The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1924-10-22

al convention.
In view of this, Davis record as
a corporation attorney is Of particu-
lar interest.
During his three years with Stet-
son. Jennings, Russell & Davis, John
w. Davis is said to have appeared
before the United States Supreme
Court oftener than any other lawyer
in the country
Represented Corporations
In these appearances he usually
represented some corporation in a
legal fight against the United States.
This in contrast to his appearance
before the Supreme Court as solicitor
general, when he appeared for the
Government, and very often against
some corporation.
The cases he tried, stand out as
some OF the most important in the
country's legal history. Many of
them set far-reaching precedents in
corporation law and in capital-labor
legal controversies.
In his seven best known cases his
clients were the New York Coffee
and Sugar Exchange, Pennsylvania
Coal Company, New York Telephone
Company two cases., States of
Pennsylvania and Ohio. National As
ISOLATION of Window Glass Manufac.
turers and National Window Glass
Workers. and the Coronado Coal
Company.
OF these cases he won all but the
one in which he represented the
Coronado Coal Companyt-a record OF
six victories and one defeat.
The New York Coffee and Sugar
Exchange case dealt with the enor-
nous Increase in sugar prices after
the war
The Government claimed the high
Prices were due to a sugar
monopoly-"the direct result Of a
combination and conspiracy between
the Sugar Exchange and the Clear
ing Association"
1t attempted. therefore, to restrain
the Exchange, which. it contended,
was merely a gambling institution.
In outlining its case the Govern
ment stated that members Of the
Exchange bought and sold sugar for
future delivery. but that less than
I per cent of this sugar was ever
actually delivered.
The Government explained this by
asserting the Exchange members
had a system Of matching" by
which they balanced purchases and
sales. thus obviating need for actual
delivery.
Harm OF this system. the Gov
eminent pointed out. lay in fact
prices paid In gambling for this
sugar controlled the prices the pub
lie was forced to pay in buring the
commodity for real use.
When the case came before the
Supreme Court. Chief Justice Taft
admitted. it TO be true that some OF
! the sugar buyers We're mere gam
blers. who buy or sell as upon the
turn Of a card"
/ Davis, however. contended no evil
dence had been produced to show
/ any OF the defendants had entered
into a combination or conspiracy to
raise the price Of sugar-and with
that contention Justice Taft agreed.
Up to Congress
/ Davis victory was made even more
/ complete when Taft agreed enforce
ment Of rules to prevent future
( abuse Of the lawful functions of the
| exchange was a matter which lay
with Congress rather than with the
Supreme Court.
Davis outstanding achievement as
counsel for the New York Telephone
Company, however. was to secure
a 10 per cent increase in rates in
New York City.
Davis enemies used the prominent
part he took in the case as political
ammunition" against him, holding
he had accomplished a great injus
tice against telephone users Of New
York.
His friends. on the other hand.
contended that the telephone COM