Evening star., 1921-02-25
Editorial Digest
Judge Lands Called to the Bar.

Judge lands Called to the Bar.
! Charges against Judge Kenesaw Noun
tain Landis, including call for impeach-
ment from Representative welty, have
caused almost as much comment In the
newspapers as a presidential election The
question of the propriety Of the Judge
holding the extra job" of base ball
arbiter has been discussed before, and
while many editorial writer's are not al
! together in sympathy with the idea, a
great many others refuse to take the
matter seriously. assuming the tone OF
the Duluth Herald (irdependent). which
remarks: "Impeachment? Bless you.
there's no chance for it!' TIE other
point, agitated by Senator Dial. con-
cerning Judge Landis' statement that
| the employers of an Illinois bank teller
| arrested for embezzlement We're re-
sponsible for his crime because they
paid him an absurdly small salary. is
still more widely commented upon.
Here. too, although some of the criti-
cism is bitter, there is still a tendency
startling behavior with the assurance
that "he did not mean to imply that
theft and dishonesty" as the New York
Mail independently puts it, "are justifi-
able under any circumstances
| A class" argument in the attitude
toward Landis is perceived by the New
York Call (socialist). for. it asserts
criticism was reduced to a mere whis-
| per" when the judge accepted "a great
salary Of $4,000 from the owners of
! base ball corporations" but when he
tells the truth about trusting boy
with money while paying him little more
| than an office boys salary, the pluto
Gratis and politicians turn on him with
| a fury that only an attack upon the
sacredness of their legalized loot can
! arouse
| The opposite view comes from the
Wall Street Journal Gndependent) mo
more immoral plea has ever been made
from the bench. To assume that we have
to be paid to be honest is to assume
every one of US potentially crooks
Judge Lands decision of the bank
clerks case was radically bad alike in
law and morals. while his aspersion
upon the bank directors was utterly un-
warranted"
These extremes mark the borders of
writer's lean to the human" side of the
case. Mercy, discreetly used" says
the New York Globe Independently, i,
while it admits the poor law of the
decision. ''is ever popular. and who ex-
''Unquestionably," the Fort Wayne
News and Sentinel (republican) as
sumes, public sentiment will be with
Judge Landis." though the paper itself
feels that he is wrong"
| This act was only part of "salvag-
| ing YOUTH" the Portland Oregonian (in-
dependent republican, believes and the
"details of the case" the Springfield Re-
publican independently points out,
make the judges conduct rather more
| defensible."
The judges act, the Philadelphia
out, docs not put a premium on hon
est action" and most of those aware
of the issue" will "sympathize." In
deed. Congress would not dare i'm
peach Judge Landis." the Rock Is
land Argus (democratic) declares. for
"the American public would not per-
init it."
While it cannot agree that the judge
used his head" in making his deci-
sion. the Rochester Democrat-Chron-
in the right place" and laments that
ievery young man cannot have some
one "to whom he can unbosom him
self freely" The Buffalo Commercial
(independent). though lit finds little
sympathy" with the bank employers.
still fears that "the weight Of COM
mon sense and legal and moral JUS
tice is against the Chicago jurist."
and the Norfolk Virginian-P Pilot (dem-
ocratic) grants that the step may
istimulatipg salary raises" but, it con-
cludes. "it Is more apt to stimulate
theft and embezzlement."
! Though the question which the inn
! parchment proposal specifically raises
! that is. the right of federal judge
to be. as the New York Times Gnde-
! pendent democratic) puts 1t, "a base
ball Judge at the same time." has been
discussed before. it is taken up again,
and many papers still support Lam
dis. but feel that he should not hold
! both offices. {.
The Lincoln @{Neb) state Journal
| independent republican, also be-
lieyes the calm. Judgment Of the
I country" is against this dual serv-
both posts and do justice to BOTH" the
Minneapolis Tribune (republicanl
feels that "the judiciary would suf-
| fer" and the Syracuse Post-Standard
| (republican) thinks that "a federal
| judge should not be any other kind
! of a Judge" The fact that he is in
the employ Of the base ball interests.
! the Milwaukee. Journal {independent)
| thinks is a handicap. and SOONER or
later he must choose" between the
two. To keep both. the Philadelphia
| Bulletin independent republican,
| looks upon as a gross impropriety."
:. On the other hand. the Scranton
Times (democratic} recalls the fact
| that judges are often delegated ito
act as commissioners and arbiters,
| work entirely out OF their province"
! and offers the ''surmise" that the at
| tack on Lands "is aimed more at
! the base ball end Of it than any neg
| lect of duty; IT shows the shallow
ness" of Representative Welty. the
representative who raised the point.
! the Tulsa Tribune (democratic) adds.
AS for Mr.. Welty land his base ball
score,". exclaims the Norfolk Ledger
| Dispatch independent democratic),
nothing to It." SO,