The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-10-12
AT THE HOTELS.

AT THE HOTELS.
III the President of the United States.
as such, makes a mistake 1t would be
the height Of imprudenee 70 make public
admission of the faux pas" said Fred
S. Lewis. a lawyer OF New York. who
was seen at the New Willard last night.
The President Of the United States.
as such. is infalnble in his Official acts
and opinions, the same as the United
States Supreme Court. and the same as
the kings OF Europe and the Pope or
Rome. II is a well-established principle
among all nations that the head OF the
nation cannot commit an error. To ad-
nit the commission OF an error would
at once lower the prestige OF any nation.
II would be most dangerous precedent.
ana would lay bare TO criticism every
single act and deed committed by the
head OF the state who would admit that
In the past he had committed mistakes
Speaking of Rooseveits Ananias Club.
Mr.. Lewis said that if the strenuous T.
r. as President Of the United states,
swelled the membership OF that organi-
zation, he should not be condemned for
it, because the majority OF those he i'm
pressed into the club belonged there.
'SuppOsing President Roosevelt had
pursued a different course" he said. land
had admitted that he himself was in
error, what effect would this have had
on foreign nations? They would have
jumped at the opportunity and claimed
that If the President Of the United States
makes mistakes In one thing he is
liable to make them in everything The
consequence would be a most serious one.
II would mean the loss OF respect, that
Instead Of occupying a position in the
front rank Of the nations OF the world.
the United States would be RELOCATED 70
those weak kneed nations which cannot
back up their own opinions and state
ments
And yet there are some dlsgruntled,
unpatriotic, and unthinking people who
viii blame Roosevelt. the President. for
doing his best TO uphold the dignity Of
the. United States abroad and at home.
II these soreheads, chronic fault-hnders.
would only consider for one moment what
they are growing about they would
soon cease arguing and would applaud
the course Roosevelt took. The strength
Of q case In court lies in its posi-iveness.
and the same applies and holds good
with nations. There must be we'll
marked line Of procedure; there cannot
be an uncertain and validating policy.
Il must be clean and clear cut"
George II Phillips. Of Philadelphia.
who Is here searching the Congressional
Library for ancestors and pedigrees. said
last night ar the Raleigh: 1T never PAYS
any one 10 be stuck up about his social
position, because nobody. no matter how
exalted a sphere he may occupy in the
world, can be sure that he does not come
from very humble ancestors. And the an
cestors OF some very great folk have been
humble indeed. l heard to-day, for in
stance, that a Well-dressed woman OF i'm
poTtaut presence sailed into the Office
of a New Jersey county clerk few days
ago and asked 20 examine some records
10 verify her family tree. She had heard
that one OF her ancestors had some deal
ings with the court Of that county at an
early date. and il was 10 ascertain his
status that she made the request. The
record was produced. and il was dis
closed that the gentleman had been
hanged for piracy.
Many a good man has been hanged
continued Mr. Phillips, and some poet
declared that the scanold is a regular
truth resort. The proudest houses in Eu-
ope take most pride in those OF their
line who were executed for treason, q
higher crime than piracy.
Democrats, piebeians. that We are, the
chief use we have for our fine library on
Capitol Hill is 70 run down our ances-
try TO discover If we have blue blood in
our veins. How we would jump with joy
10 trace ourselves 10 Nell GWyun, The
orange girl. or something worse. Il coats
of-arms grew on trees in this free and
plebeian land, the demand for them is
great enough TO run them up beyond the
purse Of the average prosperous citizen.
The most democratic Of Us would be
too proud 20 work II he found himself the
direct lineal descendant and heir-at-law
OF some robber man-at-arms who fought
for the Conqueror at Hastings II Is an
instinct; IL Is constitutional, and il is
I
. sorry that Jersey lady did not descend
from Capt. Kidd. That would have been
different"
Or. Heymann, KammergeriChtsrefer
dar, or attache, OF the German Supreme
Court, who was here in attendance on
the Prison Congress, and was seen at
Gerstenbergs last night. said that the
decisions Of the German Supreme Court
are not regarded as infallible, and may
be criticised by either layman or jurist.
1t is often the case thar a Judge OF a
lower court in Germany expresses his
belief that the decision OF the Supreme
Court on a certain case is wrong. No
one would think OF finding fault with
or crIticising the person who dared 10
give expression to such views. IN Ger
many the courts are supposed TO give
their decisions by law and not by
precedent. II matters nothing how the
Supreme Court may have rendered de-
cision on a case; should a similar case
occur. the judge Of the first instance may
with all propriety. II the case warrants
it in his view, render a decision which
is in direct opposition 20 the decision
rendered by the Supreme Court. In this
manner" continu Mr. Heymann. sim
liar cases are brought before the Su-
preme Court for trial whenever the Oc-
casion requires, and the law involved IS
certain TO receive a most thorough study
and explanation. This insures the males
~ OF the law as Il is written, and does
not put precedent above law.
"One Of the best known text books used
at universities I'D law schools, whose
author is Or. Lszt, says at various
places that the author disagrees with
certain decisions OF the Supreme Court