Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1908-03-02
RISE TO DEFEND
JUSTICE whitley
President Roosevelt and Secre-
tary Root Summarize Ar
ticleS in Complaint.
COMMEND COURTS ACTIONS.
Analysis of Charges Against Shanghai
Judge Contain Opinion That
Commentator is Due.

Washington, March 2.-President
Roosevents defense of Lebbens r.. Will
fey, based on an analytic review by
Secretary Root, of the charges against
him was made public today. The
charges were preferred by Lorin An
drews have been repeated by him
before the house committe on judiciary
as the basis of impeachment proceed
ings. They relate to Judge Wilhey's
administration of the United States
court for China at Shanghai.
After disposing of each of the seven
charges by showing that neither OF
them is the proper basis of criticism
against Judge Wiley, Secretary Root
reviews conditions in the foreign quar-
ters Of Shanghai, showing that because
of the heretofore lax American admin
istration of justice there, affairs had
grown disgraceful.
Judge Wiley was sent there for the
express purpose of reversing these con-
ditlons. Secretary Root concludes:
MOTIVE REVEALED.
THE circumstances thus presented
exhibit a motive for the attempt to
drive Judge Wiley from his position.
They present a strong probability OF
misjudgment, exaggeration and distor-
ton OF facts on the part of lawyers
who have personally suffered from the
changed conditions. They make it clear
that upon no triffling grounds should
our government incur the public mis-
fortune which would be involved in
putting the stamp of disapproval on
the work for decency and righteous
ness that the United States court for
China has done.
MY opinion is that Judge Wiley is
| entitled, not to condemnation. but tc
commentator and high credit for his
conduct in office and that the charges
against him should be dismissed
| President Roosevelt's vindlcation Il
| contained in a letter to Secretary Root
He first comments that II appear
| that Congressman Waldo of New Yorl
stands sponsor for the charges.
ROOSEVELT CoNCuRs,
81 cordially concur in your findings,
| he continues. which is to the effec
that Judge Whitley is not only innocen
| but Is attacked solely because OF thu
| fearlessness and integrity with which
\ he stamped out vice and crime il
| Shanghai
1T is clear that Judge Wiley ha
been attacked not because he has dom
evil but because he has done good. Thu
assault on him Is simply an impeach
ment of decency and zeal for the publi
good and IL successful would tend t
cow and discourage every honest publ
servant who dares to Withstand tn
forces banded together for evil ant
would do grave damage to the homo
and interest of our country in the orr
ent.
"If the attack were to succeed tn
benefciaries would be every keeper q
n house of prostitution, every swindlin
lawyer. every man who lives by black
mail and corruption In the cities of tn
far east.
These are the people whose hope
have been revived by the effort to over
throw this upright and fearless judg
who has already done so much for IN
good name of America in China. 1t
not too much to say that this assau
by Judge Whitley In the interest of tn
vicious and criminal classes is a pun
lie scandal"