Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-10-20
Ex-President Pledges Sup
port of the American
Bar Association.
HIS INTENTION SOUND
We Must Hold Our Tongues to
Be Useful to Mankind, Says
the Former Executive.

Washington. Oct 2O.-With an ad-
dress of welcome by President Viii
son, with former President Taft in
the chair and with the entire supreme
court sitting as guests the American
Bar association began its annual ses-
sion here today. Introducing Presi-
dent Wilson, Judge Taft pledged the
associations confidence in the presi-
dents intention and ability 10 guide
the ship OF state througbthe European
crisis. Wilson replied that his
strength lay in the confidence of the
people. He pleaded for the humaniz-
ing of the law. both national and mu-
nicipal, and raised a big laugh when
he referred to himself as a Lawyer
who has reformed"
The United States should draw
from the European war a lesson re-
garding its own conduct said eX
President Taft in his address. In dis
cussing the charges of violation of
treaties by European nations, Mr.. Taft
said that this country should put itself
in such a position that it could fulfill.
TO the letter the obligations imposed
by its treaties. and he recommended
legislation to that end.
In his address. delivered as presi-
dent of the American Bar association.
Mr.. Taft also said that the progressive
party was departing from the prepos-
ferrous nostrum" of the recall of judi
ciaI decisions because it apparently
had become burden to the party.
In speaking OF the European war,
Mr. Taft said that President Wilson
should have the warmest approval and
sincerest cooperation in his efforts to
maintain the strict neutrality of this
country.
Should Hold Leverage.
I'VE are the principal nation. he
continued, land l might say almost the
only nation of the Christian world not
so related to the struggle that both
sides may really regard us as disinter-
ested friends. 1t is our highest duty,
and the president makes plain his APP
probation of this, not to sacrifice and
destroy this great leverage for sue
cessfui mediation, when the opportu-
nifty arises, by ill-advised and prema-
ture judgments upon the merits. We
must hold our tongues to be useful to
mankind"
Concerning this country's obliga-
tions under its treaties Mr.. Taft said:
And now that We are discussing
compliance with treaties and the eff
feet of treaties of arbitration and of
peace upon the chances of war, is it
not a good time for us to clean our
own house and TO put ourselves in a
position where we can fulfill to the
h.nT#
into? We have made many treaties
OF friendship and peace-inded. treat
les with all the world-in which we
have assured TO aliens, subjects or cit
izens of the other party TO the treaty
resident within our borders, due pro-
cess of law in protection of life, lib
ertv and property. But We now with
hold. however. from the same author
ity that makes the treaty the power
TO fulfill its obligations.
Wants Power in President.
"a statute OF a dozen lines would
nut IL into the power Of the president
TO institute judicial proceedings. civil
and criminal. in courts of the United
States TO punish a violation of the
treaty rights OF aliens and enable him
10 use the civil and military executive
arm of the government to protect
against their threatened invasion. In
our past experience we realize that
mob violence committed through race
prejudice against aliens will never be
punished by state authority, and there
is nothing that a high-strung people
and il is peoples now who largely con-
troll the matter OF war and peace-re-
sent so much as the mistreatment OF
their fellow countTymen living under
the flag OF foreign government that
has stipulated and pledged its honor
TO give them protection.
The speaker denied that the grant
ing TO the president of such powers as
he outlined would be unconstitutional.
Mr. TAFT said there were indications
that there had been distinct falling
on in support of the proposals for re-
all Of judges and Of judicial decisions l