The Washington times., 1909-06-08
Georgetown Commencement.

Both Georgetown Convent and George
town University Law Schools held their
commencement exercises yesterday, the
Convent in Its own building in George
town and the Law School. graduating
this year an unusually large number, n
Chase's Theater.
Before. a big audience in the theater.
the Rev. Joseph Himmel, s. j., presi-
dent of the university, gave diplomas to
I52 men, f26 Of whom received the degree
Of bachelor OF laws. while TO the other
twenty-six were given sheepskins pro-
claiming them masters Of laws.
Justices Clabaugh, Wright and Gould,
OF the District Supreme Court, Chief
Justice Shepard of the Court Of Appeals,
United States District Attorney Baker
and scores Of prominent attorneys were
present
Wade H. Ellis. assistant to the At
torney General who made the address
OF the evening, and who was afterward
entertained by the faculty at the Met
ropolitan Club, devoted his speech to
the courts OF the nation and to scoring
their detractors.
Defends the Courts.
''If the courts of this country ever
break down and lose their influence and
authority" said MIR. Ellis, referring 10
efforts during the last campaign to IN
eulcate the doctrine thar judges should
be elected by the people. lit viii not
Be because they are TOO independent OF
public opinion, but because they are too
dependent upon il. No one could make
Eraver mistake than the one who as
Eerts that IN q great free government
lKs ours the courts ought to be sub
6ervlent TO public ctamor or 10 popular
whim- The very safety of our institu-
tons depends on doctrine precisely
contrary 20 this.
eff the people who make the law
could themselves violate il in the en-
forcement they would destroy their
OWL power. II is an essential condition
IN all popular government that when
once the people have legislated they
shall stand aside and take no part in
the application If the general rules they
have adopted.
THE very moment you insist that the
judges shall be answerable to the peo-
pie for their decisions and shall be re-
movable from Office IL they do not de-
side according 20 the popular view Of
what the law Is or ought 10 be, you
take a step which leads logically and
Inevitably TO mob rule. And mob rule
is not government OF the people. fl is not
government for the people, and most Of
al II Is not government by the people"
Few Corrupt Judges.
Mr. Ellis remarked how few have
been the instances of corrupt judges
since the foundation OF this nation He
said that only one justice OF the Su-
prsme Court has ever been called TO the
bar of the Senate, and he was acquitted
by an overwhelming vote OF the charges
on which the impeachment proceedings
we're brought.
Justice Shepard, lecturer on the his
tory OF constitutional law, awarded
sizes as follows:
Faculty cash prize OF so for the best
E.-.a IN.
third-year class, 70 Chester A. Gwinn:
subject. THE Right to Contribution Be
tween Joint -Feasors.
Faculty cash prize Of so for the best
essay from among the members Of the
fourth-year class, 10 Augustus j.. Mil
lott; subject To What Extent Can a
Railroad Company Limit It's Common
law Liabilities as a Common Carrier
With Respect 10 the Transportation of
Goods Honorable mention; Royal T.
BcKenna.
Thompson Company for best essay writ
ten by third-year class on f'The Doctrine
OF EstOppel as Applied to Defenses in
Criminal Cases" to Arch NJ. Cheney
Set Of laWbooks offered by the Ameri-
can Law Book Company TO member Of
fourth-year class writing best thesis on
given subject. 10 Morris r Bevington.
Honorable mention for Ralph y. Quin-
Ter and Eugene II. Waters.
The $50 Prize.
Cash prize Of SO 70 member first-year
class maintaining best average in recita-
tions and exaIninations during the year
Norman W. Klopfer
Cash prize Of SIS to member Of FIRST
year class maintaining second best
average in recitations and examinations
during the year. Adrien r. Busick
Cash RTize OF so 10 member Of second