Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-06-27
ADDRESSES YALE MEN
Ex-SECRETARY ROOT SPEAKS AT
CONFECTIONERY.
Second Days Interesting Proceeding
at Yale Anniversary Exer-
cises-Other Speakers.

NEW HAVEN, Conn.,. June N.-Ideal
weather greeted the opening Of the second
day Of Yale's commencement week. The
day was crowded with events. Both the
Sheffield Scientific School seniors and the
men of the academic graduating class had
class day exercises.
Tho anniversaries of the law school and
the medical school were also in the after
noon program Elihu Root. ex-Secretary
Of War. was scheduled to deliver an ad-
dress before the law school seniors while
Prof. VIM. Halsted. surgeon-fn-chie1 OF the
Johns Hopkins Hospital. was named as
the principal speaker before the medicai
school.
The class day exercises Of the Sheffield
seniors were the first Of the day. Nearly
1000 friends Of the graduating class at
tended. According to custom each mem
Der Of the class smoked the long class
pipe, which was passed from man to man.
During the remainder of the exercises the
lons-stemmed clay pipes were smoked by
almost every man.
The five historians included Louis Henry
Egan. Savannah. and Bradford Brinton OF
Lasalle. Ill.
The academicaI departments class day
was held on the campus. where about 5000
spectators assembled in a large amphi-
theater. Instead Of individual histories
there was a general class history. read by
Lawrence Mason Of Chicago. The program
was interspersed with songs by the class
and the regulation pipe rites Following
these features the planting Of the class IVY
at the library took place.
AT the dinner Of the Alumni Association
brief remarks were made by President
Hadley. Dean Henry Wade Rogers and
few of the distinguished graduates present.
The annual report of the directors OF the
alumni fund Of Yale University was made
public today. The announcement Ii made
that the class Of 1884 will make a special
gift to the university. to be made known at
commencement exercises. The contribu-
| lions received during the year were So. 90.
exceeding those OF last year. and making
the total to date sos. 298. The class Of 1879.
| in recognition of its twenty-flfth anniver-
| sary, makes a special gift OF SO. 40.
Mr. Roots Address.
Mr.. Root. In opening. spoke Of the emolu-
ments and honors that attended a success
| full lawyer. and declared that more import
ant than these was the adaptation for pub
| lie Office. not merely upon the bench. but in
| all branches Of government. legislative and
| executive. which results from the variety
| of a lawyers experience and training.
IN all the field OF the law regulating the
rela lions Of citizens to each other" the
| speaker continued. 1.-The proper function Of
the lawyer Is to promote rational progress;
| to maintain stability against all fads and
| crude Innovations. and at tho Same time to
| keep the development Of the law moving
| with equal step abreast Of the progress OF
| the age, satisfying the moral sense Of the
| time and meeting the changing conditions
of human life and activity.
There Is one general characteristic Of
| our system of government which Is es-
sentfal and which 1t is the special duty OF
| lawyers to guard with care-that Is. the
| observance OF limitations of official power.
There Is constant tendency to ignore such
| limitations and cOndone the transgression
| of them by public officers provided the thing
done In dOno with RnOd m0fiyoa with q o.
| sire to serve the public. Such process. II
general. Is most injurious. If continued
| long enough 1t results in an attitude Of per-
sOnal superiority the part of the great
| officers which Is inconsistent with our in
| situations. a destruction Of responsibility
and Independent judgment on the part Of
| lower officers. and neglect of the habit Of
| asserting legal rights on the part Of the
people.
THE more frequently men who hold great
power IN office are permitted to override
the limitations imposed by law upon their
powers. the more difficult 1t becomes to
question anything they do: and the ieo-
pie each one weak In himself and unable
to cope with powerful officers who re-
anront. gradually lose the habit OF hold
ing such officers accountable. and ultimate
ly practically surrender the right to hold
them accountable.
Constant accountability Of public off,
GERS for strict observance OF the limits
imposed by law and customary and I'M
doubling assertion Of the private right
! OF the citizen to have no power exercised
over him except in strict accordance with
the letter and the spirit OF the law-these
are the essential conditions of free gov
eminent and personal independence. The
exercise of power not conferred by law
may In particular case destroy no mans
property nor restrain his liberty but II
weakens the title to every mans
property and Injuries every mans liberty
| because 1t is one step in a process which II
continued would h0 deqtrucffva NJ re q
institutions.
Abundant evidence that our people have
not become Indifferent to these necessary
| limitations is furnished by the frequency
| with which political opponents impute dis
regard OF them to public officers. The
charge Is often unfounded and often made
upon slight foundation with great exag-
| geratton. But the fact that 1t Is made
shows that political leaders recognize that
II they can make the people believe that
c public officer has usurped power he will
be condemned without regard to his mo-
tives. The cries OF emperor car and man.
on-horseback are but extravagant appeals
to an instinct which ought to exist and
happily does exist among US against sub
mission to unlawful authority. however
trihing may be its exercise and however
benefcent its despotism.
1.-The extravaganza and lack Of founda-
ton for many Of these appeals, however
involve the danger lest the cry of wolf
should be heard so often the men will be-
come incredulOus and Indifferent and turn
a deaf ear to statements and proofs OF
real encroa chments. made with modera-
| ton and not for political effect. and that
thus indiscriminate and unfounded charges
against the innocent shall serve as pro-
| lection to the really guilty.
mo one Is 80 we'll fitted as the lawyer
| to ascertain the true limit Of authority
| and no one can do so much as he to form
public opinion regarding this class Of ques-
| tons. upon the lines not Of partisan politi-
| cal advantage but Of Independent and i'm
partial Judgment