Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-07-15
UNPLEASANT QUESTIONING

Considerable comment and prob
ably some good have resulted from
an unusual emphasis Judge Maltbie
of Hartford, Connecticut. recently
applied to tho civic obligation OF
law enforcement.
Some may recall the circum-
stances, how lists kept by boot
leggers were found, how on these
were the names Of many prominent
men, whereupon the judge by
subpoena brought thirty Of these
into court and said to them:
"These men here have pleaded
guilty to breaking the laws OF their
country, not In an accidental way.
not in any outburst Of passion, but
coldly and consciously to get your
money. Not only have they broken
the laws of their country, but the
trade that they represent. as every
man of you knows, drags after 1t
every manner Of violence UP to
murder and piracy. and worst OF all.
bribery and corruption. The trail
of these crimes leads right up to
the doors Of you men who have
come here and told that you have
played your part In 1t. 1t Is your
money that causes 1t. And you who
are supposed to represent property,
respectability and social position
what are you, after all. but
participants in crime, instigators OF
crime? American citizens. some of
you with creditable military records,
digging at the very vitals Of your
country! Take recess. Mr.. Sheriff.
and air out the room!"
Righteous words evidently ao-
companied by righteous Indignation.
Words help: these should: we wish
them power. mighty power at that.
Perhaps we ought not to express any
misgivings respecting that power.
Had It been possible for the Judge
to have said to them: six months
at hard labor" with the certainty
that the sentence would be enforced.
that wealth and position would
avail nothing to mitigate that
sentence. there would exist no posi-
bilityS of doubt respecting the in
nuencs which would have been
exerted. Tho time has arrived when
something must 60 with brave
words to make them effective.
Multitudes are nowadays skilled in
the use OF brave words. Without
undue Imagination It 10 possible to
think Of tho air az full Of them.
But what Is being evoked by these
brave words, serious consideration
or scorn?
It Is expected that those who
have not the capacity for thinking
thing through to a logical con-
clusion are likely either to miss the
Significance or attribute a wrong
one. Words sometimes ! cad these
people astray. None know this bet
ter than those who make OF words
their chief stock in trade.
Judge Maltbie might have been
shocked by an opinion openly ex-
pressed recently in the presence of
the writer. The opinion came from
no pop-eyed agitator Astounding in
half baked ideas. On the contrary
he Is an intelligent, fearless gentle
man, conservative in his tendencies.
with varied and very useful
experience enabling him to view q
matter broadly. In short. one whose
lite work has been Of great service
to his country. He had been speak
Ing from his knowledge Of crime
being lessened by the prohibitory
law. which he expects ultimately to
prevail. He was asked how he ex-
planned the fact that homicide In
this country Is many times more
frequent than 1t is IN England. for
instance, where Intoxicating liquor
is sold with little restraint.
II consider the lawyers are blam-
able for a large percentage OF this
crime. Some Of the best friends
have are lawyers; some Of the most
trustworthy men know are law
yers. Nevertheless. who frame the
laws but lawyers: who make use of
the loop holes in those laws but
the lawyers? From whom are the
Judges, who insist on technicalities.
taken but from among lawyers?
Can you recall many instances,
can recall none, In this country,
where q person Of great wealth ever
paid the extreme penalty for homi-
cider"
When men like this gentleman
draw such conclusions. when we
think that unless respect for our
lawyers and our courts be maintain
ed there will be no respect for law;
that should such condition be-
come general this country would
rot be At place in which to live. It
would not seem illogical to conclude
that q very important and patriotic
duty confronts the American bar
and the courts. That they recog-
nixe this in part may be inferred
from what the American Bar As
ISOLATION has had to say respecting
the situation. Meanwhile It re-
mains a. true a. ever that q tree
IL known by its fruit. This country
10 under obligations for which Il
may never render an equivalent to
patriotic minds legally trained and
wisely inspired. This would not be
the country It Il but for such minds.
The traditions Of our courts and
our bar are among the best We
have. They should Be sustainsd