Show WICKERSHAM V ON NATIONAL I SI STABILITY ABILITY I Attorn Attorney y General Against Initiative Referendum V and Recall LAUDS INTEGRITY OF AMERICAN JUDICIARY Shifting Sands of Temporary Tempo Tempo- Impression Not Good Foundation ST. ST LOUIS Mo Fob 16 Discuss 16 Discuss Discussing ing national mal stability with particular lar reference to the initiative referendum dun dum nen ral Wickersham speaking before the tho City Olty club hero today announced that if tIle the government is to meet the essential essential essen essen- needs of or the people it m must t be founded on trust and confidence nce in the tho wisdom and Integrity of or those thOe who arc are areto to discharge the e various duties imposed in carrying it on No people be he added could expect the the best service from those whom they select under circumstances circum stances and burden with restrictions which indicate not confidence but dEs dis trus trust Wore Moro uro c essential perhaps than an another an other part of tb government the attorney at at- torney general declared wa was waa an independent inde pendent judi judiciary iary who who arc not t to tb bo ho deterred from performing their duty by b. any amount of clamor Urging n a simplification however of ot tho the processes of impeachment Mo Mn V said S SV Where cro judges become so 50 blinded V by prejudice or class feeling that thet can cnn not fairly arid and impartially a adminis administer ter the tho law they should be impeached V the time impeachment of 4 But proc process s of judges judges' is a cumbersome one one- It ought to bo be sim plied so that charges charges' against judges might bo be tried by some come appropriate appropriate print and workable machinery n- n nas as well wel en ens as s ot other er grave and important tant i issues s' s s. s are tried J I iL V L b Tribute fB U t 0 to n ch f paid a tribute ib it tJ tho integrity ty of the Ant American judiciary ry ryas as revealed in bistor history t As 48 an expression of the will of f t the tho Oi OiW the tho general W whole hole people attorney continued a ul state con constitution should uld bo ho changed only h the active o consent of a clear majority of ol tho the whole people because wo no stable hie condition condi tion of civilization e can result from H it government subject u to constant fluctuations line line- in iii its it fundamental structure based up upon impOrt n th tho shifting sands o or of temporary toni tem impression rather than upon the broad broa firm foun foundation ati u of or matured conviction There has been much nonsense talked of late Jato ab about ut time the so called usurpation user user- pation of i ou cr b by the federal judiciary judiciary judi judi- ciary in iii 1 pronouncing laws law of state tato log leg or of con congress tu unconstitutional al at and void I It When the tho federal constitution was under tinder discussion an and before Us its adoption it was clearly pointed out that the tho power conf conferred upon tho courts did dial not suppose a superiority o othe of the time judiciary to tho the Je legislative power it only supposes that the power of the tho people is superior to both and that where the will of the legislature declared de de- de clar claret d in its statutes stands in op opposition opposition oit oi- oi t tion on to that of tho people I declared in inthe inthe the tho constitution the judges es ought to be beg g by br the latter rather than the former Construe in Light of Reason c Even cn more insensate continued tho the attorney general is tho the clamor against the courts for interpreting statutes in the thc light of their understanding understanding under under- standing as educated men learned in iii thin tho Time The n language is is' not nu all c exact act mc medium for communicating thought ht When tho the rights Of or litigants depend upon the tho provisions of statutes it is the dut duty ut 0 of the courts to con- con them then and to them in inthe time the light of oi reason c There t hn has been a a. growing discon- discon I tout with whim legislative bodies hodie all aU over tho the land Mr declared State le legislatures and municipal councils have uha been bern found he hue Mid in hm l instances to be corrupt and in in- efficient I T am ani in entire sympathy with tho reasons which T have ha Jed Ud to the enactment en en- of ff f laws providing pro for or th the th nomination of candidates for office by ly tired direct popular election eJection The ulbe function of law making makin ou ought ht 10 0 o attract the highest Lest talent and ami the most disinterested character but system r tern tem whereby laws Jaws are ar to 1 bo 10 made by po postal t card and popular petition the tho end so co o to destroy tho the dignity of the Ic legislative o e office as to malio maho jf it unattractive nat even en to thoo o who might otherwise subject themselves to tb the scramble of a primary contest for lor the tha nomination in order r to reach a fIrM of public u usefulness I Th Tho Th attorney general l urged business businessmen men to operate co-operate with nith lawyers in V evolving etching methods h by which h the laws law's delays s inn may be lue mi minimized in settling 1 the tho ordinary controversies that arise in iii inthe inthe the course of business businell V 1 |