The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-03-11
WHITLEY IS UPHELD
Administration FayOrs New
Shanghai Court Judge.
PRAISE GIVEN BY SECRETARY
Taft Declares OmcIaI Is Sincere.
Representative DENLY Informed
that ''BIack Leg'' Gamblers Have
Been Driven Out and Standard of
Morals Raised to n Great Extent.

President Roosevelt has received sew
eral cables from influential citizens in
Shanghai, China, testifying to the benefits
already accomplished by the new United
States Court there. Although the court
only began sitting in January, with ex-
Attorney General Lebbeus R. Wiley, OF
the Philippines. as presiding judge many
important reforms are already reported
II is understood that, despite occasional
criticisms Of the new judiciary as have
reached the State Department. the ad-
ministratiOn indorses Judge Wiley.
Secretary Taft. when interviewed on
the action Of the court in debarring GER
tain resident American attorneys from
practicing before il, commended the Wig
orous campaign inaugmated by the new
tribunal. While the court, exercising ju-
risdiction over American residents in
Shanghai and other Chinese seaports, was
established in accordance with an act
Of Congress and various treaties with
China, and is therefore under direct su-
pervision of the State Department, Judge
Wiley was appointed at the instance Of
Secretary Taft. with whom he was asso-
ciated Ia the Philippines.
Secretary Taft Praises Him.
Nobody conversant with the work
Judge Wuney did al Manila and with
similar demoralizing conditions that ex-
listed in Shanghai before his advent can
question the sincerity Of the man." de-
clared Secretary Taft who continued:
only his hrst-class record in the Philip
pines, added TO very strong Endorsements
from the Federal judiciary IN Missouri,
prompted his appointment to the Shang-
hal court, and criticisms at this time arc
certainly premature
Secretary Taft added that conditions
In Shanghai were so unique as TO demand
not only judicial. but courageous action
ou the part of the presiding court Off
GERS. Concerning the action of the De
partment OF Justice IN recommending that
Attorney Lorrin Andrews. formerly Of
Brooklyn. and other disbarred lawyers,
be restored 90 che privilege Of practice.
it Is announced that the recommendation
will be left entirely TO the discretion Of
the court I'm China.
Andrews I'm Route 10 shanghai.
Attorney Andrews, having personally
protested to the state Department on the
disbarment action. is now on his way
back TO Shanghai with the expectation Of
resuming. practice on his arrival. He
claims to have been disbarred, it IS said.
from representing one Price, as counsel,
in defending charge Of threatening one
Jovansen, Of Shanghai. with a revolver.
Judge Whitley refused to admit Price 10
bail. but word now comes from San Fran
cisco that the Federal Court Of Appeals
in California has overruled the decision.
Papers IN the case are due in Shanghai
this week. OF eight attorneys. Andrews
included, who took the examination, only
two passed.
As % whether Judge Whitley was act
ing arbitrarily IN this connection. As
sistant Secretary Of State Bacon said
that the court was and is entirely within
its province in holding examinations and
passing upon the moral. as we'll as men
tai qualifications Of applicants This right
is based he said, upon a United States
Supreme Court ruling Of long standing.
"Black Leg Gamblers Driven Out
An interesting phase OF the controversy
was presented yesterday by Representa-
tive DENLY. Of the Committee on Foreign
Affairs, on whose recommendation the
court was established. He explained that
prior 70 the arrival OF Judge Wiley in
Shanghai, stigma was attached 10 the
name Of the American girl, simply
because Of "A few characters repre-
senung themselves as American His
prompt and vigorous steps toward
remedying this has effectually re-
moved the stigma and has incidentally
resulted in driving a "biack-leg'' gam
bling element from Shanghai Following
arrests in nearly a dozen cases and the
imposition OF heavy fines this evil has
been all but obliterated, Representative
DENLY is informed, at least in so fau as
reflections upon American standards of
morality are concerned. At the next ses-
sion of Congress. such amendments as
may be found necessary will be made in
the bin under which the court exists
Until then. the authority Of the presid-
ing judge IS absolute. and he will be fully
sustained. Representative DENLY is as
suTed, by the administration.