The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-01-22
STATE BAR BANQUET.
The State Association Ends
With the Usual Good Time.
Many Bright Responses to the
Subjects Proposed.
W. R. Smith Tells How Lawyers
Farm-other Funny Stories.

Fifty-six lawyers, young and old, sat
down to an elaborate banquet at 9:15
and the feast began.
1t was served in seven courses in a
faultless manner. Colonel w. H. Ros-
SingtOn was accorded the honor of Off
ciating as ''Magister Convivii." He sat
at the head of the large, horseshoe
shaped banquet table. On his right
were Chief Justice Frank Doster and
Judge William Thomson and on the left
Judge Samuel A. Kingman and ex-
Chief Justice David Martin.
When the banquet had been served
and the lawyers had lighted their ci-
gars, Colonel Rossington raped for or
der and said:
cite the genesis of this society known
as the State Bar association. Several
years ago, when Judge Johnston was
my law partner, it occurred to some
of US that it would be a good thing to
get up a close corporation for sinister
and political purposes. / was the first
secretary of this association. 1t has
accomplished much in that it has pre-
served the fraternity, kindness and
goodness which should characterize the
profession. I now come to the pleas
ant duties of the programme. When
I first read this 1 thought Mr.. DOSter'S
subject was, 1.-The Expensiveness of the
Common Law and [ thought it was
especially appropriate. But 1 wish to
say something about Frank Doster. I
have known him for twenty two years.
ric. He has the ideas of the German
socialists. But he is a lawyer, and
feel sure that he will deal justly in his
office regardless of his social views. 1
now have the honor to introduce to you
the new chief justice of the supreme
court, Judge Frank Doster of Marion"
The lawyers applauded the toastmas-
ter and Judge DOster. The latter
thanked the banqueterS for the honor
conferred upon him. He gave a learned
explanation of the practices and scope
of the common law from The subject,
1.-The EXpansivenesS of the Common
Law"
Colonel Rossington introduced w. r.
Smith of Kansas City, Kan, whom he
said would respond to the sentiment:
1.-THE Lawyer as a~Earmer-"
standing here as a representative of
the tough-fsted hand of yeOmanry,'
said MIR. Smith, Il can see no reason
why a lawyer cannot well be farmer.
The men who grow whiskers for politi-
cal purposes are not the agricultural
promoters Their ambitions do not run
with their land. Many of you lawyers
know of farming only from hearSay.
But I had a practical knowledge of it
for three years. Some years ago, While
1 was attending court in Haskell cOun-
ty way out in the short grass region,
one of those irresistible real estate agents
got hold of me Before 1 knew it he
had sold me three quarter sections and
a timber claim. The trees on the claim
were but twelve inches high, but the
agent said that as soon as they shot
roots down to the water underneath the
land they would grow fast. 1 found
that the water was 1855 feet below the
surface. 1 also found the altitude
there was so high that one couldn't
drive a load of hay between the clouds
assiduously Finally the government
took the timber claim for taxes and
the old maid who held a mortgage on
the land, back in New England. re-
fused to communicate with me, except
by publication. 1 lost the land, but L
have never sought to obtain revenge
from anyone.
THAT farm is still out there in Hask-
ell county where the rabbits ana coy
otes have possession of it. 1t stands
there a monument to innocence betray-
ed
Mr. Smiths remarks were loudly APP
plauded. He made the hit of the even
ing.
Judge T. B. Wall of Wichita respond
ed to the toast: How to Gain the Ear
of the Court and avoid the Cold Shout
DER
''Brevity is one of the important
things which will gain the ear of the
court said he. II don't know but that
the best way to gain the ear Of the
court is to size up the ear
Il was once trying case in coun-
try justice court in which the point in
litigation was a COW. 1 took along with
me that work well known to you, Han
over on Horses After I had finished
my argument and sat down feeling that
I had made my point, the neighborhood
pettifogger got up and attacked me Gag
erly. He concluded with: That man
has come down here with book on
horses, and this case is about a cow
That man gained the ear of the court.
(Laughter-)
ssOf course we lawyers know that
there are tricks in all trades, but ours
Persistency is not always the thing to
urge. The manly man, the manly law
he eT119 n %
ceiveS a patient and respectful hearing.
He always gains the ear of the court
and never gets the cold shoulder"
Toast Master ROSSingtOn announced
that owing to the absence of Sam kim
bic, he would have to assign the toast:
THE Profit in Politics. He asked
Judge A. d. Gilkeson, of Hays City to
respond, and the latter arose and said:
Il come from the short grass region
and am therefore not qualified to re-
spOnd to this toast, for down my way
there isn't any profit in politics. IN
fortunately / am unable to see where
the prophet lies in politics, but the
prophet invariably lies"
The annual love feast of the bar as
ISOLATION closed with the singing of
Aud Lang Syne.'
The following members of the associ-
alton were present at the banquet:
Frank Doster, Marion; David Martin,
Atchison; T. F. Carver, Salina; VIM. A.
Johnston, Minneapolis; J. w. Green,
Lawrence; S. H. Allen, Topeka; VIM.
Wichita; H A. Mclean, Marion; Chas.
Hayden, Holton; L. H. Perkins, Law
renee; c. G. Coleman, Clay Center; J.
F. Tufts, Atchison; j. w. Parker, Ola
the; I. o. Pickering, Olathe; W. t
Bland, Atchison; @. P. Dewey, Abilene;
J. u Brown, Tribune; Geo. w. MINI
mocks, Great Bend; ]. c. Postlewaite,
Jewell City; A. D. Gilkeson, Hays City:
A. D. Smith, Lincoln; ]. T. Herrick,
wellington; F. D. Mills, Kansas City
Kan; f. L. Martin, Hutchinson; Oliver
Phillips, Lawrence; w. w. Guthrie,
Atchison, and c. J. Brown, A. A. God
ard, Col. w. H. Rossington, w. A. S.
Bird, SampeI A. Kingman. o. J. Wood
Albert. Watkins, John E. Switzer. Ran
kin Mason, J. B. Larimer. E. G. Wilson,
G. A. Huron, T. L. King, Clad Hamilton,
]. G. Slonecker, Ed McKeever, Harry
Valentine, Thos. F. Doran. L. S. Ferry,