New-York tribune., 1919-01-19

man states except Prussia withdrew
and were disposed to form other
groups, 1T would have been easy then
Tor the Allies to have extended a help
ing hand not out Of consideration for
Germany, but for the benefit OF the
Allies themselves.
1T was essential that Germany should
nave stable government with which.
IN inc broadest spirit of iberality, the
Allied nations could treat. Meantime
/ the streets of Berlin and of Petrograd
arc running with blood, while VIC are
paltering with freedom of the seas
and league Of nations which for the
moment arc imposs ible.
"1he people OF the Allied countries
arc not IN any mood at this time TO
discuss these abstract questions If
you have been there, as have been.
and seen them, as was privileged to
see them, at the hour of the armistice.
YOU would understand why they are
not. They are coming out of state Of
stupor; thcy have been sandbacged al
most into lnsensibility by the greatest
agencies of terror of recorded history.
Agitation for League Not Real
"Thc press representatives tell you
there is a profound agitation for the
league of nations. tell you it is not
so. There may be some such things
among the advanced Socialists. There
is great demand for a league of ma
tlons-there is IN England party op-
posed to Lloyd George, who have it as
battle cry. Many men in the church
are attracted by the visions OF pcrpet-
ual peace. But | say, that except for
the people whom I have mentioned. it
is the obvious policy of many leading
officials to support it because it is be
lieved to be pleasing to the people of
the United States; but there is no rcal
interest in England in the league of
nations at the present time.
81 believe the same TO be true OF
france, simply because when a man
or a nation has been profoundly dis
lllusionized; when they have found that
treaties are scraps of paper; that great
and enlightened nations have forgot
and will forget their obligations as
members of society, then under these
circumstances YOU cannot get those
people wildly interested in the new
plan, which, as far as can Judge does
not rise above the dignity of the Hague
conference, and is far less valuable a
moral authority"
Judge a. T. Clearwater, of Kingston
and William D. Guthrie expressed foar
lest the United States impair its sou
ereignty by entering a league of ma
tions.
Three score years ago VIC fancied
we definitely and forever settled the
matter of the preservation of our po-
lltlcal association said Judge Clear
water "Shall we submit it to a strain
never before contemplated, and perad
venture become copartners with other
nations IN the attempt to guard the
whole world against the assaults of
"hat possibly may prove to be the am
bitions and powerful combinations Of
TINS and succeeding centuries 2"
Hughes Foresees Disorder
Increasing difficulty in maintaining
law and order during the coming years
was predicted last night by Charles l..
llughes in the course of an address al
the banquet of the organization at the
Astor.
II believe that We shall have perilous
times in the next few years." said Mr..
Hughes. at will be hard to maintain
law and order. 1t will be hard to main
tam respect for courts and instrumcn
talities of justice. 1t viii be hard to
resist foolish demands. They will not
be resisted by equally foolish opposi-
tiOn to every change.
I'VE shall not be able to accomplish
all that we expect to accomplish Bu.
we have in this war vindicated our
capacity for heroic effort and self
/ sacrifice. When those brave men come
back to fruitfy the spirit of America.
let it be known by all men that
America, powerful to meet these exi-
genecies of war, will be equal to the
srlous demands of peace"
Henry ". Taft. tho incoming prcsi
dent of the association, said that the
war efforts of the legal profession had
been equal, if not greater than that Of
any other profession.
Many Lawyers in Service
"The fact that 80 per cent of tho
lawyers OF the country between twenty
one and thlrty-one years of age were
actually lnducted into the armv-a pro
portion far greater than that of anv
other profes ssion-givcs testimony Of
their patriotism, while the most heroic
Individual episode of the war is that
CT the Lost Battalion in the Argonnc
Forest, led by modest young LAWYER
of this city, Colonel Whittlescy. Such
things show that the pursuit of our
learned profession does not subduc the
promptngs Of patriotism or the will
to make even the supreme sacrifice"
Mr.. Taft agreed with James Bryce
that the decline of the bar as a social
influence was largely due to its dc.
>dSNN POiitiNdl IutHCc llC SdlU
that this was to be doplored, calling
upon lawyers to take t greater per
sonal part in political activities.
Read Admiral Victor Blue now Of
the Bureau Of Navigation, told of the
work of the American overseas fleet
1 and of the overcoming of numerous OBJ
! stacles in bringing tho United State
Navy, up to its present war strength
Before adjournment of the after
noon session the Bar Association elect
j Cd the following officers; President,
/ Henry W. Taft, Of New York, vice
! presidents, Delaney Nicoll, of New
! York; Luke d. Stapeton, of Brooklyn
Frank II. Osborn, of Catskill; Charles
Ncsblt, Of Amsterdam; David T. Cos
! tcllo, Of Syracuse; A. Sewcll, of Wal
ton; John Desmond, of Rochester; 10
scph 6. Dudley, Of Buffalo, and Charles
! II. Young, Of New Rochelle; secretary.
Frederick T. Wadhams Of Albany,
! trcasurcr Albert IIcssingcr, of Al
bany.