Page:The Green Bag (1889–1914), Volume 25.pdf/140

 Further Light on the Recall mus Darwin. In view of the sentiment involved it can be imagined with what misguided satisfaction I had undertaken to put the pseudonym of my companion on the introductory page of an endeavor to create something that would "live forever." My faith in the reliability of circum stantial evidence, always weak, has now

127

become still weaker. But what really holds me is the question whether there is a law governing pure coincidence. That is a nice problem for lovers of the curious and the occult, for the analyst and for those who believe that all things are governed by rule or law — that nothing happens but everything takes place.

Further Light on the Judicial Recall THE MEETING OF THE NEW YORK STATE BAR ASSOCIATION CO-OPERATING with the American Bar Association in a nonpartisan campaign of popular education against the movement for judicial recall, a Committee of Fifteen appointed last April by the New York State Bar Association is able to report that a majority of the county bar associations of New York State, on having the mat ter brought before them for action, have adopted resolutions condemning the re call of judges and judicial decisions, and that in several of the other counties favorable action is anticipated. This same Committee of Fifteen was authorized to investigate the causes which have produced any feeling of dis content with the present methods of administering justice in New York State, and a sub-committee of five was appointed to make this special investigation under the chairmanship of Judge D-Cady Herrick. The sub-committee sent out copies of a letter last June to a number of representatives of labor organizations, among others, the recipient being asked if he would "kindly advise the Committee whether to your knowledge or in your experience there is any considerable

feeling of discontent with our courts, or with the manner in which justice is administered; the causes for that feel ing of discontent, if any exists, and any suggestions that you can make as to remedies therefor." A large number of replies were received, and are printed in Appendix D to the sub-committee's report. A few examples will illustrate the main trend of criticism. The secretary of the New York State Federation of Labor wrote : — Complaint against the judge is, to put it into concrete form, the lack of real interest in the humane side of life. Too much attention is given by the judges to conserving so-called business interests and not enough to conserv ing the welfare of those who create the wealth of the country. The secretary of the Amalgamated Meat Cutters and Butcher Workmen replied that a large majority of the people "have but very little respect for the judiciary of not only this state but the United States, as a whole, as they firmly believe that the judiciary cater to the financial interests of the country to the detriment of the working class." The chairman of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen and Enginemen