The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-07-09

mingham lawyers could be present
 The association was called to order at 10 o'clock by the president, Hon. Edward de Graffenried of Greensboro.
 The meeting was held in the hall of the house of representatives, which was deco rated with palms and cut flowers.
 New Members Admitted.
 The report of the central council on new members was read by Chairman Thomas R. Roulhac of Sheffield. It carried with it. when adopted the reception of the following new members: T L. Sowell of Jasper. w. A. Grove of Sheffield, w. H. Standifer of Ensey. A. J. Roulhac of Sheffield, J. l.. Andrews of Sheffield, Walker Percy of Birmingham, J. W. Davidson of Birmingham, R. II. Will hoyte of Sheffield. j. K. Thomas of Pratt vile, c. s. Mcdowell of Eufaula, H. R. Dill and V. L.. Allen of Birmingham, John A. Fillmore, R. T. Goodwin c. E. Cren- shaw and D. s. Housman of Montgomery Armistead Brown of Lafayette, Bunard Hower John Mckinley and l.. k. Poun- ders of Eutaw. w. F. Hogue. A. NJ Stewart and w. o. Johnson of Marion E. w Faith of Mobile. Daniel Partridge Fitts of Tuscaloosa, F. A. Mcdaniel of Abbevillo, E. H. Foster. Jr.. and George P Cooper of Huntsville.
 Judge w. H. Thomas of the Montgomery criminal court offered a resolution that the association appoint nine delegates to the International Congress of Lawyers and Jurists at St. Louis, which prevailed, the president name the delegates.
 Presidents Annual Address.
 The president then read nls annual ad- dress, which consisted of twenty pages Of typc-wrtten matter. He reviewed events of the past year, national and state. After the speech of thesA president, Treasurer Alex Troy made his report, showing col leetions for the year of $745, making a total of $500 50 with his balance. The dis bursements were $SS0 55, leaving a current balance of $4l9.05.
 The report of the executive committee was read by Mir. B. r. Crum of Mont gomery. The committee reported that 1t had examined the books of the treasurer and found them correct; had selected the dates for the present meeting and place; invited the speaker of the occasion, Hon. Tobius II. Busbee of North Carolina; ip- vited gentlemen to read papers, as indi- cated by the programme.
 The deaths of the three members were noted by this committee-Ion w. l. Bull lock of Russellvile, Judge John C.. Win ter and Capt E. A. Graham of Mont gomery A committee to draft suitable resolutions in memory of these deceased brethren was asked.
 It was further reported that arrange ments had been made for dinner at Jack son Lake tomorrow, and train to make the trip. It was reported that the disbar- ment law has borne good fruit
 Recess Is Taken.
 At the close of this report the president announced that a recess would be taken to allow the members to meet the orator of the day. Hon. Fabius H. Busbee of North Carolina.
 At 1210 o'clock MT. Busbee began to speak, occupying three-fourths of an hour. His subject was The Southern Lawyer and the Negro"
 After this speech c. P. Mcintyre of Montgomery, read a paper on Civil Pro- eedure" MT. Mcintyre is president of the city council of Montgomery and one of the best known young lawyers of the state.
 Just before the speech of Mir. Mcintyre, however, Phares Coleman of Montgomery moved that Hon. Fabius H. Busbee, the orator of the occasion, be thanked for his splendid address, and that he be elected an honorary member of the association. Carried This closed the work of the morning session and adjournment was taken for dinner.
 The Afternoon Session. The first business after reconvening business for the afternoon session was the appointment of the following com mittee by the president:
 On nominations of officers: w. M. Blakly of Montgomery, Henry Pitts of | Selma, Alex London of Birmingham, w. w. Callahan of Decatur and Lawrence Cooper of Huntsville.
 Delegates to the International Congress of Lawyers and Jurists; President de Graffenried, Secretary Alex Troy, Judge Thomas R. Roulhac of Sheffield Gen. George H. Harrison, Opelika; s. D. Weak ley Birmingham Judge w. H. Thomas. Montgomery F. G. Bromberg. Mobile; Lawrence Cooper Huntsville; James Weatherly, Birmingham.
 Laws Delay and Lynching.
 The first paper of the afternoon was read by MT. H. E. Gipson of Prattville on "Delays of the Law as an Excuse for Lynching."
 He took the position that the laws of the state were adequate, and that the courts were not backward about giving justice and punishment, especially in the case Of the supreme court. He rather laid the trouble at the door of the jury, which does not always measure up to what the law anticipates. He cited in ex- ample the case of Gaffan, so well adver- tlSeu m RldDdtild LII tllt liiSl iiiStdHSS iAie verdict was guilty, with sentence of death the second, penitentiary for life. and the third, acquittal ''The faults, so far as juries are concerned" he said. lie in the large numbers of the best citizens being unwilling to serve on juries for any kind of a case. 1t should be constantly borne .n mind that the jury under our system of Jurisprudence are part and parcel of the courts. and are responsible in measure for the short comings rightly chargeable to the courts.
 Mir. London's Opinion. l Alex London of Birmingham thought the trouble was largely with the present | jury law. He said men get in the boS who could not read. and are in no way qualified for the position.
 Judge Thomas R. .RQluhac said tho only betterment of the iuryvsystem hat been brought about by the stsNe bar asso citation.
 W. M. Blakely of Montgomery thought there should be a stoppage of giving ol petit and unnecessary charges toNhe jury w. w. Callahan of Decatur had mo sym pathy with this cry for speedy trials. Int delay of the courts is not the trouble; f is the mate devil in the people The mar in the mob is no respector of law. He re called cases of speedy trials which wer, little short of mob law. The paper wa. also discussed by W. l.. Martin, formel attorney general of the state.
 ] Mir. Alex London of Birmingham sais