The age-herald., 1901-06-29
His Subject Was the Duties and Responsibilities of the
 American Lawyer
IN TIE TWENTIETH CENTURY
He Reviewed the History of the Repub- lie, and Said 1t Was Enduring Be. cause It Is a Government
 of the People.


 Age-Herald Bureau. Clancey's Hotel, Montgomery, June 2S.-(Special )-Former Secretary of the Navy Hillary A. Her bert delivered wonderfully strong ad- dress before the Alabama State Bar As- sociation today, taking high ground for freer thought, freer speech and more in- dependent action by the American people The address was heard by a large and brilliant audience. embracing the members of the association, delegates to the Con- stitutional Convention and many ladies, and the independent sentiments of the or ator were roundly applauded.
 The State Bar Association convened in annual session this morning, President Thomas c. Jones presiding. The first business was the election of new mem- bers. and upon their nomination, the sec- retary was instructed to cast the vote of the association fof the following: Claude Riley, J. F. Landers, Eiba; Tipton Null lins, Clanton; W. T. Sanders, Athens; F. M Pienfoy, Tuscaloosa; W. F, Her bert. Montgomery; Charles P. Jones. Montgomery; A. Latady, Birmingham; W. O. Long, AbbevIlle.
 There was a good attendance of mem bers. including Messisa John w. Tom linson, John P. 1illman, Charles A. Senn. James Weatherly. J. A. W. Smith and A. Latady of Birmingham.
 President Jones read his annual address By law of the association 1t is made the duty of the president in this address to review all legislation Of the proceed ing year. and President Jones resume was full, yet concise and succinct.
 He had closely observed the trend of recent legislation and noted the course that legislative progress was taking. He saw in it great deal of patriotism E.il legislatures were willing to give lore than an attentive ear to any charitable enterprise They were inclined to spend the money in their charge for charitable purposes without regard to whether the persons benefited were able or unable to pay.
 The governor also saw in recent legis- 1ation concerted movement on corpora tions and combinations. The legislation seemed prompted by desire for popular ity more than anything else. It should be considered sometimes that combina- tions would be beneficial to the people and not harmful all the time. Tn such legislation 1t should be ascertained wheth- CT the legislation in question was benef1- cial or harmful to the people.
 When President Jones concluded the As- sociation adjourned to the Hall of Rep resentatives. the Constitutional Conven- tion having recessed at noon for the pur- pose of listening to the address of Hon. Hilary A. Herbert.
 President Jones presented the disting- uished orator in simple but appropriate words Colonel Herbert began his ad- dress by alluding to the personnel of the association, where he became a member in 1860, and the names of the Walkers. Elmores, Cloptons, Stoneses. Troys and others of equal distinction were called
 The subject of Colonel Herbert's address was "The Duties and Responsibilities of the American Lawyer in the Twentieth Century," He referred to the many changes brought about in recent years by new problems.
 'sWe are all now surprised that we ever lost faith in the people or had distrust of self-government. No government Is so difficult as self-government. Ours Is the only great people who ever maintained a thoroughly republican government. It Is the only one in the world today Small republics like Switzerland with homoge- neous people have endured"
 He went over the great problems and difficulties that confront us, the magni- tude of the interests that contend with each other.
 He detailed the great perils that have confronted the republic at distinct pe- riods. This to negro enfranchisement and 1t has put the South ever since into the midst of struggle for the preservation of civilization. It has led us to justify -s~ Ilx- like pestilence He hoped the wise men of the convention now in session here would have the courage to settle the suffrage on a basis broad and true and that would last for generations.
 The supreme danger that confronts us. is the heat of political partisanship. The temptation to quarrel and fight over the results of the ballot box will be greater in the twentieth century than ever be- fore, because the prizes are so much greater. We must be more careful than ever in the selection of officials. We must have greater independence of thought and action by political parties. The most dangerous theory is the yellow dog theory of voting for the nominee. He contended that no man should vote for nominees and platform unless they met his conscientious approval. Let parties know they must do right. If neither party puts out platform or candidates to suit the voter, he can refuse to sup port either and should do it. In short. he made a plea and argument for inde- pendent voting as high duty of citizen ship We owe gratitude to the indepen- dent press at the North Colleges and magazines are becoming non-partisan and give all hearing.
 We must have freer thought and freer speech and standard above party In dependence is getting a foothold in the South. Our newspapers are getting above party. He eulogized the newspapers here in Alabama which went to Palmer and Buclxner, and gave special praise to the Montgomery Advertiser for it's work in that revolt
 Colonel Herbert maintained that the constitution does not follow the flag. We have the Philippines. Are we to govern those people, or are they to help govern us? On this subject the Democratic and Republican parties have performed an acrobatic feat and changed positions.