The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-09-29
Arbitration Was Primary Theme
 of Discussion
SENIOR vELAScO SPEAKS
Justice Brewer Pays High Tribute to the Law as a Factor In the Advance of civiIiza-
 ton. fJ

St. Louis, Mo-, Septembe- 2s.-The first universal congress of lawyers and jurists, held under the auspices of the American Bar association, convened today in Fes- tival hall at the conclusion of the Amer ican Bar association convention. Emil neht lawyers and jurists from all over the world ere in attendance. The con- gress was called to order by F. W. Leh- mann of St Louis, chairman of the ex- position committee on congresses. Pres ident D. R. Francis welcomed the con gress to tb. exposition and introduced the president of the congress, Hon. Da- vid J. Brewer, associate justice Of the supreme cou-A of the United States. President Prever was greeted with an vation of applause. He spoke briefly, saying in part
 Value of the Law.
 q affirm that the work of the lawyer and jurist invisible as it may be to the physical eye is of far-reachlng value to Humanity, for of what avail would be all the achieverns -ts of science of life, lib- erty and property. were not they made secure by the just administration of law? The fabric of our civilization is indeed a ting of beauty. but it is made strong and enduring only by the golden thread of equal exact and universal justice. All the material splendor of this exposition will soon pass away, but the work done in the variou congresses here gathered will make an enduring impression upon cur advan sin~ social life. Let us not be turned away from our high purpose by any glitter or gol1 or temptations of luxurious life, but ever remember that justice is the one thing beneath the eter- Eal blue.'
 The first business was the election of vice presidents, one from each nation as follows:
 Argentine, pr. Jose Fernandez.
 Austria, CRevalier Adalbert von Stibral. Belgium. Prof A, Nerinex.
 British Empire, Hon. Sir William Ken nedy
 China, MT. Chow Tezchi.
 France. Prof. A. Nanude.
 Germany, Dr. A. Hartmann.
 Italy, Signor Angelo Pavia.
 Mexico, Senor Don Manuel Azpiroz. The Netherlands, Dr. D. Josephus Jit- ta.
 Sweden, Vice Judge G. E. Fahlieratz. Switzerland, Dr. F. Meili.
 The United States. Judge Simeon E. Baldwin of Connecticut
 pr. Foster on Arbitration.
 Former Secretary of State John w. Foster, ILL. D., was introduced and made the pricipal address on the subject of in- ternation arbitration, and The Hague tribunal He said in part
 "A the secretary of the navy has announced himself as in favor of navy equal to the greatest navy in the world. trust he has been misquoted. Our government should hold itself ready to enter into an agreement for international disarmament and not to the increase of the navy. This country should hold itself to other and far more peaceful pursuits in the settle ment of strife than to the making of im- plements of destruction and death.'
 He then entered into an explanation of the failure of The Hague conference to effect an agreement on the subject of international disarmament. He ex- pressed deep regret that the fruits of war made necessary the permanent increase of the American army, and called at tention to the prospective large increase in the annual expenditures of the gov ernment for the navy.
 Senor Don Emldo Velasco of Mexico and J. H. Ralston, L. IL. D., of Washin- ton, D. C.. followed with discussions of the subjects presenter by MT. Foster. Senor Velasco said in part
 Senor VeIasco Speaks.
 The idea of international arbitration is not the creation of one man. nor of any set of men, however eminent they may be, but 1t is the result of an universal sentiment. International arbitration has at the present time three forms: first. arbitration in It's nature transtory, and fol determined matters; second, compro- misery clauses inserted in treaties to decide the questions which the interpre- tations and execution of the treaty may give r4se to; third, permanent and obliga- tory arbitration.
 Treaties of arbitration in these three forms have increased in numbers pro- gressively, very especially in the first two forms. The last form is the one which arouses the most resistance, and various attempts made to establish permanent ar bitration have proven failures
 There are two difficulties which beset arbitration in these present times, the re- sistance on the part or some govern ments to permanent arbitration and the difficulty of giving judicial form to uues- tions of political nature
 ''1he tribunal of The Hague created by the collective action of the nations with It's character of permanency and with rules of procedure previously defined. has in it's support a great moral force and presents all the advantages and all the facilities which constituted tribunals of fer It Is a tribunal open to all who ask its Judgement and Its examples, and it's practices will be an inducement to all the nations to entrust to 1t their difficult ties for settlement
 The convention adjourned until tomor- row morning.
 Iroquois Cases Come Up.
 Chicago September 2S.-When the cases