Evening star., 1937-05-06

AAAS SCAV Va SAAASA " AcVANO &AA8ASSD
remarks before the American Law In
| stitute:
For the eighth time 1t il my privi-
lege to greet you at this annual rem
devious OF the members Of the bar
and bench. Last year we paid our
tribute to George Wickersham, whose
outstanding service as the president
of the American Law Institute was the
crown Of his professional career. To-
day we recall the leadership Of Elihu
Root, to whose vision, creative force
and directing skill We largely owe the
establishment Of this great enterprise
Of restating the law and removing in a
substantial degree the uncertainty and
complexity which vex its administra-
ton.
Elihu Root will be remembered as
one of Americas most eminent states
men. His service as Secretary of War
and Secretary of State will always be
conspicuous in an imperishable record.
But he was -eminently great
lawyer and his distinctive public serv-
ice was made possible because he was
a great lawyer
He was great not only because he
had a rarely acute mind and had mas
tered the technique of his profession,
but because he was wise. He brought
wisdom not only to the service Of his
clients but to the carrying out OF the
highest conception of public duty In
relation to the opportunities of the
bar in improving the administration
of justice. His intellectually was so
marked that only those who knew him
we'll fully appreciated his passionate
zeal for betterment.
Gave Support in Time Of Need.
When was charged with RESPONSE
bilities in the government of the State
| Of New York he warmed my heart and
gave me fresh courage by his effective
| support in time Of need. He constantly
sought to improve the institutions Of
| justice, local, national and interna-
tional. How many important endeavors
had the impetus of his proposals and
his guiding hand in carrying them
out!
He led in the constitutional con-
| ventions in New York of 1894 and
1915. He promoted the organization
of the Conference of Bar Association
| Delegates, which was the nucleus of a
co-ordinated Bar of the United States.
His sagacity pointed the way to the
solution of the difficulties which be-
| set the organization of the Permanent
| Court OF International Justice. No
idle fancies dominated his thought or
made his efforts vain. Whenever he
appeared there were vision, practi-
cable proposals and skillful execution.
| When the American Law Institute
was organized, he clarified the need
he showed the necessary method, he
procured the financial aid which made
the enterprise possible. He had no
illusion as to the difficulties.
I'VE Can Try"
In his initial address he said: Per
haps we can help" The making OF
a permanent organization to ac-
complish the restatement of the law
with the earnest and real interest in
the subject on the part of real men,
will help; and as time goes On the
organization which you have made
may accomplish such relations with
other organizations and such addi-
tional duties, and avail itself of such
opportunities, as to aid all along the
line In the reform of law and the
reform Of procedure" A prophecy
which hope will be fulfilled as you
approach the completion Of your first
great task. And he added: We may
not succeed, but we can try. Here /.
one thing we can try. It Is something
the need OF which Is universally recog-
nized; it is something the response
bility for which rests especially upon
Us. It points the pathway where We
will be acknowledged the natura
leaders OF the democracy in it's strug-
giles towards better life, toward per-
manency OF institutions"
Elihu Roots method was thus to
marshal the forces of intelligence in
order to meet specific need in q
sensible fashion. And through the
use Of this method he had faith-an
abiding faith-that the competency OF
mankind to govern itself through
Democratic institutions could be vim
dicated. Your notable achievements
have been due to that method and
have been insured by that faiths
laborious method, indeed, but what
labor is too great If 1t may serve tc
buttress in any degree the institu-
tions of an ordered liberty?
We erect no monuments to mere
strewdness We honor Elihu Root TO,
his specific services to the community
but not less. rather chiefly, because
his intellectual power and practical
judgment, matched by zeal for the
public good, dignified the processes OF
reason by which alone the ends Of oul
social organization may be attained
Court Fully Up With Work.
1t has been my custom on these oc-
casions to refer briefly to the work Of
the Supreme Court. For several years
have been able to report at these
meetings that the court is fully ur
with its work I am happy to say
that this Is true of the current term
We are concluding the hearing OF ar
guments, and once more we have