Omaha daily bee., 1889-09-22
The snpeches.-

ht sBttCbCS.
J. NJ. Woolworth, the toastmaster, spoke
as follows:
Gentlemen, we will proceed now with the
| call of the cases assigned for to-day. Laugh
| teri. No higher tribute can be PAID to q
mans character than to select him for the
discrimination Of ,r,,eo CONTROVERSY be-
| judgment. learning, character and res
| olution to resist the persuasion
| on the one side and the criticisms on the
| other side; and, to come forth from such
| a service accepted by both parties, with the
| Judgment if not the approval, at least, re-
| ceived as honest and faithful and intended
| to be just, is an achievement, even
when the service is between individ-
But, when the person called to this service
| is called by community, a multitude, is
| called not to render one judgment, but to
render many Judgments upon many contrO-
versies coming before him from every quar-
| the approval of his fellow citizens; accepted
| as one who has brought to that service
| good intention, II resolute determination to
| do right, adequate learning and competent
| judgment; that man has achieved a position;
| that man has rendered a service very rare in
the world. Applause
! can only say that ii is great qualification
! to the bar of Douglas county and the bar of
| this judicial district that he, who goes forth
| from a brief judicial service with the APP
| proval of his fellow citizens and of the com
| munity on all sides, and is advanced to
| higher, a more responsible, more laborous
situation of like character, is our guest this
evening.
Gentlemen, it gives me great pleasure to
| present TO you the guest of the evening, the
Hon. Lewis A. Croft. fGrcat applause
| Judge Croft then arose and spoke as fol-
| lows: b.H -..-
MIR. Toastmaster and gentlemen of the
| bar:
| You know thar for nearly three years it
| ed and entertained by you. l am here,
| tonight IN the same attitude.
| There is another reason why shall not
| attempt to make speech You are my
| friends. But, gentlemen, you must not take
| my brevlty to be a sign of Indifference.
| Could you see my heart, you would read
| there my deep appreciation of this proof of
| your kindly feeling.
In the picture of the ideal Judge and man,
so eloquently drawn by Chancellor Wool
| worth, Irecognize far more clearly the par
| tal hand of friend than my own attain
| ments. am keenly sensible that for what
ever success has attended me am largely in
| debted to the support OF the bar the press
| and the peoples THAT have not been un-
grateful is my greatest merit.
Respecting the office to which the president
| has appointed Inc, can only promise that,
| in the administration of its affairs, / shall
endeavor to do my whole dnty.
thank you gentlemen of the bar for this
evidence of your esteem, and you, associates
OF The Dencn, Ior tne 1ratefnal support you
have always given me; and you, gentlemen
| of the press, thank for the fairness with
| which you have dealt with my public acts
| aud the courtesies you have shown me as
| neighbor and man.
| A. j. Poppleton then responded to the
"Land Laws of the United States" He re-
ferred to history, showing from what
| countries the United States had acquired
title to a greet part of its domain, and that
! one among the heritage of its people was
| that of the laws which protected them in
| their possession OF the land which they had
| acquired in purchase. He also enumerated
the various means by which land holders had
| become possessed OF their holdings and
| closed with fervent tribute to the energy,
ability and integrity of Judge Croft in his
| capacity both as u lawyer anu jurIst
Hon. W. j. Connell, in response to the
toast of "The Civil Service" stated he be-
lieved that, in a recent interview which he
had the honor and privilege of having with
the president, he but reflected the sentiment
| OF the gentlemen present when he stated
| that Judge Croft was not only one of the
most approachable of men, but at the
same time, one of the most unapproachuble
| of men,-a man whose honesty and integrity
could not be questioned. Now, he was to
| talk in regard to civil service, and had pre-
on that subject, He had con-
| cluded, however, to waive that
| privilege in view OF the eight ten who
| were to follow him, and that those present
| jecus than his own.
| i. G. Gown spoke upon the question,
| "Shall we have a national divorce lawl" He
paid an eloquent tribute to Judge Croft, and
then, addressing himself to mis- subject
! showed the Inconsistency of the divorce laws
in various States of the union. He lnstanced
n case which illustrated his point that a
| man might have as many wives as he
wanted in the states, that they would all be
legal wives, and that in the matter
of right of dover, when it might
be claimed in the state of Ne
braska, the claim could not be contested
He said, ''If were legislator L would
make but one ground of divorce for the man
| and many grounds for tae woman. l take it
the experience of all of us is that the woman
needs the protection of the law, and though
| many a divorce is granted on the part
of the husband it frequently occurs
that the custody ofichldren is given to the
mother. 1t IS the grandest thing to me in
courts that it is the mother, poor, helpless
| and weak, teat always steps up and takes the
CUSTODY of the children"
Eloquent speeches were made by other gen.
tlemen whose names appear above and to
which reference will be made later
/