New-York tribune., 1908-06-23
YALE GKEETS TAFT
HE'S BIG BILL" THERE.
Ex-senator Spooner Glad Nert
President UM Be Lazcyer.
LEV Telegraph 20 me rrieuns.1


versary exercises of his class at Yale. rs. at
1926 O'Clock this afternoon. smiling and happy
even after trip from New York in the swelter-
ing heat
Few Yale men knew Just when he would ar
rive. he did not get noisy and enthusiastic
a reception as would have been the case other
wise Several of his classmates were on the
platform to greet him. however. and a small
group of 'O2 men raised lusty cheer as they
caught sight Of the big man.
Mr.. Taft wanted nothing better his arrival
than to go to the Edwards House. where his
class has established headquarters. but he found
plenty Of other things to do An automobile
was waiting for him. and he was rushed to the
rs headquarters without regard to the speed
ordinances There he found forty of his class
mates eager to shake hands with him. and that
was about all there time for
A meeting OF the Yale corporation had been
delayed for some time in the hope that Mr.. Taft.
who is a member, would be able attend. ard
he went over 10 Woodbridge Hall after few
minutes with his old friends.
GREETING BY LAW MEN.
Then. when the corporation had ended It's
meeting. Mr.. Taft was escorted to Memorial
Hall. where the luncheon of the law school
alumni and graduates going His ar
rival not altogether expected. and there
a
candidate made his way to the speakers table.
Ex-senator SpOOner. of Wisconsin. had Just
finished speaking. having ended short speech
by expressing his pleasure that the next Presi-
dent would be lawyer who understood the con-
stitutOnaI limitations of the executive and other
branches of government. Before that he had
urged the young lawyers to remember that the
essentials in government were the three co-ordi-
nate branches. adding that when the other
branches had become subordinate to the execu-
tive popular government had ceased to exist. ''I
speak of this in an imperscnaI way" added the
former Senator. however
The significance of Mr.. Spooner's remark as
TO the next President. even though he re-
fused to say who that lawyer would be- was
driven home with double tmpressveness by Mr..
Taft's opportune entrance
The Yale cheer made the walls OF the haI
ring in moment. and nine sharp ''Tafts'' were
| barked out at the end The demonstration con-
| tinued for a few moments and the Secretary
| seemed more than pleased by the first welcome
he received from Yale assembIage on his an
| niversary visit his alma mater.
After the cheering had subsided Justice John
Proctor Clarke, of the Appellate Division of the
| Supreme Court of New York, delivered the an
nual address to the younger alumni and tho
| graduates and followed by William d.
| McNulty, '9S.
MR. TAF~TS SPEECH
| Dean Rogers then introduced Mr.. Taft. who
! spoke giving advice TO the graduating
| class. He said that the administration OF
| criminal law in this country defective, and
| urged on the young lawyers the necessity for
moral awakening in the legal profession
| Mr.. Taft spoke briefly, as follows:
| Thirty years ago a band of good fellows IN
Yale took pledge that they would stand by
| each other Two or three weeks ago received
| a letter saying that two or three OF those men
/ were under a load and IT was the business oc
| every rs man TO come in and help. Had
| known that John Proctor Clarke was going TO
| be here to help Ed" Whitney shouldn't have
Judge Clarke has spoken eIoquently and given
YOU Young men substantial instruction in prac-
| tising law. Possibly 1 could add something to
| it, He suggested that when you have a woman
as witness TO lead her along easily I would
add. let the woman alone And the more ig-
nOrant the woman the more certainly this ad-
vice should be taken: 1or nave seen a woman
who could not spell her name put pretty
| brany lawyer to flight.
There is something about the intuition Of a
female. especially on cross examination. that
leads her always 70 give you information that
you do not want, with the result that she Is in
vited off the stand as soon as possible
Judge Clarke told you go out into the world
and get at facts; when you have a case, TO get
right down 10 the actual conditions surrounding
those facts. I rather think ii depends upon
the person. / don't think a lawyer needs to
be advised. An office without clients is not
likely TO get out his initiative and get
in touch with people and things.
l began with slight legal education and I
was made aware Of my failings early. IL there
are defects in ones early training IT is difficult
TO overcome them You young men are learn
ing the science Of the law which many of those
who have preceded you found it hard TO ac-
quire.
urge you not 10 give up study os that science
of law. Follow the discussion of cases in law
reviews read the decisions OF the courts and
the DEGREES of the United States courts and add
to yoJlr ViHdg A thorough Tha
DAYS you pass in contemplation of the walls OF
your office waiting for clients 10 come are davs
which should be made of value In these DAYS
you ought to lay the foundations of the years Of
success to come.
Another thing in the practice of the law to
pursue is the principle of-well. what shall
call the "get-there maxim The admInfstra-
ton of criminal law of the country Is defectfve.
Members of the bar do not recognize that their
duty is not only to the court but to their clients
at large. A lawyer is not justified in resortins
to the tricks Of a pettffOgger lust to Indicate
that the sitting beside him is his client.
NEED OF MORAL AWAKENING.
We are having a general moral awakening.
and the members OF the bar need that awaken
ing lust as certainly as men in other walks of
life We cannot afford 70 sacrifice everything
for success. permit loyalty 10 a client to
carry one beyond the line marked by duty 10 the
court IL you have opportunity 10 take criminal
cases to become a prosecutor. take them. for
criminal law develops recognltion OF the I'M
portance of facts. venture 10 say that when
presentation Of facts needed the men who
have had experience in criminal cases show
greater skill
TO YOU Because have been out thirty years
we must not forget that We have a great deal to
learn Take the advice of Judge Clarke I'm pre-
paring your cases; sit up nights and prepare
YOUR statement Of facts. put IL in plain languages
and I know you will reach the heart of the
court. / know that must have reached the
heart of Justice BIatChfOrd when as Solicitor
General I rose and asked 10 have dismissed
forty Chinese appeal cases. The fudge wrote
farra m N.Nsf fr.