The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-03-03
ENUMERATION FOR
 JUDGE W|LFLEY
President UphoIdS Court Off,
 ciaI At Shanghai
CRUSADE AGAINST VICE
Charges Against Judge Wilfley Are Said to be Prompted by People of Low Morals Claiming to
 Be Americans.

Washington, March 2.-President Roose- Velt's defense of Lebbeus R. Wilney, based on an analytical review by Sec retary Root of the charges against him. vas made public today. The charges were preferred by Lorrin Andrews and have been repeated by him before the House committee on the judiciary as the basis of impeachment proceedings. They relate to Judge Wilheys administration of the United States court for China, at Shang- hai.
 After disposing of each of the seven charges by showing that none of them IS the proper basis of criticism, againt Judge Wilfey, Secretary Root reviews condi- tions in the foreign quarter of ShangF hal, showing that because of the here tofore lax American administration of justice their affairs have grown disgrace ful. Judge Wilfey was sent there for the express purpose of reversing these conditions.
 Secretary Root concludes:
 "The circumstancesl lthus presented ex- hibit motive for the attempt to drive Judge Wilfiey from his position. They present strong probability of mlsjudg- ment, exaggeration and distortion of facts
 
 personally suffered from the changed con- ditions. They make it clear that upon no trifiing grounds should our government incur the public misfortune which would be involved in putting the stamp of dis approval on the work for decency and righteousness that the United States court for China has done.
 My opinion is that Judge Wlhey is en- titled, not to condemnation, but to com mendation and high credit for his eon- duct in office and that the charges against him should be dismissed.''
 Roosevelt's Vindicaton.
 President Roosevelts vindicaton is contained in a letter to Secretary Root. He first comments that it appears that Congressman Waldo of New York stands sponsor for the charges. "I cordially concur in your finding" he continues. which is to the effect that Judge Will fey is not only innocent, but Is at tackled solely because of the fearlessness and integrity with which he has stamped out vice and crime in Shanghai.
 'It is clear that Judge Wilfey has been attacked not because he has done evil but because he has done good. The as- sault on him Is simply an impeachment of decencyN and zeal for the public good, and if successful, would tend to cove and discourage every honest public serv- dnL WHO udFeS lO WltHSLd1U the forces banded together for evil and would do grave damage to the honor and interest of our country in the Orient If the at tack were to succeed, the beneficiarieS would be every keeper of a house of pros titution, every swindlns lawyer.f every man who lives by blackmail and eorrup- ton in the cities of the far east) These are the people whose hopes have been revived by the effort to overthrow this upright and fearless judge, who has al- ready done so much for the good name of America in China It is not tod much to say that this assault on Judge Will fey in the interest of the criminal class is a public scandal.'
 Bad Moral Condition.
 , Cross examination of Lorin s. Andrews, the American lawyer in Shanghai who with other attorneys of that city brought against Judge l.. R. Wilfley of the United States court for China charges of mis- conduct in office. which have been made the basis of a reason of impeachment in- troduced in the House of Representatives by MT. Waldo of New York, was begun today before subcommittee of the House committee on judiciary. The cross examination was conducted in Judge Wilfey's behalf by Representative Denby of Michigan. Representative Waldo ap- peared as counsel for MT. Andrews, the complainant.
 A great deal of the committee session was consumed ill efforts by MT. Denby, prompted constantly by Judge Wilfey, to have MT Andrews confess that moral conditions among the lower classes of the American residents in Shanghai, were so disgracefuly loose that everything American lost caste by the noforiety. Mr. Denby, coached by a descriptive article in a popular magazine asked if it was not true that so fragrant was the life in Shanghai of low women, claiming American citizenship, that there and at the other ports of China's coast, the very name American girl' had become an accompanied synonym of a byword He denied these things with emphasis. A A portion of Secretary Roots arraign4 ment of Shanghai's immortality within the American Jurisdiction was read to Mr Andrews.
 Answering he characterized it as fin exact' and highly colored."
 He considered Shanghai place of good character Referring to efforts by Judge W1lfley to drive out American women of low habits by the imposition of 5000 fines, he said they had failed.
 The investigation will be continued to- morrow without regard to President Roosevelts official exoneration of Judge Wilf1ey and commendation of him.