New-York tribune., 1910-09-01
No Action Taken by Bar Associ-
alton at Chattanooga.
LAWYERS ARE SURPRISED
Woodrow Wilson Says Business
Conditions Have Created
New Type of Lawyer.

Chattanooga, Tenn. Aug s1-Lawyers
attending the meeting of the American Bar
Association here were astonished at the
publication of the report that sensational
charges had been preferred in the associa-
ton against Joseph II. Choate. of New
York. former Ambassador to Great Britain
Ale agree that the charges have been
made at least twice before in meetings of
the association. but most of the delegates
were unaware that they had been presented
at to-day's session.
George W. Chamlee of Tennessee on the
floor of the convention today announced
that he had a petition TO offer. President
Libbey replied that the petition would be
received. This petition which was received
without being read in the convention, con-
tanned the charges against Mr.. Choate, pre-
pared by James r. Watts, of New York
City.
The charges have not been presented to
the grievance committee, which has had no
meeting here. The only two members of the
committee present have heard nothing OF
the alleged charges. The members present
are Frederick Lehman, of St. Louis, and
George r. Peck. of Chicago
President Libhey was asked tonight for
q statement in regard to the matter. He
replied:
There is no reason for my discussing
this affair az there is no such question be
fore the association
Had the charges been referred TO the
grievance committee no action could be
taken within a year.
The charges allese that Mr.. Choate has
violated the confidence of his clients. James
R. Watts and wife, that he has violated
of Bar
Association has been guilty of divers and
many offences, in violation of good morals.
fair dealings and has brought dishonor ana
disgrace upon the American Bar Associa-
ton of the United States OF America"
They have to do with certain litigation
intrusted to Mr.. Choate and his associates
in the firm of Evarts, Choate & Beaman,
Of New York City. and in an associate
partnership with TreadWell Cleveland.
In a speech before the association to-
right Woodrow Wilson, of Princeton Uni
versity, said in part:
I wish to sa, a good deal about our pres
ent struggle for law. society is looking
Itself over in our day from top TO bottom,
is making fresh and critical analysis OF us
very elements IN Questioning It's oidesi
practices as freely as its newest, scruu-
nizing every arrangement and motive OF
it's lire and stands ready attempt moth
ing less tnau d radical reconsuucuon,
hiCh only frank and honest counSelS ana
the forces Of generous cooperation can
hold back from becoming a revolution
Constitutional lawyers have fallen into
| the background. Ne have relocated them
to the Supreme Court, without asking our
selves where are to iInd tnen WheH
vacancies occur in that great tribunal 4
new type of lawyer has been created ana
that new type has come to be the prevail
inc tyue LAWYERS have been sucked into
| the maelstrom OF the new business system
| of the country. .,,.:s
| i,als do wrong the individuals who direct
and use them for selfish and iliegitimate
| purposes, to the injury OF society ana the
serious curtaiment of private rights
| repsrd the corporation as Indispensable to
| modern business enterprise. am not
| Jealous of its size or might, If you Will
| hut be ndon at the right points the fatli-
ous antiquated and quite unnecessary nc
| tien which treats 1t as legal person
In respect of the responsibility Winch the
| law irnpoSeS in order to protect society
| itself In order to protect men ana COM
nunities against wrongs which are not
breaches Of contract but offences agalnSt
| The nuhIic interest the common welfare, it
| Is i,nperative that should regard cor
| porations merely groups OF ind1Vlduals,
! from which 1t may, perhaps. be harder 10
| pick out particular persons Tor pullsh- ,e
| nent than il is to pick them out OF the
general body OF unassoclateo men, oue ~
| from which 1t Is nevertheless possible 70
| Iic. them out-possible not only, but ab-
| so,utelv necessary If business is ever again
| 70 be moraliZed.
The Bar Association to-day adopted the
report Of the committee on uniform state
laws. approved the draft OF the transfer OF
..oo,, ac+ adopted the bill of ladins act and
-ooo,pu,ended these acts to the various
.ta+es for enactment into laws. The report
=. tho committee on commercial law was
| ~.oe,ved and its various recommendations
| we're concurred in.
| c+ockbridge Mass, Aug. 3l-Joseph IL
Cboe+a declined to-day to comment on
t,a charges preferred against him by James
p Watts before the American Bar Asso-
citation meeting,
.I have nothing to say" said Mr. Choate
| ure, the report OF Mr.. Watts's action was
| r.ad TO him. II shall have nothing to say
either until I hear from the American Ear
%