The Washington herald., 1906-12-15

New York. Dec. IA South Carolina
lawyer, William a Barber, stirred up
the Southern Society and its guests to-
night at the annual dinner at the Wal
dOTf-AstOria by attacking Elihu Root on
the score of the Capitalization" speech
delivered by the Secretary OF state last
Wednesday night before the Pennsylva-
mans. The South Carolinian took a little
fling at President Roosevelt besides.
There was wild applause from some
sections of the grand ballroom but there
We're silent spots also Apparently. all
of the diners We're not in accord with
Mr.. Barber.
President Woodrow Wilson, of Prince
ton. was the principal speaker at the
Southerners' banquet, responding to the
toast, Patriotism" in which he ex-
pressed the opinion that not more laws
are needed, but greater regard in the ad-
ministratiOn of the laws we have
The dinner was the twenty-first anni-
versary of the Southern Society. There
were more than COO members and their
guests present The dinner started with
the traditional blast from the soCiety's
bugler, and President Marion J. Verder
decorated with the scarlet collar Of the
society. led the way to the tune Of
Dixie
Prominent Men on Platform.
With President Verder on the dais were
sthe presidents Of most Of the New York
societies Albert P. Massey, of the North
Carolina; S. n Gardenshire. of the Mis-
souri,; DR.. F. J. Bowles. of the Canadian:
Edward F. Darrell, of St Georges; Robert
Frater Munro, of ST. Andrews; William
NJ, Polk, Of the Tennessee; J. Hampden
Robb. of the Pennsylvania: Joseph L
Clark, Thomas Ewing, Howard R. Bayne
governor of the Virginians Mai. Edward
Owen, of the Confederate Veterans: Be
dell Parker. of the Georgia Society. and
J. Nevett Steele. of the Maryland: Gen
Horace Porter President Wilson. and Au-
gustus Thomas.
Gen. Horace Porter, who spoke first
looked up toward the galleries. which
were filled with Southern women. and
told the banqueters that he was a firm
believer in the ScripturaI Injunction for
men to set their affections In things
above. Then, constantly interrupted by
laughter, he paid tribute 10 the Southern
girl, winding up with this:
Her feet are so small that her boots
have TO be polished with a toothbrush"
Barber Attacks Root.
William A. Barber. who is now prac-
tieing law here, though formerly from
South Carolina, responded TO the toast.
The Old South" He started right off
with a direct statement At the Secretary
Of State, saying. in part
1T seems fashionable nowadays to dis
dinner table. Laughter) Only two
nights ago. OF an occasion like this the
distinguished Secretary of State. speaking
in this banquet hail. gave his hearers /
enough constitutional law to give some
people Indigestion. His views are always
interesting. but especially when he speaks
as the tribune of a Cabinet of which he
is so important a part
1t Is pleasing TO be reminded that
since our Constitution was adopted our
country has grown from a narrow strip
OF land until il stretches from ocean 10
ocean and embraces some S5.GOO.000 poDu-
latiOn. It is pleasing TO be told that
since the Constitution was adopted the
increase of modern invention has 50 de-
stroyed time and distance that every sec
ton Of this great country is in close con- |
tact. and has intimate trade and social
relations with every other section.
Believes in State Rights.
But. with the conclusion that this in
crease in area and population and this
close business intercourse demand either a
modification or new construction of the |
Constitution, we cannot agree. We be |
lieve, with our fathers. that our people |
are slow to change; that the size of the |
country and the exigencies of trade are
less important than the preservation Of 1
individual liberty. We believe that the /
rights Of citizens to-day are the same as
the rights of the citizens Of the smaller /
country OF 17S7.
I'VE believe these rights are and viii
continue to be, best preserved by an in /
exOrabie enforcement of the old COnstitu- 4
ton. If il be true, as there is a growing
impression. that the executive rights are
10 control the court. and. perhaps. get the /
new construction of the Constitution that /
is wanted, we invoke the warning Of Chief
Justice Marshall that the very safety of |
the republic requires the legislative and
judicial powers to remain forever separ-
ate and distinct.
Although we are told that we are
moving forward in a development OF bJsi 4
ness and social life. which tends more 4
and more 10 the obliteTation Of State
lines and the decrease of State power. as 4
compared with the national power We 4
will still teach our children that the na
ton is divided into sovereign States In 4
our schools we may see a few syIIabIes /
reformed out of our spelling, but we will /
not see State lines reformed out of our
geography.
And. too. some Of US believe that the |
fixing Of qualifications for admission 10 /
the public schools is among the powers |
reserved to the State. and the old Consti- |
tuition will not admit the army and
navy of the United States 10 the delibera- /
tions of our school boards; and again
not only because we believe such matters |
are reserved 20 the States but because |
we are a peaceable people preferring |
the reader to the rife. and the spelling |
book to the shotgun, we respectfully l
oppose the strenuous suggestion that the 1
power of the Congress be used to add
shooting galleries 10 our public schools |
Augustus Thomas spoke to the toast. /
THE South as a custodian"
Large Sale Furniture, &c, 10 a. m.
To-day ar Weschler's. $50 Pa. ave NV
Brass beds dressers, sidebOards. exten- /
sion tables, couches. Morris chairs chif- /