Jasper County Democrat, Volume 10, Number 22, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 31 August 1907 — MR SITS DOWN HURD [ARTICLE]

MR SITS DOWN HURD

Thing Sat Upon Is a Resolve That Centura* the Country’s Executive. MATTER IS QUICKLY SHELVES Roosevelt’s Criticism of a Judge’s Decision the Bubject Brought Up. Chicago Man Who Wouldn't Be Sl« lenced Get* in a Brief Speech —Ambassador Bryce Hits the Jury System.

Portland, Me., Aug. 29.—A resolution criticising President Roosevelt sot commenting upon the trial of the belsf trust case in the northern district of Illinois a year ago and adversely criticising the presiding Judge and his rulings, was introduced at the final session of the American Bar association, by George Whitelock, of Baltimore. It met with Instant disapproval from all parts of the hall, and President Parker repeatedly asked Whitelock ts withdraw it, but Whitelock insisted that it be acted upon. A motion to lay it on the table was carried. Chicago Man Will Be Heard. Durlpg the attempts to dispose of it a gentleman in the audience from Chicago, who failed,to secure recognition, shouted: “Some one has said the American Bar association has no right to criticise the president of the United States. I hold that when the president of the United SStates violates his trust it Ts the duty of the American Bar association to criticise him." The event of the convention was the annual address of British Ambassador James Bryce on "The Influenee of National Character and Historical Environment on the Development of the Common Law.” Bryce Given an Ovation. The capacity of the city ball was taxed by those who desired to bear the annual address. Ambassador Bryce and party were given an ovation when they took seats on the platform. President Parker introduced the ambassador, who wms received with cheers, the audience of 2,000 standing for a minute, cheering and applauding. Origin of the Common Law. Bryce characterized the common law as being the common possession of the United States and England, and a bond of sympathy between the tjvo peoples, whose value can hardly be over-estimated. It is the result of events, he said, ns well as of the mental and moral qualiti -s of the people. Tracing its origin, he described it as having’sprung, from strong and pugnacious men. who respected authority and could control their Impulses. Confidence in Juries Waning. A bulwark of English freedom, said Bryce, had been the right of every citizen to tie tried by bis peers, but “we in England have no longer that confidence in the wisdom of a jury in certain classes of civil actions which we once had, and the tendency of recent years has been to narrow the sphere of its employment.”