The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1911-02-10
JUDGES FROM BETA THETA pI
TWO FROM T.. =. SUPREME COrRT
At THE ANNUAL DINNER.
And Two More Arc Members. but Could
Not Comc-Lots Of lesser Lights Of
tho Bcnch-I.urton and Van dc, ,antcr
speak k--l:rosscip Talks Of LOrinicr

SDe0k -OTOSSCuU bh'NS w sVT'H'V'
Justices Horace II. Lurton and Willis
Van Devnnter of the Supreme Court OF
the United States delivered opinions on
the fraternal glories OF Beta Theta Pi
last night from the chief table at the Beta
Theta Pi Club of New York's banquet at
the Waldorf. The dinner had been planned
to show the fraternity's hold on the bench.
and Justices Harlan and Lamar, both
Betas. were to have been present.
Among the others who concurred in
the opinions handed down by Justices
Lurton and Van Devanter were Justice
Robert F. Sutherland Of the High Court
of Ontario. Toronto. 80; Judge Peter 3.
Grosscup of the United States Circuit
Court, Wittenberg. rs: Justice Charles
c. Van Kirk of the Supreme Court OF
New York, Colgate, "a; Justice Edgar
5. X. Merrill of the Supreme Court OF
New York. a st. Lawrence Beta OF 81;
Attorney General Carmody and ex-Gov-
ernor Andrew jackson Montague OF
Virginia, a Richmond Beta OF 80.
There were 9JO Betas from sixty col
leges there to cheer for everybody and
everything. but the Supreme Court OF
the United States got the greatest ap-
plause.
The favorte slogan was. whats the
matter with the Judges?" and the Judges
were promptly led to believe that they
were all all right
Dwight W. Morrow Of Amherst intro
duced Justice" Lurton and there was
another long Beta cheer.
Justice L,irton. addressing the younger
men-gray hairs we're largely confined to
the dais brothers of Wooglin." said
that IL was good thing to come to New
York under any circumstances. but that
he recalled the letter written by n man
who like himself hailed from Tennessee.
Writing from New York the man from
Tennessee told his brother back in the
South what a mighty fine place the big
town was and concluded: But. oh, brother,
| do so regret that didn't come to New
York before | got religion"
Justice Lurton sa id that he thanked
the fraternity not only in his own name
but in the names of "all four members of
the fraternity who sit on the Supreme
Bench Of the United States" When ne
could make himself heard through the
cheers Justice Lurton continued. There
don't begrudge the other seats to other
Greeks and the barbarians He added
that while the President is not Beta
that fellowship was about the only good
thing that had not come his way
Justice Lurton declared that he had
never been able TO understand the oppo-
sition to fraternities which had mani
tested itself in soma colleges He said
that he was certain that the underlying
motives in the fraternities were all good
and that tha general results of fraternity
life were uplifting. He told how his
chapter at Cumberland was discontinued
when the coming of the civil war broke
ny the college"
when the cole sc reopencd in 1886
he continued. ",he chapter started in
again. There were fourteen initiates. all
o. them young men just out of the war,
and of th's" two had worn the blue ard
the res; 'h" gray. This was. | believe.
the earliest instance OF fraternal reurion.
If man was "a good fellow and gentle
man and likely to take honors in his
studies we didn't ask what flag he fought
under or what were hs political views"
The Justice went on to describe fra
ternity life in his day. Once month.
he said. the chapter sat down TO a bottle
cheese. Then over our pipes. for we
could not afford cigars. We determined
how the world should wag if We had the
waggng Of il"
Justice Lurton dwelt lovingly on his
college days and said that he sometimes
felt bitterly that his youth was long since
dead. He brought the other Betas TO
their feet by adding that after joining
with them no now fnlt that the best Of
my youth still survives in the company
Of Woogln."
Justice Van Devan,er called on for
"a concurrlng opinion" told of meeting
Boston Eillv in a cabin in the Wyoming
mnUn;ains and Of how after Boston Billy
had prove! in many ways that he was OF
gentle breeding Justice Van Dcvanter
lad learned that he was n Beta Boston
Billy. IT seemed. had gone west TO get
away from the effects of being too good
a fellow and after Winning his fight had
become a large ranch owner. Hc was"
said the Justice, the most cordial and
the best hearted Of all the Betas have
met"
Letters of regret from Justices Harlan
and Lamar were read before Justice Suth-
erland got up TO speak Of the debt that
We. the United States and Canada. owe
10 the mother land" lie described the
fraternity Of the Anglo-Saxon and it's
results IN nation building
judge Grosscup left fTaternal matters
for moment to say a word about the
case of Senator Lorimer. He praised
the State of Illinois. saying that Lincoln
and Grant were not "accidents in ILL
nois," because they came from people
who always put solid success above dis
play. He continued:
II Is this thing you are now calling the
disgrace OF Illinois that is the accident
in that State. bruise upon her brow. But
a bruise 10 not a disc ease. II Is not the
Illinois of the noble past that shows in that
bruise. not the real Illinois Of the equally
noble present. Bruises are external This
one was inhicte by those appointed our
guardian. No true son OF Illinois believes
it will not quickly disappear. II is already
even as the eyes OF our Com
monwealth begin to settle in recogniti on
upon those who inflicted the wound.
And when the guilty are separated from
the innocent and releRated TO the place
they have made for themselves, and. what
IL equally important. the innocent are
separated from the guilty. the bruise will
he gone. not leaving scar. If New York
ers will take care of New York. Ilinoisans
will take care of Illinois.
Justice Ven Kirk also turned from tho
contemplation Of fraternal blessings to
say a word on politics. He spoke Of the F,
initiative and referendum and said that
he believed il these measures were adopted
mo public officer would be able to act
freely" Popular election of Senators he