The New York herald., 1921-09-13
PROF. MOORELEADS
FOR LEAGUE bench
Elihu Roots Name Left Out
Of Consideration by His
Own Request.
PLEADS HE is TOO OLD
Columbia Man Preferred
Over Roscoe Pound by
Big Nations.
HARVARD DEAN UNKNOWN
World Court Following Great
Legal Systems Gives Way
to Political Quest.
PLEADS HE is TOO OLD
HARVARD DEAN UNKNOWN

Special Gable to THE NEW YORK HERALD
Copyright, 1921, bv THE New YoRK HisaaLp.
GENEVA. Sept. 12.-In all probability
John Bassett Moore will be elected on
Wednesday to one of the much coveted
places on the new International Court
of Justice, despite the fact that the
United States has not taken any steps
toward ratifying the pact.
The name of Elihu Root was re-
moved from all consideration to-day
by personal cable message sent by
Mr.. Root to Manley Q. Hudson. who
is here as American observer. A can
vass of the leading nations. however,
shows that all we're convinced that On
American should be one OF the eleven
judges. An investigation by THE
NEW YORK HERALD correspondent here
showed that England, France, Italy
and Japan would vote for Prof. Moore.
majority of the nations are certain to
include on their list one American.
In the message to DR.. Hudson Mr..
Root said that he could not become a
candidate for a place on the court be-
cause OF his advanced age, which is 76.
Propaganda for Pound.
Interest in the elections has become
intense. with national and racial pride,
as well as ali manner of political con-
siderations. playing a great part The
only danger in the selection of an Ameri-
can apparently lies In the efforts being
made by a small American group in the
secretariat. all Harvard men. who are
conducting propaganda for Dean Roscoe
Pound of the Harvard Law School.
which has impressed some of the small
nations. although Arthur j. Balfour of
Great Britain, when approached. said
he had never heard of Prof. Pound. On
the other hand. Prof Moore is widely
known and recognized as an interna-
tional authority.
DR.. Wellington Koo has been active In
behalf OF Prof. Moore and told THE NEW
YORK HERALD correspondent here he had
no doubt of Prof. Moore's election, hav-
ing talked with many os the delegations.
The council meets simultaneously with
the assembly on Wednesday. and inves-
tigation to-day showed that with four
permanent members OF the council in
tending to vote for Prof Moore there
is no doubt that his name viii emerge
on the successful list OF that body. The
electioneering not only shows how I'm
portant the court already is regarded
as the first really successful step made
In the cause of peaceful adjudications of
disputes. but also shows how far away
the nations assembled in Geneva are
getting from the original concept of the
authors OF the court scheme with regard
to the manner in which this world court
Is being formed.
Politics Ruling.
In this concept, as in the case OF men
like Mr. Root, the election was to be
divested Of all political considerations,
the members OF the court being chosen
solely with regard to the different legal
codes, such as the English Nepoleonic
Spanish. Mohammedan or Oriental In
stead OF this. however, votes have been
swapDed here as at any convention, en-
tirely on a basis OF politics. II is ac-
capted that the five principal Powers,
including the United States. must be
represented regardless OF their legal
codes and that a certain balance of po-
lttical power must be preserved in the
remaining places of the court.
Just how this will result in the re-
vision Of different kinds of jurispru-
dence nobody knows, but II is obvious
tidl tue court VIII Dc more political than
idealistic. Interest In the election has
overshadowed the proceedings of the AS
sembly. which continue to be character
lied by lot of defensive speeches
largely based upon the tons of reports
which the league turned out last year
without obtaining, however. any definite
object.
This was the burden or long speech
by Leon Bourgeois French delegate, to-
day He described the league as gain
Ing IN Importance every day and infer
entially compimentcd the United States
for following the league in the matter OF
disarmament and for being inspired by
the same principles as members OF the
league.
The real speech here on disarmament
will be made by Rene viviani OF France.
who Is preparing an address on Frances
position. which Is to be made known
here in advance Of the Washington con-
ference on the Limitation or armament.