Mexico weekly ledger., 1900-05-10
.RODERYSON'S ADDRESS
THE MEXICO LAWYER SPEAKS
BEFORE THE STATE BAR
MEETING.
is PRESIDENT OF TIE ASSOCIATION.
The Eighteenth Annual Meeting in
Session at Kansas City-A Fit
ting Tribute to the Mem
ory OfJohn Marshall,
the Jurist.
Is PRESIDENT OF THE ASSOCIATION.

Aho cikutouutu uuuuht tuoutihB VI
the Missouri Bar Association was In
session at Kansas City several days
during last we@K and was largely
attended by lawyers from al parts Of
Missouri. A most interesting pro-
Rramme was observed and the
meeting closed last Friday evening
with an annual dinner at the Midland
Hotel. George Robertson,o of Mexico,
Is president of the association and
on Thursday delivered the annual ad-
dress. We are sorry we have not
room for it in full. Mr.. Robertson
spoke in part as follows:
Gentlemen Of the Missouri Bar Association;
1t is befitting the occasion Of the
eighteenth annual meeting to mem
tion the fact that this association had
It's origin in this city December 29th,
1880, and during its entire existence
has always had the hearty support OF
the Kansas City bar, it having furnish
ed four Of its Presidents in the per-
sons Of John O. Gage, George W. Nc
Crary, John T. Philips and L. O.
Krautoff.
While the association has not
prospered numerically, as some OF its
membership is diffused throughout
the State and OF different times In all
about two thousand lawyers have
been members, while at the present
there Is membership of something
over four hundred on its rolls are
the names Of some Of the professional
immortals OF this State-Hall, Broad
head, Mscfarlane and Boone.
1t is characteristic of the age in
which we live that men engaged in
like pursuits, aided by the easy means
of transportation, come together In
voluntary association for the purpose
of enlightened coGssel and mutual as
sistance. Preaaglng much good to
the legal profession and benefit to the
public is the Increased interest In the
many State Bar Associations and the
N National Associations. Nearly every
State has an active,v vigorous organiza-
tion and the American Bar Association
is composed Of q membership from all
the States and Territories ofthe Union,
and our own State in that organize.
tfon stands seventh IN point OF num-
bers.
A study OF the history of our own
association demonstrates that IL has
been q powerful factor in the creation
Of the different courts and commits
sions Of this State with view of en-
abling the courts to transact the
business OF the State and keep up
with their dockets. Its achievements
have been the creation of the Supreme
COURT Commissions, the Court of APP
peals at Kansas City, an extension Of
the jurisdiction of that of St.Louis, and
the constitutional amendment adopted
In 1890, rearranging and increasing
the number Of Judges of the Supreme
Court. It was largely due to the ef-
forts OF Henry Hitchcock,of St. Louis,
and other delegates from this body to
the American Bar Association, that
finally Congress was induced to pass q
law creating the intermediate Circuit
Courts Of Appeal of the United States,
thereby relieving the Supreme Court
of an overburdened docket. These
are some fthe achievements In which
the members of this association have
participated and OF which they may
well feel proud.
1t is also due to the efforts of this
association that the law of this State
has been changed, requiring a higher
standard for admission to the bar
When the Bar Association began the
agitation Of q higher standard Of
education and moral fitness, 1t was
too often the case that mere smart
ness, aptness and chicanery we're by
many deemed the prime qualities for
admission. The Bar Of Missouri was
never without its standard OF
educational and moral fitness, but
there was much laxity In ascertaining
qualification for admission and In de-
pertinent thereafter. or late years,
however, by the efforts Of the bar Of
this State, through this association,
and by its action upon the Legislature,
much OF this laxity has been removed.
There is much yet to be done, how
ever, for there are now many mem
bers OF our profession who are not
entitled to that respect, sither In point
OF learning or morals, the high call
ing to which they belong should COM
mand. Such laws should be enacted
governing the admission to the bar
as will make the way into the profess
sion dread to the undeserving and a
pride to the worthy.
Yet we must not be content with
what we have done. While 1t is true