South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-09-04
URGES LAWYERS To
WAKE Up NATION
EIlhu Root Declares All Must
Exert Influence to the
Utmost.

SARATOGA SPRINGS n. ".
Sept 4-Iawyers Of America were
urged 20 sound Gerry Of alarm
throughout the nation for "a success
ful prosecution of the war i'm an adj
dress delivered Monday by EHhu
Root before the conference of the
Har association delegates. an or
sanitation allied with the American
Bar association. lie urged that
every member of the bar exert
every influence and every power ne
possibly possesses over his clients.
friends and associates ia every COM
munity" IN that direction
III has become evident" he said.
that this is a conflict between two
opposed systems Of government. of
policy. Of politics. Of human society.
It has become perfectly evident that
our war was brought ON with "a pur-
pose 20 establish a military auto
cracy. u has become perfectly evil
dent that more than a generation
OF careful preparation had been
made for this very thing and that
the democracies of the world re-
Joicing ia peace and prosperity i'm
political freedom and i'm individual
liberty. we're in great measure and
I'm differing degree unprepared TO
meet this attack upon them.
Means Death of Democracy.
slowly they have gathered TO the
support Of the principle Of their
lives. the principle upon which they
live. AGAINST the adverse attack on
this principle. the domination OF
which means the death of de
mocracy and the everlasting de
struction OF the system of individual
liberty Of which we are the high
priests Of the bar
so long as there exists a great
and powerful military autocracy
which has the purpose 10 secure
domination boy military force. SO long
republics. democracies countries
which preserve individual freedom
and individual rights. countries
which subordinate government to
freedom. must bc at the mercy of
autocracy. AS well go TO sleep with
q burglar sitting i'm your front hall
as 10 talk about the peace and Sc
curity Of a democracy with Germany
still competent TO pursue it's career
of domination
Liberty is the Bar.
we are i'm the tight. and the
stake for which we fight is liberty.
and il is our bar which stands at
the door through which oppression
would enter II is not so easy for
the farmer TO see there viii be "a
difference I'M his crops. or i'm the sale
of them. for the manufacturer TO see
that any one will stop wearing
clothes or shoes or using machinery.
Tut il is easy for us 10 see that with
the domination Of that military sys-
tenn that subordinate the law. that
makes the bar but n cog TO an adj
miuistrative system of government.
uud leaves 90 the bench no independ-
cnce. it is easy for the lawyer 10 see
that everything ne had coutended
for of Individual liberty and the SUI
premaCy of the law over executive
power viii be attacked and destroy
cd if we do not succeed i'm this war. 90
Mr. Root spoke after he had been
elected chairman Of the conference.
He was interrupted by applause
many times during the address.
Pledge Legal Assistance.
The delegates endorsed plan for
giving war time legal assistance.
which pledges the lawyers to give
legal aid 90 those entering the fed
eral or state service and the local
exemption boards
Speaking at the dinner given i'm
his honor Monday night. Ambassa-
dor Bakmetien expressed confidence
that the Russian armies will CON
tiuuo To- neht
They have not been crushed. he
said "and are not goiug TO be
crushed The program is for "a
Strong democratic government and
strong army"
Elihu Root expressed confidence
iu the men behind the new Russian
government other speakers were
Gas,ou pe LeyaI of Belgium and
John w Davis OF Washington. ID
e.. solicitor general