The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-06-10
PEOPLES FORUM


To the Editor of The Age-Herald:
In The Birmingham Age-Herald
of Sunday, May 81. 1928. Henry
Ford Is quoted as saying: There
are two big outstanding problems
before America today that soon
must be solved. One is control of
the judiciary, the other is solution
OF the railroad question" In this
statement Mr.. Ford shows that he
is something more than an indus
trial genius. and that he is q
statesman of the first rank as
well. He is in good company. too,
when he expresses this sentiment.
Thomas Jefferson said the fed
eral judiciary would be the rock
on which tho government would
founder" II the constitution was
adopted as 1t was. providing for
the appointment Of federal judges
for life. Mr.. Roosevelt expressed
the sentiment that the power of
the federal judiciary would have
to be crushed or the liberty of the
people was imperiled. When JET
ferson expressed his opinion he
doubtless never dreamed that the
federal judiciary would ever as
sumo or arrogate to itself the auto
cratic powers it Is exercising to-
day. :.
There Is no remedy known to the
law by which you can get around
false judgment in a federal
court. The net result Is that we
have in this United States at the
present time a federal judicial
monarchy, more despotic than the
czar of Russia ever dared to be
over his unfortunate subjects. The
hundred and ten million citizens
of the United States. Hberty-loving
Americans, owe 1t to themselves
and to posterity to rid themselves
Of this octopus at once and with
out delay, and make of this gov
it should be, the land Of the free
and home Of the brave" "a gov
eminent of the people. for the
people and by the people" .
The thinking people of this coun-
try know that something has to
be done now to remedy this evil,
and different remedies are being
suggested. Why take two bites at
cherry? Why temporize? Let us
amend and revise the constitution
of the United States on the sub
ject of the judiciary. and adopt a
provision. make federal judges
elective by the people they are to
serve. make the district judges
term of office to be four or six
years. and let him be elected by
the district he is to serve in. and
the same as to court of appeals
judges. and let the Judge of the
supremec curt be elected by all
the people by popular vote, and
make their term of office six
years. Then. and not until then,
will the evil be removed.
Mr.. Ford Is the greatest indus
trial genius of all times, the rich
est man in the world, who ac-
CURED his wealth honestly. and Is
using 1t fairly, making him one
of the greatest public benefactors
in the worlds history. but II he
can use his great ability to ac-
complish the great and imperious
reform, as indicated in this ar
ticle, he will be entitled to the
| everlasting gratitude of the Amer
!
lean people, and he would thereby
erect a monument to his memory
that would endure and add glory
to his name. long after all OF
his other great achievements may
be forgotten. Instead of joining
a so-called international court OF
justice, let us create some courts
of justice at home.
l am sending this article to The
Herald for publication. as
consider that paper. under Its
present management, as one Of the
greatest opponents of good gov.
eminent and one of the most pow.
erful advocates of the public wei.
fare being published in this coun,
try today. Your paper Is an as
set to the people of Alabama as
valuable as its water power. it,
coal, ore. timber or any other nat.
ural resource. You are entitled
to the most liberal patronage al
the hands Of the people that 20,
may stay free. independent ant
fearless and fight the people.
battles. d. II. RIDDLE, JR..
Talladega, Ala. June 6. 1928.
| ----------------.s----------