The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1917-09-08
MUST WIN THE WAR.
SECURITY WILL BE UNKNOWN
If PRUSSIANISM SURVIVES.
Talk OF Peace With an UntlcfcatcI
Germany Can Not be Considered
Seriously, Declares Root.

Saratogu. n. Y, Sept. 3.-Thc CRY
oe alarm" for q single prosecution of
the war was sounded in an address
delivered today by Elihu Root before
the Conference of the Bar Association
Delegates, an organization affiliated
with the American Bar Association
He urged that each member of the
bar exert every influence and every
power he possibly possesses over his
clients. friends and associates in his
community in that direction.
1T has been perfectly evident" he
said, that this is a conflict between
two opposite and inevitably opposed
systems Of governments. of policy, OF
politics, Of human society. 1t has be-
come perfectly evident that the wal
was brought on with a purpose 70
establish military autocracy 1t has
become perfectly evident that more
than generation of careful prepara-
ton had been made for this very
thing and that the democracies of the
world. rejoicing in peace and pros
perity. in political freedom and in in
dividual liberty. were in great meas
ure and in tly differing degree un-
prepared to .heet thi~ attack upon
them.
Slowly they have gathered to the
support Of the principle of their lives.
the principles upon which they live
against the adverse attack on this
principle. the domination of which
means the death of democracy and the
everlasting destruction of the SYSTEM
of individual liberty of which we are
the high priests of the bar.
80 long as there exists a great and
powerful military autocracy which has
the purpose to secure domination by
military force, so long as republics,
democracies, countries which preserve
individual freedom and individual
rights, countries which subordinate
government to freedom, must be at
the mercy Of autocracy. AS we'll go
to sleep with a burglar sitting i'm
your front hall as to talk about the
peace and security OF a democracy
with Germany still competent to pur-
sue it's career Of domination.
1--WE are in the fight and the stake
for which we fight is liberty and our
bar stands at the door through which
oppression would enter. 1t is not SO
easy for the farmer to see there will
be a difference in his crops, or in the
sale Of them; for the manufacturer
to see that anyone will stop wearing
clothes or shoes, or using machinery.
but it is easy for us to see that with
the domination Of that military sys-
tenn that subordinates the law. that
makes the bar but cog to an ad-
system of government
and leaves to the bench no independ-
ence-it is easy for the lawyer to see
hat everything he has contended for |
Of individual liberty and the suprem-
ICY Of the law over executive power
will be attacked and destroyed if we
10 not succeed in this war"
Mr.. Root spoke after he had been
elected chairman Of the conference
He was interrupted by applause many
lines during the address The dele
gates indorsed a plan which pledges
he lawyers to give legal aid to those
the federal or State service
md the local exemption boards; tC
the practice Of lawers en-
ering the service; to cooperate in re-
ief work. including gratitous assist
nee in probating the estates of those
Who have died while in the service
nd assisting the federal and state
uthOrties in all questions i'm cOnnec-
ion Of the war.