New-York tribune., 1918-01-08
Earl Reading Rose to Fame
Without Making an Enemy
Successor to Spring-Rice, Born of an Obscure
Jewish Family Attained Present Prom
inence in British Affairs by His Own Efforts

was in fact Master of the Rolls-in-
deed one of the best we ever had. But
there was a strong prejudice as regards
the Chancellorship for "Rufus' partly
because Of the patronage which that
dignitary exercices in the Anglican
Established Episcopal Church. And it
SO happened that when Lord Loreburn
incident gave Lord Haldanc the
advantage over Lord Reading, and
after Lord Haldane came Lord Buck
master. Lord Reading had to be con-
tent as this first of his creed to be Lord
Chief Justice. However, it's an i'll wind
that blows nobody any good, and if
Lord Reading had achieved his ambi-
tons at that time he might have found
it difficult to come to Washington, for
lors ever leaving the United Kingdom.
The fear is that the Great Seal of
which they are the guardians might get
lost somewhere while they were away.
Hence the special commission appoint
cd to look after that precious metal
when Lord Haldanc paid this country
brief but pleasurable visit
Howl Was Monstrous
What was the incident to which l
refer? l would not mention it except
to make point which is infinitely cred
liable to Lord Reading. Some people
consider that Marconi wireless is Of
the devil, and that Godfrey Isaacs,
brother to Lord Reading is what the
Good Book calls the Prince of the Power
of the Air. | hold a different view.
Wireless is a noble invention which,
like other inventions, has had to pass
through speculative stages. Perhaps it
was indiscrect for Lord Reading to put
a few dollars into the business at that
early period of it's development, but the
howl made over it was monstrous and
savored of hypocrisy. And this is the
conclusion that | wish to draw. What
helped Sir Rufus lsaacs through was
his wonderful popularity among men of
his own legal profession who knew him
most intimately. Keen political oppo-
nents like Sir Edward Clarke stood by
him publicly. And why? Because they
knew that in all essentials he played q
straight game. He would never try to
deceive court, never press a false
point never conceal a material fact,
never take = mean advantage of an op-
posing colleague, never refuse a good
turn, never presume on the less obvious
successes of smaller men. Mr.. Asquith
was then Prime Minister, and as a law
yer he knew these things. And, by a
strange whirlgig of chance, it is Lord
examiner of Sir Rufus lsaacs on that
former occasion. who now. as Minister
of Blockade and Under Secretary for
Foreign Affairs, approves his mission
to Washington.
A Great Advocate
At the bar Lord Reading was q
supremcly great advocate Of the quiet,
suave type. lie always kept the court.
and especially the Judge, in a good
temper. AS a dry-as-dust lawyer, he
is not in the front rank, but in a com
mercial case, whore money passes, he
was most formidable, because he knew
all the ropes including that which
would most effectively and pleasantly
hang the other fellow He usually
won his suits, but always politely. No
offence was ever intended. You had
to pay up, but it became quite joy
a privilege. If there is buying and
selling in this country among the AL
lies you may rest assured that Lord
Reading will know fairly accurately
sovereign sterling. He iss quite good
at arithmetic Of that kind But, of
course, he puts the most courteous
Interpretation possible on the multi
plication table and decimal coinage.
This really explains why he did not
entirely succeed as debater in the
House Of Commons. An advocate be-
fore judge and jury has to hammer
his points into the thckest skull
which happens to be available for a
verdict. That means repetition and
explanation and irnumerable paren-
theses and no very precise syntax. The
House Of Commons is not quite sc
stupid as all that, and it is usually
quite familiar with the subject mat
ter Of the discussion What is there
wanted is Asquithian breadth. brevity
and finality-not too many "ifs" and
"buts"-no elaborate conditions which
make the main thesis of no effect
Hence the comparative failure of ST,
Rufus lsaacs.
Defeated by Carson
His biggest defeat in the courts was
at the hands Of Sir Edward Carson
whom he calls "Ned." The case was
libel and the firm involved was OF
soap fame. Five-igure verdicts agains,
various newspapers enlivened the
atmosphere and interested the public
not a little. For the rest. the new
ambassador is close friend of the
British Prime Minister, at whose
house he has eaten innumerable break
facts. His face is dark, keen-fea
ured, clear -complexioned. He has the
blackest eyes and hair in Europe
none. at any rate, blacker. He is fond
of golf, and belonged to the illustri-
F, ous cOmnonv If artists in that nor