Evening journal., 1921-09-01


visitation he is likely to cooperate
more easily in an organized EFFORT
to get rid Of business and do justice
than under the 'go-as-you-please'
system
The number Of bills pending rs
large, the speaker said. and the ser
vices OF tho extra judges would be
needed for an indefinite time.
Delay in the courts was scored by
Justice Taft. who laid the blame in
a large degree upon the fact that
legislative power docs not provide
adequate machinery for prompt dis
patch of business.
A liberal attitude toward those
who question the law will lead to
better safeguarding "the good we
possess and rightly shaping the
measures Of progress that we must
have" President Harding declared in
a letter Of greeting which opened to-
days session.
President Harding expressed re-
gret that he could not attend the
convention. but praised the associa-
ton for upholding the highest
ethics Of a noble profession The
Presidents letter was read by Hamp-
ton l.. Carson, acting president OF
the association, who presided at the
opening session.
The members Of the American Bar
Association have lighted the way
to legislative achievement admins
tratiye advance and constant, con-
versative measure of social pro-
gress." President Harding wrote.
mot only in this country. but in all
others. .he association has earned
exalted repute for unswerving ideal
ism coupled with sound discretion"
we would be blind indeed" the
letter said. IL we did not recognize
that there is a tendency TO examina-
ton and inquisition even of tradi-
tions and institutions that once were
held elemental. almost sacred. No
greater influence than your own
could be arrayed in favor of open
minded. disinterested inquiry into
the justification for these criticisms
and il you adopt a liberal attitude
toward such inquiries. you will be
the more potent in safeguarding the
good that we possess and rightly
shaping the measures OF progress
that we must have"
James Al. Beck, solicitor general
of the United States, made the open
ing address taking the place Of the
late william A. Blount, president OF
the association. He spoke on The
Spirit Of Lawlessness.' which he said
was more rampant today than at any
time within the memory OF any liv-
ing man.
Revolt against tradition and au-
thority has sprung up not only in
the political state, but in music, art,
poetry and commerce until the age
has become "pre-eminently one Of
sham and counterfeit" Beck added.
The statistics OF the criminal
courts in recent years show an un-
precedented growth in crime hs
said "But this revolt against
authority is not confined to the
political state. In music. its funda-
mental canons have been thrown
aside and discord has replaced har'
mony. It's culmination-jazz-is {
musical crime,
In the Plastic arts, the criteria Of
beauty have been swept aside by th'
futurists. cubists. vorticists an'
other aesthetic Bolsheviki. u
poetry. beauty Of rhythm and nobil
ity Of thought have been replaced b
exaltatlon Of the grotesque an
brutal
Finds Commerce Rcvolts at Purit
I'm commerce. the revolt is on
! against purity OF standards and IN
, integrity Of business morals. VIII
can question that this is pre-emi
nently the age Of sham and counter
feit?-
A spirit OF lawlessness has Away
existed. Beck said, but cited IN
prevalence OF burglaries, hold-ups
thefts. murder and graft 20 show re
cent growth OF lawlessness. Toda,
people regard the lessons Of tn
past as "presumptively false" h
declared, and the burden Is now upo
"him who seeks to invoke them.
Two Of the oldest empires in IN
world-China and Russla-are in
weiter Of anarchy. And in even tn
most stable governments the under
5 ground rumblings Of revolution ma
be heard. But OF still greater sil
{ nihcance TO. the welfare of ciiliz;
. ton Is the complete subversio
3 during the world war Of nearly a
a the international laws which ha'