The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-01-18
LAWYERS MAKEMERRY
They Crack Jokes on the Hillmon
Case at the Banquet
OF THE STATE BAR ASSOCIATION.

Justice Brewer Shows other Than
the Serious Side of His Character
Judge Thomas Talks-CIad HamII-
ton of Topeka Responds Entertain
ingIy to Toast.
The browning event of the meeting of
the State Bar association was the ban
quet last night at the Throop. Noted
lawyers and judges of the state were
there as we'll as Judge Brewer and
Judge Thomas of the federal judiciary.
At the first table were seated Justice
David J. Brewer of the United States
supreme court, Judge a. D. Thomas Of
the United States district court, Justices
a. II. Horton, W. A Johnston and 5. Fl.
Allen of the Kansas supreme court
The menu was elaborate.
The long array of walters moved like
automatons to the sound of bell and
worked around his collar until it was
directly under his left ear, his control of
his small army was perfect and the pro-
gress of the banquet was not impeded.
Judge Alden of Kansas City, was the
toast master. He made a happy hit in
his opening remarks. "We are honor
ed" he said, "by having with US as our
guest a man who was once a humble
practitioner at the bar of the state and has
| rendered valuable service in its juris-
/ prudence. He now occupies a seat In
the highest tribunal in the land.
"And now in honor of him and of the
tribunal of which he has the honor to be a
member I would ask each one of you
to rise to his place and to partake of that
sparkling beverage which it is the espe-
cial privilege of Kansas to enjoy. l
propose to you to drink the first toast of
the evening, "The Federal Judiciary; the
Protection of American Institutions; the
| Safeguard to American Stability"
Judge Alden raised high his glass of
water and drank. There was a sup
pressed giggle, but Major ]. Z Hudson
and 4. B. Jetmore and q few others fol-
| lowed his example, at a loss to know
whether Judge Alden intended the
! drinking of the toast as a joke or not.
None of the glasses were emptied.
| Justice Brewer was then introduced,
and with speech bristling with bright
| things, he kept the banqueters in the
it was hardly right for him to say
anything after his effort of the
night before. II am afraid you will say
of me, as little girl once said while
was holding circuit court in St Louis.
had visited at the house on one occasion,
and when l returned the next time l
again called at the house The little girl
refused to come into the room. Her
mother said:
Brewer?'
mo responded the child, she talks
too much" [Laughter.l
"Referring to the toast offered by the
presiding officer, may say that it was a
standing joke in Washington when was
appointed to my present position, that the
president thought he could make the
court full, by having a Brewer on the
bench. My rejoinder was, that in what
ever condition the court might be, its
chief would be Fuller" Laughter
81 know that every American boy de-
sires to become politician once had
that delusion. I wanted to go to the leg
islaturs and I was assured before the
convention was held that I would re-
ceive the nomination. / myself felt GER
tain that would The convention was
held and received only one vote. I felt
at that time that the fracture of the
third commandment would be a pardon
able offense. Who knows what the re-
suit would have been if I had been
elected to the legislature? might have
been a congressman, or perhaps like
some OF my friends here, ! might now
be on the anxious seat
81 have had a long judicial expe-
rience = have even once been
through the Hillmon case. laugh
teri My young friend here from
North Dakata Judge Thomas) wal
making merry with the ladies
at the reception last night but he die
not think that he might have been doing
that for the last time. In years to come
we may see an old indrm man come out
of the federal building and walk slowly
up Kansas avenue with feeble step, bu
q happy countepance, and We viii heal