The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-02-15
BRIGHT MEN MEET
Local Bar Banquets the Su-
preme Court Judges
Eugene Hagan Acts as Toast
master.
MIR. Eff. WARE SPEAKS
Poet-Lawyer Delivers Address
on % The Supreme Court" "
Responses Made by Chief Justice
Doster and Judge Ellis

The largest gathering Of the Topeka
bar for several years occurred at the
Copeland hotel last night when the local
bar gave a banquet complimentary 10
the members of the supreme court sew
enty-five lawyers were present, wnlcn
is really a remarkable gathering OF
legal lights for Topeka
Ii was 2 O'Clock before the last speech
was made and the members went home
but even if the time was long it was
thoroughly enjoyed BY every one
Eugene Hagan was the toastmaster Of
the occasion. and when he arose after
the BANQUET he was greeted with ap-
pIause. and there was nothing to drink
but water. He opened his remarks as
soon as the applause died out by say
ing. Il presided over a banquet many
years ago and it was the last time un-
til the present one It was a Democratic
banquet and was during the life Of the
Democratic party At that banquet a
man was applauded for anything he
could saw. he was appIauded even if he
was able to stand erect. This applause
now reminds me of the story o1 tne
man who saw a large snake anu re-
marked That is the largest snake
ever saw without the aid of liquor, ana
ceived without the aid Of liquor A
few weeks ago the members OF tne
Shawnee county bar were telling the
governor there were no good men Tor
the supreme bench outside of Topeka.
and now we are telling him what good
men he appointed
EVERY man has chance to become
famous. Last winter I went to Hot
Springs and registered at hotel In
the morning the landlord approached
me and said Are you not The han-
sas poet IrOnquin9 Yes, repned.
Are You the celebrated poet2 Yes
Wen. sir. you must pay your board piA
..IThat night we got into poker game
and the hands had gone around but
few times when 1 got three kings The
landlord was dealing, and ] know the
southerners' way of working suckers 50
when the bet came to me I passed The
landlord looked at me, and then said:
you are no poet: you are too ---
smart for a poet
who said
THE supreme court Of Kansas has
always been "a great and good court. 1
have known all the members Of the
court. They have performed their duties
with fidelity and ability. Not everything
I can say of the court is good They are
the most i'll favored looking men ever
saw You have seen the pictures IN
the court room. and assure you they
are good 1ikenesseS. The members OF the
supreme court have been great men;
the present members are great men, and
] know you join me in hoping the courts
which may come wiz be as great and
good"
In introducing Judge Doster Mr.. Ha-
can said. Judge DOster was in the
state house when no Republican could |
get in He kept them out. Then turn |
ing to the other members Of the court |
present, Mr.. Hagan said: Gentlemen, |
there are now six of you against him. |
Feed fat that ancient grudge, 1 charge |
you
Judge Doster said. T hardly know |
what to say to you tonight as have |
very little experience in making address
IS at banquets. You viii pardon me Il /
] recite little personal remlneScence- /
I my boyhoOd I first wanted to be a /
railroad engineer. ] then wanted to be /
a soldier, then I decided / would Ike to /
be an actor. After these all i decided 1
7 wanted To be a lawyer and 50 I was. 4 4
have never regretted my decision. AT \
that time I came to Kansas. My wife Il
followed i'm a short time with new \
baby brought about a dozen laW 4
books with me and that stock has not in /
creased When passed through Topeka /
the papers were publishing a supreme I
court decision regarding railroads. 1 /
have seen the court grow since then ana /
I have known every Judge of the court /
since then He then spoke of the chief /
justices Of the court, Ewing, Cobb. Bail /
ey, Safer and spoke very highly Of them Il
as men and jurists. Judge Kingman ne 4
termed the father OF all the lawyers. !
The hardest working. the most painstak-
ing member Of the supreme court of the 4
state was Justice Valentine.
Some years ago I determined to do 4
the supreme court Of this state up. I
submitted to an interview about them 4
] spoke Of their lack of originality of 4
thought but I qualified by saving that /
Justice valentine had a mind of his 1
II look for the ersa+s-t zoo.z,1-.
cent years to come from Justice Brewer
upon the case which is now pending
which IS OF more Importance than anv
case since tne Dred Scott case" He pro-
badly referred to the Philippine case He
then spoke a few words 81 the present
peHch and closed by telling a story of l
how congressman who went to wash
ington could not understand how he
happened to be there. when Toalr ~
the members Of this court and think ~
tne men VINO nave been members Of fhis
court feel much the same as the con-
lis he said:
Now win let the Judge explain how
he got on the bench - W
Judge Ellis had been selected bv tba
.isn1 members OF the court 10 answer. the
todst 70 the new members. He irst an,
SWered the remarks by Judge roste,
lo hoI mind telling how 1 happened 1
@ -1 set gla tne supreme bench. said .Tudga
E-AlAs, s, AT was done In this way il came
~-C @tfGF4ADE III regard 10 4
appointing me and had a talk with hirn
.a5.,tt..l- f5lilEu 70 nave objections to ap-
pointiHg me because he hinted fb.4
vas not enough of a lawyer for the
pace said to him. See here. governor
an 70 oe appointed TO this court ac-
.,e,.+ -. - rs present status Just see
ttnat the people Of Kansas have DOVE IN
snis matter; they have elected Iusfice
Doster TO this court After. ! faSv --e
.--- - aIlo Sooo Hatured jibes at the old
as1raosAs ssl4,,-t q tne court, he said: