The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-03-31
NOTABLE BANQUET
TO JUDGE WEAKLEY
Birmingham Jurist is Honored
by Birmingham Bar
GIVEN AT COUNTRY CLUB
Covers Wre Laid for One Hundred and
Fifty and Many FeIicitous
Toasts Were offered to
the Guest.
GIVEN AT COUNTRY CLUB

the jefferson county bar to Judge Samuel
D. Weakley last night at the Country
club was in every way a delightful af
fair. 1t was Testimonial of the high
regard and esteem in which Judge Weak
ley is held and of his eminent fitness
for the position of chief justice of the
state of Alabama.
Seldom it is said. has 1t been the pleas
ure of the members of the bar and the
assembled guests to participate In an oc-
casion so plentiful in all the elements of
eonvivialty. Covers were laid for $50 and
of speeches there were more than few
Good fellowship, the genius of the board.
held the tabled wand and Judge Weakley
was bedecked with the rarest flowers of
wit and soul His great popularity was
sincerely and enthusiastically attested.
Staunch Support.
The honored guest was promised the
staunchest support for election next Au-
gust as chief justice of Alabama, the APP
pointment under which he now holds that
position having been heartily endorsed
by over 200 members of the bar of Jeffer-
son county.
Nathan l.. Miller presided as toastnas-
ter with Judge Weakley on his right The
arrangement OF the long tables in the
shape of the letter X, with group OF
tropical plants at the intersection pro-
duced an artistic and enchanting effect.
The musical programme was rendered
by Claimants orchestra
Mr.. Miller made a short but fitting
speech. by way of prelude in which he
said the bar of Birmingham felt deeply
the high compliment paid them in the APP
pontment of one of their members to the
exalted position of chief justice.
The Chief Justice Speaks.
Judge Weakley. addressing the toast
master his fellow members of the bar
and the assembled guests, said in part;
II would be less than human If l was
not touched by this evidence of your
kindness and friendship ] believe my APP
pontment was intended as a recognition
of the greatness of the bar of Jefferson
county, and also that 1t was recognition
of the fact that the vast mineral district
of the state is entitled to have one menu
Der of its bar out of seven on the bench.
My acceptance OF the appointment
would have been unthinkable without the
endorsement of my own bar"
Even those, the speaker said. who for
different reasons had not endorsed him
had no hostility to him or had said any
thing against his character. II have no
message for you no set speech Judge
Weakley continued. Il have had no time
to prepare II. Within the past three
there is yet a vast business to dispose of,
some of It having been there for a long
time There are now four hundred and
one cases under submission in the SUI
preme court and there VIII be two hun
bred and fifty more during the spring
call. I will have to sit in all of these
cases. and l feel that the fair minded peo-
pie of the state will be willing to give
me a fair opportunity to show whether
my appointment was wise of unwise.
His Candidacy.
IF I to be retained upon the bench
/. will be largely through the influence
and work of the Jefferson county bar
which kindly offered to conduct my can
didacy, leaving me free to give time and
thought to my onerous duties.
+ "If 1t should turn out that the favor
of the people goes to another, I can
only say l have been very happy as
member of the Jefferson county bar in
the past, and | can still be happy among
the people OF my home county who have
so generously extended me their endorse
ment and support"
Other Speeches.
Rufus n. Rhodes next made a speech
strongly supporting Judge Weakley and
mapped out the lines on which he thought
the campaign should be managed.
The speech of Judge A. A. Coleman OF
the circuit court was happy and humor-
GUS No man that he knew, he said, was
so wen equipped for the position of chief
justice.
James Weatherly being called on spoke
of having known Judge Weakley for
ltwenty years, and he knew him to be of
pure gold He was a man who had the
rarest combination of qualities, the kind
est of hearts, the gentlest of natures
and that habit of ABSORPTION which so
distinguished Chief Justice John Marshall
the greatest turist that ever lived.
During the speech of B. NJ Allen there
was prolonged applause and laughter
Many present, he said, were members of
both bars.
Mr.. Eomstock of Pratt City, John Nc
Queen f. l. Monks and G. r. Harsh
heartily endorsed Judge Weakley's candi-
dacy and paid glowing tributes to his in
tegrty. culture and ability.
Col. John Tomlinson, the last speaker,
said that il the people of the state knew
Samuel d. Wealkley there would not be
a doubt about his election and It was the
duty of the Jefferson county bar to let
| them know him.
| There is a combination, he said, formed
in the state to deprive him of the cleo
tion. even If he should receive the ma
| jority of the votes Colonel Tomlinson
believed that the issue should be fairly
presented to the people of Alabama. AS
| SertlOnS ndO DeeH I1aue tndt the people
were not qualified to select judges. but
he was one of those who believed the
people are as well qualified to select
Judge they are to elect county repre-
| sentatiyes.
The Company.
| Following is a list of those who at
tended the banquet: V. l.. Allen, ]. w.
| Davidson, w. II. Smith, Augustus Ben
ners, J. r. Moore, Hindes Peevy, II. II.
Goldstein. William Vaughan Walker Per-
cy, John Forney, Felix Blackburn. c. B.
Powell, Clarke Williams. Berry Baugh,
III. s. Kennedy. r. III. Kerr, l.. J. Haley,
C. C. Nesmith, George P. Bondurant,
| C. G. Brown, r. C. Redus. e. c. Crow.
f. II. Cabaniss. Morris Loveman, j. B.
| Arid, III. X. White. E. X. Campbell,
| William NJ. Walker, J. c. King. Joe c.
HALL John Chisholm, C. j. Dougherty,
| Sterling A. Wood. Isham d. Hobbs. p.
IG. Bowman, G. r. Harsh. w.
IP McCrossin. A. Leo Oberdorfer,
| James A. Mitchell John London, c. w.
| Hickman. Ivey f. Lewis, F. Deedmeyer.
| John H. Miller, II. p. Hefiln. Hugh Nor
| row, II. T. Rudolph, W. 7. HILL n. Ham
| baugh. w. f. Martin. d. X. Middleton.
r. H Thach, James Weatherly, R. L.
| Leatherwood, r. Fl. Pearson. ]. C. Car
michael Tom Huey. J. F. Martin. B. NJ.
| Allen, w. j. Whitaker, p. p. Daugette,
| J. o. Smith, White F.. Gibson, Charles
| Denegre II. r. Howe. A., I4atady, Paul