. NJ. Lands.
Judge OF the Federal Court of the United
States, was worth any price he might
ask"
.If that was the intent does the act
not bring II within the law of bribery!
asked Mr.. Welty If these baseball
inagnates who were found guilty here
and fined $4,000 are permitted to en-
ploy Judge Lands as the chief arbiter
of the Illegal trust. then what would
prevent the baseball players now under
Indictment for throwing games from
employing Judge Lands? When VIII
r,o1f 1trr irIHiCtarVp
Judge Landis has b right to yield TO
tbe feshpots Of Illegal combinations. but
ne should not bring all of our judiciary
irto i'll repute II the country approves
the dual role Of Judge lands, then the
Touse will be called on to prescribe "A
Jew standard for our judiciary, because
otherl would be pleased to employ some
Judec. for he In worth any price he
might wish TO ask
"Eut do not believe the American
so.l Is 80 dead as 10 permit any OF us
10 escape our duties in this matter"
Representative Boies (Ia.) expressed
lie opinion that Judge Landis's action
in not sentencing the young bank clerk
vas more serious than his holding OF
The baseball office.
Chairman Volstead pointed OFT that
tho Judge had merely suspended SEN
tsrce and that the young man can be
sent TO prison.
Apparently Judge Lands was not
represented at the hearing. although
Representative Gallivan tMass.). an
ex-Harvard ball player. said he was
there in the name of the Towers of good
ba seball."
81 don't believe I need TO testify be-
fare the case has been made against
Judge Lands" " he said.