New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-09-02
Scathing Resolution Is
Adopted After Jurist
Is Assailed for Taking
Baseball Arbiter Job
Congress to Get
Copy of Resolution
Charged With Yielding
to Avarice and Greed
i'm Speech by Carson

CINCINNATI, Sept. 1.-The action of
Federal Judge ,Kenesaw M. Landis, of
Chicago, national arbiter of baseball,
IN accepting private employment and
private emolument" while active on the
Federal bench was declared to meet
with the unqualified condemnation"
OF the American Bar Association in a
resolution adopted tonight.
The resolution was. adopted after
stormy debate, in which former Senator
James Hamilton Lewis counscled
against hasty action and moved that
the matter be referred to a committee
for investigation. He declared that
Judge Lands should be accorded a
proper hearing before being condemned
The resolution was drawn by the
executive committee of the associa-
ton and was presented by Hampton L.
Carson, of Philadelphia, former presi-
dent of the organization. 1t read:
Resolved: That the conduct of
kenesaw M. Lands in engaging in pri-
vate employment and accepting private
cmolument while holding the position
of Federal Judge and receiving a
salary from the Federal government
tion as conduct unworthy of the office
of judge, derogatory to the dignity of
the bench and undermining public con-
fdence in the independence of the ju-
dietary"
ain upholding the honor of the pro-
fesson 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 ermine rests has soiled that
ermine by yielding to the temptati
of avarice and private gain?
Here is Federal judge who re-
ceives $500 a year yielding to the
solicitation of commercial interest, sap
ping his judicial strength by taking
s42,5oo year from baseball players.
Dragging Ermine in Mire
"It is simply dragging the ermine
in the mire. 1t 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 whitening scorn
of protest against the man who would
stain their honor.
ITO ignore this thing would have
been to leave this convention hanging
our heads in shame at the exccrable
conduct of this Judge"
Rising to defend Judge Lands as a
man convicted by the resolution with
out trial, former Senator Lewis de
clared:
II know Judge Lands, and / have
differed with him both in public and
in private, but | cannot permit an at
tack upon his character or his probity
as man who can be allured by money
We should not present to the world a
resolution which violates fairness.
II move you, sir, that the matter be
referred to a committee, which may
serve due notice upon the alleged cul-
prit and give him opportunity for re-
ply. Let justice be done though the
heavens fall"
R. D. Robinson, of Galesburg, ILL.,,
voiced his approval of the resolution
by declaring that eff man in Judge
of the court as Judge Lands has done
he would be sent to Jail for ninety
days without trial by jury"
Association on Trial
Another member of the Chicago bar,
Judge John A. Harlan, declared the
American Bar Association was on trial,
and counseed publication of the as
sociation's opinion on Judge Landis's
Judge Landis is not the only Judge
with ability Judge Harlan said.
MANY judges, pressed by the high cost
of living and with meager salaries,
would be glad to accept outside en-
ployment. If the association thinks it
is all right they would be glad to know
about it.
'In justice to these others, let US
announce whether it is proper or not"
Stormy debate ensued, interrupted
frequently by outbursts of applause, as
speakers in all parts of the convention
hall arose to support or denounee the
resolution. United States Senator
George Sutherland, of Utah, chairman
of the meeting, finally proposed the
motion of Mr.. Lewis to refer the reso-
luton to committee. The motion was
lost.
"Without further delay, the original
resolution, as drawn by the executive
committee, was passed by viva voce
vote.
A motion that certified copy of the
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