Wichita eagle., 1890-01-15
BAR ASSOCIATION.
GETS DOWN TO BUSINESS-JUDGE
SLUSS' ADDRESS
Mr.. Edwin White Moore Elected Presi
dent-Plans for the Future Earnestly
Discussed - The Objects Of the
Association to be Conscieu-
tiOusly Prosecuted.


Discussed - The Objects Of the
Association to be Conscien-
tiously Prosecuted.
The Bar association met last night in
regular session. being the annual meeting
for the election of officers. The majority
of the bar was represented and all seemed
to feel more than the usual interest in the
outcome of the meeting. Judge Sluss
called the meeting to order at eight o'clock
and roll call found a full meeting present.
The minutes of the last quarterly meet
ing were read and approved.
Mr.. Vermilion stated that he was not
chairman of the executive council but be-
ieved that committee had no report.
The treasurers report was read as fol-
lows: Cash on hand January s. 1889,
S1249O; new membership fees s35 GO; dis
bursements to d. V. Donnelly 5000; leay-
ing balance on hand of S15395.
According to rules Nessrs. Helm. Hay
maker, and R. Rohrbaugh were appoint
ed by the chair to audit the treasurers re-
port.
The election of officers being in order
the chair announced that ballots would at
once be taken for permanent officers for
the ensuing year.
Mr.. Hume moved that all practicing
attorneys present be allowed to
participate in the ballot by signing
the membership roll. This was amended
by Mr. Sankey by adding ''by payment Of
the initiation fee"
Mr. Rohrbaugh asked if such signers
would not become members in violation Of
the rules of the association,
Mr.. Eckstein thought that the amend
ment would allow former memb ers who
had not paid membership fee equal priv
ileges with the new members. who were
compelled to pay before they could vote.
Mr.. Douglass said he was in favor OF re-
ducing the membership fee TO s., and
therefore would oppose Mr.. Sankey' 8
amendment, Mr.. Gordon thought that
both motions were out of order on the
point raised by Mr.. Rohrbaugh. The by
laws provide that charter members shall
be members by signing the roll. although
an initiation fee is provided for as we'll.
Under the rules new members must come
in through the proper channel, and thus
arose the discussion on the question.
Mr. Helm offered a substitute for both
motion and amendment that the time be
extended for ten days, during which time
any charter member might pay his $. The
chair ruled on a point of order raised that
the substitute was out of order. Colonel
Dyer claimed that charter members might
vote without paying lany 3d. and that
the membership fee was simply debt.
Mr. Helm moved that the byelaws be
unanimously suspended for ten days in
order to compass the difficulty; carried
Five minutes recess was then taken. Dur
ing the recess six new members were added
to the enrolment.
When order was called again Judge
Museller moved that the constitution, bye
laws, ETC., be suspended long enough to
reduce the membership fee to S1.00. The
chair ruled this motion out of order, and
appointed Messrs. Museller and Smythe
tellers and announced the election Of pres
ident next in order.
The ballot was then taken with the fol-
lowing result: Moore, 23; Dale. 10; Yer
B BrooRs, /; Ha masn and suss T. The
president then announced that Mr.. Edwin
White Moore receiving the majority of
the votes was duly elected. On motion
the election was made unanimous. Judge
dressed the association as follows, receIy-
ing liberal applause:
Gentlemen OF the Wichita Bar:
At the meeting of the Kansas State Bar
association recently held, it was proposed
that a committee of the association be ap-
pointed to take such steps as might be
deemed advisable toward securing the
adoption of the pending amendment TO
the constitution increasing the number OF
the judges IN the supreme court from three
TO seven.
The proposition was opposed by gentle
men present from different parts of the
state upon the ground that for the lawyers
to actively favor the proposition would
result in its certain defeat; that it would
be denounced as a lawyers scheme"
which anathema would be sufficient to
array the people in opposition. This idea
was seriously advanced and contended for
by lawyers of prominence, who gave 1t as
their opinion, based on past experience.
that such would be the result. The fact
that such a proposition should be made, or
rather that such d confession should be
made by lawyers of prominence in the
profession, and of high character as citi-
zens, forces upon our attention serious
question. What place does the legal pro-
fessiou occupy among the people OF the
state? Can it be true that the
bar as such is without influence?
and that its public character is such that
its advocacy of a measure OF public con-
Germ is calculated to prejudice the minds
OF the voters against II?
Il is therefore our duty to examine our
selves and take reckoning of where we
stand and what we are. What weight
has our jud gment and our certificate with
the people of America? The legal profess
sion of America is an American Institu-
ton 1t differs from the profession in all
other countries, as the people OF this union
differ from the people Of all other lands.
The profession in Kansas differs from the
profession in Vermont as the people of
Kansas differ from the people OF Yer
mont.
In this country the lawyers reflect the
general mass of the people. There is no
! class born TO the legal profession. There
/ is no hedge about its portals. either legal,
social or financial It is an open house
| into which the sons of mechanics and mer-
| chants, farmers and financIerS, bankers
| and bakers, capitalists and cowalen may
enter at will. The lawyers of the land are
/ the sons and brothers OF the people.
/ The place of the lawyer is not artificial.
( The necessity for him was not brought
about by his own contriving, but 1t is q
/ part Of the growth OF our civilization, an
/ Indispensable element IN the organism
/ OF our social fabric. The lawyer Is no;
/ to blame for the fact that there Is
such a thing as the i@Gdl profession TcF-
eminent was organized aud courts were
| instituted as instruments Of civil society
/ before the lawyers came upon the scene.
IL IS possible, perhaps, foT the mind OF
( men to conceive system Of civil society
and put it into successful operation where
/ by tbe business of mankind can be carried
on. and the lives. liberties and property Of
men protected, aud their disputes and
/ couhicts OF interest adjusted, without ths
/ instrumentality Of established law. but !;
never has been done. II is also possible L
/ conceive that laws may be enforced and
! the blessings of civil society obtained with
! liz 81 e ms