Evening star., 1939-01-12

Rare Tribute Paid
1oCummings for
Service 10 Nation
Former Attorney General
Praised as Administrator
And as q Citizen

citizen, was paid one of the most re-
markable tributes within the
memory Of official Washington
when some 1900 persons gathered
at a dinner at the Mayflower Hotel
last night to eulogize his services to
the Nation during his six years as
Attorney General.
Mr.. Cummings, who quit the cabi-
net last week to resume his law
practice, drew glowing praise in
speeches by two Supreme Court
justices, two cabinet members and
q Senate leader and the enthusiastic
acclaim of the men and women who
taxed the capacity of the big ball
room and overflowed into the adja-
cent Chinese room, the balconies
and even into the corridors.
He and Mrs. Cummings were pre-
sented with several tangible tokens
of esteem. 1t was. even for city
50 used to testimonial dinners that
they are commonplace, memorable
occasion.
The brief addresses were made by
Associate Justices Owen j. Roberts
and Stanley Reed of the Supreme
Court, Secretary of State Hull,
Postmaster General Farley and
Senator Henry F. Ashurst of Ari-
iona, chairman of the Senate Judi
ciary Committee. Frank Hogan,
president of the American Bar As
sociation, was toastmaster. A mes
sage from President Roosevelt was
read, in which he repeated the
tribute he paid when Mr.. Cummings
resigned and said he would be at
the dinner "in spirit"
Lauds Vision and Zeal.
Justice Roberts praised Mr.. Cum
mings' vision and zeal to solve the
great problems which have to do
with the just administration Of the
laws in this country" and summed
up Mr.. Cummings important ac-
complishments as a greater enforce
ment of the Federal criminal laws,
the establishment of a liaison be-
tween the States and the Federal
Government in the detection. pun
ishment and prevention of crime IN
general, and the promulgation OF
uniform system of rules in equity
and law in the Federal courts of the
country. The Federal courts, JUS
tice Roberts said, have as result
of Mr.. Cummings six years in office
IAN integrated and better admin
istration of justice"
Justice Roberts thus alluded pleas
antly to the Supreme Court enlarge
ment bill, which Mr.. Cummings
sponsored:
IT can pay tribute to everything
he has done except one thing, on
which I have no right to have an
opinion"
Justice Roberts added that he did
approve of the amended measure
which Mr.. Cummings had proposed
when the original one was defeated
namely, to retire all Federal judges
at 70, especially since the Attorney
General had with remarkable dis
cretion" exempted those now in
Office.
Secretary Hull said: II am proud
and happy to join with you in this
remarkable demonstration of ad-
miration and friendship for my per-
sonal friend of long years"
Sketches Career.
Mr.. Hull traced briefly Mr.. Cum
mings' long career as political
leader, a lawyer and public official.
Mr.. Cummings he credited with
major role "in the most remarkable
period in perhaps a thousand years
OF world history"
Senator AShurst cloaked his trib-
ute in the poetic words for which he
is famous. He was especially warm
in his praise of the vast and i'm
portant work under Mr.. Cummings
administration of Suppressing gang
sters."
Mr.. Cummings, said the Arizona
Senator, had divested gangsters of
all romance and had showed his ex-
cellent judgment in retaining j.
Edgar Hoover as chief of the Fed
eral Bureau of Investigation, despite
efforts to dislodge him.
mo official of our day." he added,
'has carried the standard of public
Office higher than Homer Cum
mings."
Postmaster General Farley said
that, although he had known Mr..
Cummings upward of 20 years, he
had not come into close contact with
him until he became Attorney Gen.
eral early in 1888, and then found
him kindly, cooperative and helpful
In every way.
Il know" Mr. Farley added, that
he is leaving this office of his own
free will. Homer, you are entitled to
q rest. Some of the rest OF us are.
too"
Justice Reed, recalling his intimate
association as Solicitor General with
Mr.. Cummings, said he had done
more than give the Department of
Justice the services of a good lawyer
and 1ne man, he had given it
that vital spark of leadership that
enabled 1t to stand up and do its
work IN one of the most trying ad-
ministrations in our history"
surprise Volume Presented.
Speaking of Mr.. Cummings as "a
great man." Justice Reed presented
him with complete surprise-the
first volume off the press of Selected
Papers of Homer Cummings" which
had been gathered quietly and pub
lished without his knowledge. The
compilation was made by Carl Brent
Swisher, professor of political science
at the Johns Hopkins University.
Each guest at the banquet also was
given a copy Of the new book as a
souvenir of the occasion.
Earlier in the dinner, former As
sistant Attorney General William
Stanley presented Mrs. Cummings
with a beautiful bowl. The toast
master gave the honor guest the
chair in which he has sat at cabinet
meetings, assuring him that COM
plete title to it had been obtained"
and it was his henceforth.