The Hawaiian gazette., 1909-06-08

The members of the Bar Association
called yesterday to consider what ac
tion was to be taken in the associa
tion IS advocacy of A. G.. NJ. Robertson
for Second Federal Judge of Hawaii
in view of charges made against hi
moral character by James A. Rath
| found that they had something NOR,
important to take into account in pass
ing reaffirming resolution of conf
dence and support. Word received
yesterday by cable from Washington
to the effect that Mr.. Woodruff was
still in the race for the judgeship and
that his name was still being consider
ed by the President and Senate, over
shadowed in importance whatever Mr.
Rath had to say concerning the private
life of Mr.. Robertson, and it was on
this phase of the question that the
members debated.
w. A. Kinney, president of the asso
citation, stated that in his opinion the
| Rath charges were only small part
of the covert attack being made to dis
| credit Robertson and bring about the
appointment of Woodruff. Mr.
Robertson is being knitted in the house
/ VI MS shlu MI. hl0npY, i'll
the course of remarks made from the
chair, who also added that he would
like to know who was back in the dark
conducting the anti-Robertson cam
paign.
AS a result of the meeting, resolu.
ton reaffirming the confidence of the
association in Mr.. Robertson and urg.
ing his appointment was passed. The
resolution, as above, was couched in
language stronger than the one origi.
nally passed, this time making it plain
| that the Honolulu Bar desires the ap.
pointment of Robertson irrespective of
whether Woodruff is in the race or not.
The "Home Rule" policy regarding
Hawaiian appointments was reaffirmed
at the meeting, and there was a good
deal of straight talk on this subject.
What is the use of us qualifying
our resolution by employing words that
imply that Woodruff is our first choice
and Robertson the second?n asked
Frank Thompson, after the members
had struggled with phrases for their
resolution in order to make it EN-.
phatic but at the same time not appear
to be in active opposition to the Presi.
dents choice. "Why intimate that
we want Woodruff We don't want
Woodruff; we want Robertson.u
A. +. Judd declined to vote for the
resolution, stating that he was in favor
OF Woodruff, although resenting very
strongly the charges brought against
Robertson. Lyle Dickey also declined
to vote, giving no reasons. Opposition
to Robertson also came in a letter from
c. Fl, Dickey, who stated that he OBJ.
jected to him on the grounds of the
charges made and on the further
grounds that Robertson did not have a
Judicial temperament, being man who
would allow his personal and political
preJudices to influence his judgements
In support of the resolution were At.
torneys Kinney, Thayer, Rawlins
Peters, Peterson, Greenwell, Lightfoot
prosser, Ballou, Clemons, Thompson
Watson, Olson, Breckons, Lewis, Ander
son, Douthitt, Warren, Carter, Parke
and Lindsay.
Woodruff Still in the Field.
When Mr.. Kinney called the meeting
to order, at four o'clock, there were
present Mr., Robertson, Mr.. Rath and
twenty-three members. The chairman
explained why he had called the meet
ing, having learned of the charges for
warded to Washington against Mr.
Robertson and having asked Mr.. Ratt
to meet the members and Mr.. Robert
son and state what his objections tc
the latter might be.
Mr.. Judd, before Mr.. Rath was saIled
| upon, stated that he had received in
formation of Importance in regard tc
the appointment, inasmuch as the reso
lution in favor of the appointment OF
Mr.. Robertson had been promised Oh
the information that the name of Mr.
Woodruff had been withdrawn from
consideration by the Senate. His in
formation, received by cable, was that
Mr. Woodruff had not withdrawn anC
would not.
Ihis information did not come al
together as a surprise, inasmuch as Mr.
kinney had also received word to tina
enect. He read copies of all the cables
that have passed in connection will
the Judgeship between Kuhio and Nc
Clellan, the first one being that Wood
ruff had withdrawn and that the Ha
walian candidate might be appointed
and the last one stating that he ha,
no knowledge of anything that woul,
lead him to believe that Mr.. Woodruff
would withdraw. Kinney stated tina
the series of messages had opened hi
eyes and that he did not intend t.
shut them again. He stated as his be
lief that the Rath charges were onl
scouting party compared with tn
general Woodruff campaign. He state
that he considered Robertson was be
ing joekeyed out of the running by uu
seen hands and on that account desire
resolution passed that would be III
mistakable in its language
This was after Mr.. Rath had mad
his charges and Mr.. Robertson had rt
! Piled.
Rath's Charges.
Mr.. Rath stated his charges in cali
and clear language, prefacing his r,
marks by stating that he had presente
the charges at Washington solely a
a an individual, representing no rel giou
or political association or civic leagu
1 "I believe of all officials of the 90,
: ernment, Judge should be one who's
\ past and present are above question,
4 he said. 81 am person who believe
9 that a judge should be one who honol