laboring oar
Defined in 1 dictionary — Case Law
Definitions from Case Law
From 324 U.S. 316 - Drummond v. United States · 1945Most cited · 99 citing opinions
To bind the United States when it is not formally a party, it must have a laboring oar in a controversy. This is not to be inferred merely because the Secretary of the Interior enables an incompetent Indian to protect his interests.