New-York tribune., 1912-03-18
|R|SH-AMER|CANS DINE
Justice Gerard Praises Them for
Sticking to Friends.
TELLS OF THEIR SUCCESS
Says This Country Should Be
Grateful to England for Send
ing Many Good Men Here.

Levity ran rife at the st. Patrick's Day
dinner Of Ireland's American Friends In the
north ballroom of the Hotel Astor last
night, SO much so that several speakers
touching on serious topics had difficulty in
maintaining their themes against cheers
and cries OF Hear, hear" Frank w.
Smith, president of the society. stood the
iollity through two speeches, until 1t came
time for him 10 voice a serious thought OF
his own. He felt impelled then to threaten
TO have elected one diner who could not be
brought to see the gravity Of the occasion.
II was in introducing Justice James w.
Gerard that Mr.. Smith begged his audi
ence 20 depart for a moment from the tone
OF frivolity.
I'VE Irish-Americans," he said, are
with the judges-right or wrong were with
them. There have been educated dena-
goeues going up and down this country
calling for the initiative, referendum ana
recall IL there Is one thing the irish love
Il is law and order. When members OF our
own race have gone against la" anu o'ue'
we have been against them.
Justice Gerard, speaking OF the lrish de
LAWYERS. said their success at the oar' aS
I'm all other branches Of life, had oeen que
10 their trait OF sticking by their triehuS
and never kicking down the ladder which
had helped them rise.
"you are all advocates at the par TO-
night" he observed. because you are al
advocates for the justice which Ehsiahu'
arra,sned at the bar OF nations for so many
vears has al last given In tardy measure
There are few good things whlch can
como from iniustIce. but this country III
Iaast has reason to be grateful to Englaho
Cor har long years OF injustice when nave
sent so many good lrishmen 10 '"'''
shores" .no
Rabbi Samuel Schulman was down on the
programme for a talk on things thaI seP"
rate and those that unite men. In lhuo-
ducing him Mr. Smith remarked that ne
could NOT refrain from letting his nina
dwell on the first part OF the topic ne
had always found il TO be members OF t"e
rabbps race. he said, that separated things
from him.
81 do not believe" said Rabbi schulman'
with a smile that there Is one OF my race
who could separate anything from MI
Smith. Ny talk will be short" he added
UlanCiDR AT the programme '''S'N
Gerard's topic followed his, for would
not keep the Irish from the bar for any
length of time for worlds
Turning TO his main theme, he declared
that the ideal Of humanity was TO reaiZe
unity among the wealth OF its differences
II was separated, he said, by race, oy
culture. by religions. 1t was united oy
sympathy, by conscience, by religion. Inc
ideal, he pointed out, was not 10 orins
every one down TO a common level out 10
SO adjust the differences In indiWduallty
that each man and each class would under
stand and make allowances for the pecuh-
arties OF others.
Other speakers were Arthur J. W. HliIy
Justice Israel f. Russell and the Rev. John
I Wynne. The guests included James T.
Dillon. fourth Deputy Police Commission
or, state Senator James A. Foley, County
clerk william f. Schneider and Justices
rossph NJ. Deuel., willard II; Olmstedi
lanes +. O'Keefe. Arthur c. Salmon ana
Robert J. Wllkin.