The Washington times., 1912-08-28
BAR ASSOCIATION
TRIES TO PREVENT
RACE DISCUSSION
Members May Insist on De-
batting Colored Question on
Floor of Convention.

est of the delegates of the American
Bar Association convention here today
centered In the report of a special COM
mittee. which denounced the recall Of
judges. The report which was pre-
sented in today's session urged that
the recall was dangerous, objectiona BILE
and subversive Of good government"
Predictions of the leaders were that
the report would be adopted and the
committee continued to do missionary
work among the recall advocates.
Strenuous efforts were peing made to-
day to prevent the discussion of the
question of colored members of the
association. Attorney General Wicker
sham said that the resolution adopted
yesterday presumed that the three col
ored attorneys over whose membership
the fight was started. were actually
members. although the executive COM
mlttee declared in report that they
It was likely today that some of the
members. who were displeased with the
steam roller methods employed in put
Dickinson. former Secretary of War,
would insist upon springing the ques-
tion on the convention rioor.
The prediction was freely expressed
that a full discussion OF the question
would cause friction that would require
years to heal
Kellogg's Address.
Frank B. Kellogg, the trust busting"
attorney, who is being doomed for pres
idency of the Bar Association, deliv-
cred the principle speech of the day.
In part, he said:
The first problem before the coun-
try Is the widespread demand for the
individual, direct participation in the
affairs of Government. This is evil
denced by the primary law, by the pro-
posed constitutional amendment to
elect United States Senator'S by direct
vote Of the people, by the initiative,
the referendum, and the recall. / do
not believe that these institutions are
a. complete remedy for all the ills
that human depravity infi1cts upon a
people, or for all the wrongs in Gov
eminent or in our industrial and COM
mercial conditions; nor on the other
hand, do believe them to be the mere
Impractical theories of socialists and
dreamers.
The Australian ballot, the primary
law. the initiative, the referendum. the
provision looking to the election Of Sem
ators by the people, and the recall are
doubtless partly the result of abuses in
Government, national, State, and muni-
cipal, and partly the natural growth
and desire Of the individual to parti-
clpate more IN public affairs as the re-
SUIT or wider and more liberal edu-
cation.
The direct vote in the primary is an
evidence Of this growth. It has perhaps
not met all the high expectations of its
much more good than harm. It has
remedied some Of the evils Of corrupt
politics and removed some of the abuses
OF conventions and caucuses, but its
Ghlet value Is as means Of education.
II brings the Government nearer to the
people
Initiative and Referendum.
The initiative and the referendum
are a part of the same general move
ment, In some respects of much less
wisdom. The referendum, of course. Is
the means by which We have always
amended our constitutions Under GER
tain circumstances. I can see no objec-
ton to the people initiating these
amendments, If surrounded by reason
able safeguards. so as to prevent sud
den and unwise changes in the funda-
mental law Of the State.
But the initiative and referendum.
as the ordinary means of LEGISLATION.
involve fundamental change in our
system of government, one that should
not be lightly adopted In a great coun-
try like ours the adoption Of all laws BY
this system would be cumbersome and
impracticable.
There may be circumstances where
the recall of officials may be applied
with advantage to the common wealth
but where we have short elective terri.
It Is ny opinion that the wiser pro,
vision Is for removal of an officer FOL
misconduct In office only after an op
portunity to be heard. In any event
care should be taken not to apply tn,
recall to the judiciary, for It would bt
destructive of the Independence OF tha
branch Of the government
Workmen's Compensation.
"On account of our dual system o.
government and constitutional restric
tions, 1t was more difficult to provid,
Tor workmen's compensation than II
some foreign countries. Various of tn,
states however, have secured work
mems compensation acts, and thes,
laws have been sustained in very abl,
decisions by the majority of the courts
where the questions have been raised.
This system has. been tried in Older
countries and found of great value tc
both the employer and the employe
Nothing tends SO much to degenerate
people as poverty, disease. and hope
less labor. This legislation holds out t
the workman the light of hope ant
tends to raise him in the scale of hu
manity.
"Other legislation should follow, regu
lating hours and conditions of labo
especially as applied to women). regu
lating child labor, improving the sani
tary conditions of the industrial centers
and encouraging a higher standard O
industrial education.
Needed Control of Wealth.
Another problem, which is probabI.
today attracting more attention thai
any other. is that OF control of tn
forces of wealth. Wealth always ha
been and always will be one of tn
greatest powers known. and its abus
one of the greatest evils. The innova
tion of the corporation to amass capita
is a thing OF modern times. individuals
taking advantage of the liberal incorpo
ration laws of the various States, or
Fanized great corporations and then com
bined these corporations into aggrega
tions, which. in the end, by reason o
their very size, had the power to con