New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-05-05
PEOPLE RULE, SAYS DEPEW
Guest at Montauk Clubs Birth.
day Dinner Discusses Unrest.
OPPOSES RECALL OF JUDGES
Ex-senator Declares Real Trou.
BILE Is in Statesmen's Poor
Preparation of Laws.

Following custom OF twenty years ths
Montauk Club. OF Brooklyn. gave a dinner
last night for Ch8uncey NJ. Depew in colo
braton of the seventy-eighth anniversary
OF his birth. The genial story teller ana
humorist responded with an agility and
brilliancy that gave no hint that time had
claimed the least par, of his energy or
strength
Mr.. Depew spoke Of the present unrest,
compared the agitation Of this year with
those Of former periods of political strife,
and, declaring how much the country had
advanced In every respect during more
than a half century Of his active life he
said intelligent discussion by the people
would soon settle the problems that now
seemed to create the most serious unrest
His first words were. Of course. an ex-
preston Of how he appreciated the honor
OF that birthday dinner given In his honor
by the Montauk Club for twentyone suc-
cessive years. There was nothing IN the
way Of a friendly greeting from a large
body Of men that might compare with II.
Mr.. Depew said. The former Senator then
touched lightly upon the pessimistic view
taken by some Of the present conditions,
and said:
There is unrest in the world, IT is true.
II Is more acute than ever before. 1t Is I'm
all countries. Ii has come from the in
crease In education and the enlargement
or world view to the individual every
where, but, with the exception OF the in
fnitesimally small number OF anarchistc
leaders. IL Is an honest, earnest and whole
some striving for better conditions, and, In
tho end for more harmonious relations be-
tween all classes and conditions or the
community.
have ceased to be frightened or greatly
disturbed over tumultuous popular uprisings
which seem TO threaten the very founda-
lions. The Ark OF the Covenant may rock
on rough roads. or with incompetent guides
or the efforts of impious hands to see what
would follow the destruction Of faith, and
yet after proper efforts after the lazy have
been energzed, after the atmosphere has
been cleared by the heat OF debate. the so
cal and political fabric is not rebuilt but
improved and remains stable for another
long period.
Drawing from his actual experience Mr..
Depew then took up the issues that agitated
the country in the terms of Presidents Iiar-
rison, Cleveland and Mckinley. Giving the
highest praise to each Of those Presidents
Mr.. Depew told stories Of his personal con-
tact with them. and amused his audience
with "reminiscences Of happenings In the
Presidential campaigns in which he played
an important part
Returning TO the problems Of the day.
Mr.. Depew said
With the exception OF the war for the
preservation of the Union. all our perils
under the Constitution have been averted
by discussion and debate busy people.
engrossed I'm their various occupations,
have little time to study serious questions
OF government The ability TO transact the
affairs of the people, the same as the az
fairs nf a COrpOrd tlOn firm. Il o.
operative society, or a charitable or re-
ligious organization or labor union does
not depend upon superior intelligence out
upon experience and the time which can
be taken from ones other pursuits to serve
a large constituency.
So representative government became es-
| tablished by the selection By busy people
of competent men TO do this special and
most needful work.
At present, however there Is A new agi-
! taton which has much force and Is pro-
| crossing rapidly and Is exciting IN many
minds the greatest alarm. We are better
| educated than ever before and that has
created our unrest NJ the same time our
minds are open To q quicker Apprehension
! OF the right and wrong or all propositions
: by more education.
/ have not time here. nor have You. 10
! enter upon this discussion, except To briefly
state few self-evident facts: The appeal
made by their projectors To the people FOR
these new policies is that the people 81" NOT
| have their share I'm their own goNernW,, pa.
AS ours Is absolutely government nv ul'
people with frequent elections 10 test me
capacity and ability Of the officials whom
they have elected. It is hard 10 see no"
the people do not have their share IN the
government
Mr. Dcpcw then strongly spoke against
recall Of judges and particularly judicial de-
| ciSions He said the trouble lay with the
statesmen who drew laws. particularly
some Of the laws affecting labor unions
when these statutes were found unconSu-
| tutional The Senator or Congressman pro-
posing n bill was lOath To accept any
amendments. and then the highest court
| would find itself compelled 10 declare tno
cause IL was poorly prepared.