Evening star., 1924-09-23
Cites Increase
In Federal
Litigation.
MORE INDIVIDUAL
LIBERTY NEEDED
Political Machines Held
to Perform, Useful
Function.
BY FRANK II. KENT.

twenty-five years ago the business
OF lawyer was almost wholly based
on quarrels between man and man.
Now. very large part of the practice
of law springs from quarrels of the citi-
zen with his G""ernment"
That is the Wy John W Davis the
Democratic candidate for the presidency
epitonlZes what he believes to - one
OF the most alarming symptoms ~ the
country today. This change thu has
come over the legal profes. ION is to
him concrete evidence of, Il swing away
from sound Democratic principles. def
mite proof of too great Capitalization
and authority at Washington, and the
necessity of "a return to a larger iiber rty
for the individual, a bigger measure
or self-government for the States and
Tightening of the weight of the gov
ernmenta1 hand
AS he discussed this situation. Mr.
DAVIS laughed over his own early ex-
1ericaces at law.
First Case Involved Turkeys
My first case" he said, .out in West
Virginia. involved a turkey hen and 20
Young turkeys. My second was the case
OF an innocent COW killed on a railroad
crossing, and my third was over note
Tor horse. | had trouble with all three.
and finally. after | lost the horse case.
went back to C!arksburg and told my
lather | wanted to get out OF the law
and into something where a man could
make living without so much trouble.
J have never forgotten the lecture he
gave me. Among other things he said
that II ! expected to find any smooth
road through life paved with roses. !
was terribly mistaken. and he closed
with the statement that he did not want
10 hear any more talk from me a bout
giving UP the law because it was not
easy-and he never did
Returning to his point about the
change in the practice of law in the
past generation. Mr. Davis said he
thought in these days about half the
cases of the average lawyer involves
some sort OF controversy between an
individual and the Government either
over taxes. tariff, the violation of
some law. the Interpretation Of some
statute, or clash with some rule or
regulation put out by A Federal bu-
rsau or commission.
aces DangerOus Growth
"7t is" he said. "a significant and.
to my mind, d dangerous growth.
Confidence in government is the
greatest asset of d free people. and
there is not the slightest doubt that.
particularly in the last four years.
confidence has diminished and dis
y
Increased.
What" he was asked. can be done
about it?"
a lot" came the reply. We can.
for one thing. stop the enactment of
nE'ust land unnecessary laws not de-
slY~d by the people d whole. nor
tor the benefit of the people as
whole but merely for a class or
section. We can stop the creation of
new Federal bureaus and departments
and take steps to simplify, instead of
further complicate. administr alton.
We can repeal those statutes which
experience has shown to be unwork-
able and unwiSe. Above all we can.
by rigid economy and honesty in
government, reduce the burden of
taxes, which is. perhaps, the chief
cause of irritation and controversy.
For Law and Party.
No one can talk long to Mr.. Davis
without realizing the depth of his
dual devotion to the law and to the