Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1921-02-25
WELTY ATTACKS
JUDGE lands
Ohio Representative Charges
League Chiefs Hired Jurist
to Protect Game.
SOLON HINTS At BRIBERY
Congressman at Hearing Criticize
Judge for His Outside Work
May Compel Him to Quit
One of the Jobs


Washington, Feb. 23.-Acceptance
by Federal Judge Lands of Chicago
of $4,000 as supreme arbiter of base
ball, while serving on the bench,
might go unchallenged IF the motive
back of it were not so apparent,
Representative Welty of Ohio declared
before the house judiciary committee,
in demanding impeachment of the
judge ''for high crimes and INSIDE
meanors."
He called attention to the action of
the Supreme court of the District Of
Columbia in assessing damages of
$4,000 against the big league base
ball associations in suits brought I'M
der the antitrust laws, and the indict-
ment of players in Chicago for throw
ing games.
Mr.. Welty said
while these matters were pending
in the courts, this illegal trust made
Judge Lands its chief arbiter. And
why should they select federal judge
as umpire? Was it because they
wanted to tell the people we are not
an unlawful trust, because Judge Lam
dis, is at our heads? Was it because
these baseball magnates wanted to
create a favorable sentiment with the
hope that the Supreme court of the
District of Columbia would be re-
versed?"
In this connection Mr.. Welty read
letter from Chicago, the name of
the writer withheld, quoting base
ball magnate as saying that Judge
Lands as lawyer meant nothing to
organized baseball, but that Judge
Lands as federal judge was worth
any price he might wish to ask"
IF that was the intent Mr. Welty
declared, "does the act not bring it
within the law Of bribery? If the
magnates who were fined are per-
mitted to employ Judge Lands, what
would prevent the indicted players
employing him?"
Judge Lands has a right to yield
to the feshpots of Illegal combina-
tion," said Mr.. Welty, "but he should
not bring all our judiciary into lire
pute. If the country approves the dual
role of Judge Lands, then the house
will be called upon to preserve new
standard for our judiciary because
there are others who would be pleased
to employ some judge for he is worth.
any price he might wish to ask
But do not believe that the Amer
lean soul is so dead as to permit any
of us to escape our duties in this
matter"
what would prevent the packers
from taking a federal judge as bal
ance wheel for their organization? 2"
asked Representative Goodykoontz.
Republican, of West Virginia
Every justice of the Supreme court
could accept similar employment, il
this precedent is allowed to stand"
Mr.. Welty said. Il think this affects
the very soul of the country"
Il am perfectly in sympathy with
this proposition" Mr.. Hustled said.
ut is absolutely Avaricious that this
man should accept a $4,000 job and
remain on the bench. We are anxious
to hear some facts on which an in
dictment can be found.
''In my opinion" Representative
Boies, Republican Of Iowa, interjected,
this committee wants to find some
legal facts on which to base an i'm
parchment case"
The committee adjourned without
discussing action. Another meeting
will be held Wednesday to consider
the course to be pursued. In view of
the legislative jam in both houses of
congress, it is probable that the whole
matter will go over until the extra SEES
sion.
Several members of the committee,
while declining to be quoted in adj
vance of a decision by the committee,
privately expressed the opinion that
the committee will make a report to
the house so strongly condemning the
precedent established by Judge Lands
that he will feel called upon to relin-
quish one position or the other and
that other judges will be restrained
from accepting outside employment.
1t is probable also that the COM
mitteee will recommend at the next
session the passage of bill specifical-
~ prohibiting federal judges from ac-
cepting other employment.
Thatcher Gets lob