Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-02-13
GUTHRIE, CANADIAN
ATTORNEY, is HEARD
World Court Lauded; Hughes
Also Speaks to Federal
Bar Association.

The World Court and the League Of
Nations were praised as great agencies
Of world peace by Hugh Guthrie, K. c.,
minister of justice and attorney gen.
eral of Canada. speaking on the sub
ject claw and Peace" at the eleventh
anniversary dinner of the Federal Bar
Association at the Mayhower Hotel
last night.
Chief Justice Charles Evans Hughes
Of the United States Supreme Court in
an address urged attorneys to have
faith with Abraham Lincoln in the fact
that right makes might and in the end
to do their duty as they understood It.
Expressions of friendship between
Canada and the United States were ex-
changed by the two speakers and Mr..
Guthrie was asked by Chief Justice
Hughes to take back a message OF
warmest friendship to his country. The
Canadian minister of justice paid
glowing tribute to Justice Hughes as
one of the foremost jurists of the world.
The supremacy of law is the surest
guarantee of peace, the Canadian min
lister of justice said, and it is generally
recognized throughout the world that an
observance of law would be guarantee
of peace. In international law, he con-
tinued, the mere existence of an inter-
national code will not sufhce, but some
tribunal with the confidence Of the
world must administer the law.
League of Nations Praised.
LAWYERS and statesmen, the speaker
stated. say that the World Court Is
past the experimental stage. Today the
court is a valuable bulwark OF world
peace. The minister of justice added
hal ~
League Of Nations. If the League can
remove from the minds of men the
burden Of war 1t will have done the
greatest thing for this world since
Christ was born, he said.
It was the privilege and duty OF law
yers to resist every encroachment OF
right under the law, Chief Justice
Hughes said. He spoke OF the present
tendency of Legislatures to express only
basic principles in their acts and
the great responsibility remaining with
the legal profession in administering
the law, which in itself is legislative in
character.
Lawyers, the Chief Justice said,
serve as society's best safeguard against
bureaucratic tendencies. Law, he said,
was the vital breath Of democracy. The
utterance of william Pitt. the great
commoner of England, was transposed
by the Chief Justice, who stated that
when the law begins tyranny shall end.
That is the balanced Judgment, he said,
to which we shall aspire.
Abraham Lincoln was praised by
Chief Justice Hughes as lawyer
strong in combat but as equally ready
to be conciliatory. He urged young
lawyers to be thoughtful Of their argu-
ments and not give way to uncon-
trolled, passionate utterances.
NE,tokaIl Vs Toaekv,amtar
The two speakers were introduced
by Attorney General Mitchell, who
acted as POSTMASTER. In closing the
meeting Toastmaster Mitchell read
from the words of Lincoln. in COM
memoration Of whose birthday the din
ner was held. Music was furnished by
the Marine Band Orchestra, conducted
by Arthur S. Whitcomb.
Mr.. and Mrs. Guthrie arrived here
yesterday morning and were met by
delegation representing the Federal Bar
Association, headed by William r. VAL
lance, president. The Canadian gov
eminent was represented by Hume
Wrong, charge d'adaires Of the Cana
dian legation.
Preceding the dinner last night
reception was held in the Chinese room
at the Mayfiower Hotel.
The Canadian minister of justice
was born in Guelph, Ontario August
10, 1866, the son of Donald Guthrie,
o distinguished lawyer and member Of
the Canadian House of Commons from
1875 to 1882 He was educated at
Toronto and when "a years Of age he
was elected q member of the Canadian
House of Commons. He served several
terms and in October, 1917, became
solicitor general of Canada. He was
sworn Of the Privy Council on July /.
1919, and became minister OF militia
and defense in the cabinet Of Prime
Minister Meighan in 1920. He repre-
scented Canada at international con-
ferences, including the Financial Con-
gress summoned by the League Of Ma
lions at Brussels.