Evening star., 1927-11-15

A new appeal for reform of judicial
procedure from Chief Justice Taft has
been received by the public with un-
usual interest. especially as 1t relates
to the handling of criminal cases. His
emphasis on the need of more intelli-
gent juries Is widely approved and the
press loins in voicing a demand Tor
more active participation by trlai
Judges, less trickery by lawyers ana
less maudlin sentiment In favor OIL
criminals.
I,hief Justice Taft's statements as to
.he need of adequate police forces and
the importance of eXpediting the
travel through the courts and enlarge
ment of the powers of the judges are
quoted by the Toledo Blade, with the
ACCOMMODATING opinion from the news
paper that 1.-The Chief Justice OF the
worlds greatest court has written a
most excellent editorial which ought
TO inspire action along the lines he s'lg-
rests.:' The Little Rock Arkansas
Democrat, after reviewing the words
of the Chief Justice, says: why com
ment on truths so apparent? why
marvel over the crime wave in Amer
ica? Why complain when police cnleiS
declare their forces are inadequate
vocated is of the greatest importance,
in the opinion of the Salt Lake Deseret
News, and that paper holds that the
general reforms advocated ny the
Chief Justice would substantially re.
duce crime and civil litigation the
Harrisburg Telegraph feels that me
country is becoming aroused 10 the
necessity of better legal machinery for
the prosecution Of crime
"For two decades or more" it is re-
called by the Chicago Daily News, the
nresent Chief Justice of the united
States Supreme Court has been
forceful champion of substantial re-
form in the criminal law as well as IN
court procedure and practice. re
speaks on the various phases OF me
subject with knowledge ana authorltE
and he has not hesitated to arfalgh
the American bar for it's indfnerence
to evils which he has descrloed as a,
disgrace to American clviiiZatloi,.
The Daily News declares further. Inc Inc
country must be ready for the IaIt
program and the question Is wnether
In NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. are equally READY.
THE Albany Evening News refers to
Endorsement of the Baumes law pv
he chief Justice, especially as 10
sneedier dealing with criminals. ana
saws. '"The victim of almost every
trial of a slayer is forgotten. sym
Dathy turns to the slayer: me VIC
tim ia dead. but the slayer Is living, SO
sentiment Is aroused for him. There
should be in this country such VIDE
snread horror Of murder that what-
ever OF human sympathy there pe
shall be for the victim. the heipiess'
not for the man who killed..
IA 70 the statement that members
of legislatures have become aware o!
their obligations to reform criminal
nrocedure so as TO protect society.
the New York Times remarks. well
there ,s great talk about 1t and some
thing has been done here and there,
hut nowhere the essential. BY ana
large. not society but the criminal Is
prot tected." The Jersey City Journal
adds the opinion that ''if his words
serye to spur on the efforts of those
who would direct public attention to
wrong done by the criminal rather
than exclusively to the unhappy pre-
dicament the criminal might find him
self IN. il he ever does feel the penalty
of the law. Chief Justice Taft will
have served his country well In this
speech." The Durham Sun contends
that .'it is ridiculous land leading at
torneys and judges and the press
have pointed 1t out time after time) to
insist upon juries of inexperienced.
unintelligent, weak.witted individuals
by disqualifying those who have read
newspaper accounts or kept them.
selves informed on current events"
The Binghamton Press agrees that
Jurors ought to be selected because
of their intelligence, not because of
their lack of intelligence"
v
The indianapolis News urges that
the tactics Of counsel IN crinlinai Pre-;