The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-01-10
THE BAR ASSOCIATION
Chaplin Brown Elected President of
the Organization.
His Success Due to the Efforts of the
Younger Prnctitioncrs-Much Quiet
bcrs-Bcnjamiu +. leighton Unani-
mousIy Chosen First Vice President

Chaplin Brown was last night elected
president OF the Washington Bar Asso-
citation. The meeting was one OF the most
largely attended ever held Dy the organi-
zation. The choice OF Mr.. Brown as pres
ident OF the association was something OF
a surprise. The unwritten law Of the or
ganization is that the choice OF the chief
officer shall be in the nature of promo
tion. aGd 1t has been the custom for years,
at the expiration of the term OF the presi-
dent, to select the first vice president as
his successor.
An unusual condition CT affairs. however,
confronted the members of the organiza-
tion when called upon to choose a successor
to Samuel Maddox, who had been president
OF the association for two terms. the al
lotted time which it is permissible. under
the law. for the chief officer to hold the
presidency The elevation OF Job Barnard
to the bench OF the Supreme Court of the
District also tended 10 eomplicate matters
Mr. Barnard was first vice president OF the
association. and had he not resigned the po-
sitlon when chosen as Associate Justice of
the Supreme Court OF the District would
have, according to the unwritten law of the
organization, been elected to succeed Mr..
Maddox.
The fact that Mr. Brown was the second
vice president of the association, it was be-
lieved by many. did not entitle him to
succeed to the presidency. The resigna-
tion of Mr.. Barnard. 1t was thought. would
furnish pretext for opposing Mr.. Browns
election without violating the unwritten
law of the association.
During the last few days there has been
considerable electioneering carried on
quietly among the members of the organ
ization. This interest resulted In the large
number of members present last night to
participate in the election. II was also
known that William +. Mattingly. for many
years a prominent and popular member CT
the association, would be made candidate
against Mr.. Brown. This fact engendered
a spirit of rivalry among the younger and
older members OF the association. and Mr..
Brown, although placed in nomination by
Franklin 4. Mackey, one of the oldest
members Of the organization was support
ed almost unanimously by the younger
members.
Mr. Mattlngly wss nominated by \. s.
Worthingtou and the suggestion was sec
onded by Henry L. Davis. The election
was by ballot, Mr.. Brown receiving A
votes and Mr.. Mattingly 80.
President Maddox named Messrs Worth
ington and Mackey a committee TO escort
Mr.. Brown to the chair. When he took
his seat he was called on for a speech,
After thanking the members for the COM
pliment paid him, he said if he had not
been chosen nothing would have given him
greater pleasure than moving that Mr..
Mattingly's election be made unanimous.
Reniamin F. Leighton was chosen first
vice president and Mr.. ]. Holdsworth Cor
don. second vice president. by the unani-
nous vote of the association Corcoran
Thorn. who has served four terms, and
Charles IL. Cragin. who has served six
terms. we're unanimously chosen, respec-
lively, secretary and treasurer to succeed
The following were elected members OF
the board OF directors: Hugh 7. Taggart,
Leon Tobriner. b. $. Minor, Julius Maedel.
and E III. Thomas