The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-10-14

william ID. Guthrie, chairman OF the
grievance committee OF the Bar Assoca~
ton and a leading member Of the Union
League Club made a speech last night
attacking the fitness OF James W. Gerard
for the ONCE OF United States Senator
The occasion was the opening OF the cam
paIgn Of the Republican candidates Tor
State Offices at a reception by the MEM
bers Of the Union League Club.
Mr.. Guthrie's attack on Judge Gerard
overshadowed the speeches made py
United States Senator Elihu Root, Charles
S. whitman, the Republican candidate Tor
Governor, and James w. wadsworth, Jr.
candidate for the United States Senate
Mr.. Guthrie referred to Mr.. Gerard as
servant OF Tammany, Tammany pas-
man who was unft to represent New
York in the Senate.
THE paramount duty OF national citi-
zenship." said Mr.. Guthrie. launching into
his attack on Mr.. Gerard, rs to elect
Speaker wadsworth as United states
Senator. He has shown himself qualihed
in every way for the office. His opponent
Judge Gerard, ought not to be accepted
as a Mt representative OF our state as
the successor to Senator Root Judge
GSard's career has shown him to De
lacking in learning. impartiality and dig
nifty as Judge and to have been sub
servient TO Tammany Hall. Early in his
professional career he Joined Tammany
Hall, serving for four years as chairman
OF It's campaign committee, known as one
OF its bagmen. He himself Is known to De
thoroughly in sympathy with Tammany
methods He was nominated for Justice
OF the Supreme Court in 1907, not because
OF any great fitness or distinction as
lawyer but because of his political ser
vices and contributions to Tammany Hail.
Charges Abuses on Bench.
while on the bench" continued Guth-
rie, who was reading his speech, he scan
daously used the patronage OF his ONCE
for the benefit OF Tammany politicians.
and few Judges have ever had such
humiliating record OF reversals by the
Appellate Division. AS concrete Illus
/ ration OF this abuse OF power for the
benefit of politicians let me refer to some
OF hts appointments"
Mr. Guthrie then explained that each
Justice had the right to appoint special
clerk as a law secretary and also four at
PENDANTS The salary Of the clerk formerly
was $4,000 and that OF the attendants
$1,000
| But a few years ago" continued Mr.
! Guthrie, '"rammany Hall secured control
/ of the State government Laws were
/ passed permitting the salaries OF those
! clerks to he increased TO $4,000 and $4,000
! Of the attendants to $500, and these at
! tendants were nothing more than mes
, sengers."
Mr.. Guthrie explained that the theory
! OF the law was that the law secretary
should really bo competent lawyer
Judge Gerard. however said Guthrie
from the beginning OF his judicial career
Instead of appointing competent lawyer
/ -4 % ,h.atx
of the leader OF Tammany Han youne
! man who was not a lawyer, who had very
limited intelligence and who never per
formed any duties except OF a menia
character, such as running errands and
carrying papers or bundles for the Judge
Whatever services this man rendered were
not worth 20 exceed nifty or sixty dollars a
month. yet he was permitted by Justice
Gerard to draw from the public treasury
$500 per annum
Judge Gerards four attendants. his
appointments OF them. were OF the same
political character. His personal attend
ant or body servant was a Tammany poll
tician who received $500 a year. The
record shows that this attendant was APP
pointed as receiver by Judge Gerard II
not less than elghty-tour Instances. In
deed, an investigation OF many OF Judg,
Gerard's appointments will readily dis
close in what n scandllous way he abused
the power and discretion OF his high ju
diclal office In order TO further the inter
ests of Tammany politicians at the ex
pense OF private litigants and OF the Stat
of New York.
sees subserviency to Hearst.
These judicial acts showed complete
subservency not only TO Tammany Hal
but to Hearst, For ne early cultivated
the two factions OF the Democratic part!
in this State, and therefore is now equal!