Evening star., 1940-05-16
Sense Of Justice
Vital 10 Democracy,
Hughes Declares
Letter From Roosevelt
Pays Tribute to Work
Of Law Institute

Chief Justice Hughes, in one Of his
rare public appearances, said today
that "the dominance Of q sense Of
justice" is necessary to insure the
survival Of democratic institutions.
In an address to the American Law
Institute, he pictured the Judge,
working with fairness, denberation
and patience, as the keystone OF the
American system of society.
The American Law Institute, at
which the Chief Justice was the
principal speaker, began the three
day session Of its 18th annual meet
ing at the Mayflower Hotel. The
institute Is interested principally in
the restatement of various aspects
OF the legal code to meet modern
changing requirements.
President Roosevelt congratulated
the organization on its past work
and future prospects, in letter read
to the meeting by its director, Will
liam Draper Lewis. In part, Mr..
Roosevelt said:
"As members of the legal profes-
sion, We must always bear in mind
that the law is not a detached
science, but is the handmaiden of
society. 1t must be adjusted, as
nearly as possible, to the require
ments of shifting society and eco
nomic conditions. AS has been truly
said: "The final cause Of law is the
welfare Of society,""
Pepper Opens Institute.
The meeting was opened with a
solemn air by the Institutes presi.
dent, former Senator George Whar.
ton Pepper.
Let us all stand for a brief mo-
ment," Mr.. Pepper told his COL
leagues, while each of us in his
own way quietly beseeches Almighty
God to vindicate his power to order
the unruly will and affections Of
mankind"
Mr.. Pepper, drawing attention to
the vast difference between law and
warfare, observed that "even as the
battle RACES, we can turn aside for
an interval Of quiet while we con-
slider those things that are the
antithesis Of chaos"
Th0r0ughness Emphasized.
Chief Justice Hughes expressed his
qualification at the undertaking Of
the institute. However, he reserved
the most forceful part of his re.
marks for the end of his address,
where he urged the continued
existence of an independent ju-
dietary. firm against solicitation
and clamor," acting with deliber-
alton rather than speed, putting
care and thoroughness ahead Of
promptness in decisions. Mr. Hughes
said:
I'VE cannot afford to lose the
ideal of a fair and adequate hear
ing in passion for expedition, or
to make the processes of the law
mere vehicle for prejudgment
or for mere sorting of facts to
suit preconception of policy.
IF democratic institutions are to
survive, it will not be simply by
maintaining majority rule and by
swift adaptations to the need of the
moment, but, in the community for
tunate enough to enjoy the benefits
Of those institutions, by the domi-
nance of sense of justice which
will not long survive If judicial proc.
esses do not conserve it,
'The judge must in truth repre-.
sent authority, but he is symbol
not so much of power as Of Justice
of patience and fairness, of a weigh
ing of evidence in scales with which
prejudice has not tampered, of rea-
soned conclusions satisfying sem
sitive conscience.
The Decisive Test.
1T is in the quality of judicial
work-whether performed by courts
or by agencies invested with judicial
functions-in its expertness, thor
oughness, independence and impair.
tiality, that the whole scheme Of
the law, of government by law,
comes to the decisive test.
And only as that test is success
fully met will the foundation of q
sound democracy be made secure"