The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-05-21
LEGAL SOCIETY
HOLDS BANQUET
AT ST. FRANCIS
Bar Association Members Have
Meeting and Discuss Relation
of Law to Community
Need for Changes in Present
System Emphasized by Well
Known JuristS

large was the main theme OF the din
ner and meeting of the San Francisco
Bar association. held last night in the
St Francis hotel The common senti-
ment was that reforms and changes
Of a sweeping character were neces-
sary i'm order to eliminate that atti-
tude Of distrust with which the public
is apt to view the legal fraternity and
The workings Of the courts.
no doubt was expressed Of the eX-
istence OF this feeling of antagonism,
and neither was there any attempt to
minimize the inadequacy Of the law
10 meet modern conditions. Both were
accepted as ugly facts which sooner
or later had TO be faced
More than ESQ members of the assO-
citation were in attendance. and the
gathering was dominated by so pal
pable and sincere a tone of enthusi
assn that mall likelihood dinners SIM
liar TO the one last night viii be re-
peated at regular intervals.
FALSE VIEW OF LAWYER
Curtis H. Lindley. president of the
association, went TO the heart Of the
main issue in his opening remarks
The average citizen" said he. is apt
TO look upon the &c lawyer as
existing in the main for the purpose
Of stirring up strife, defeating jus
tice. organizing piratical excursions
into other peoples pockets and adj
vising clients, individual and corpor-
ate. as TO how far they may go with
out breaking into Jail Some of this
is undoubtedly accounted for by igno-
rance. some by false representations by
purveyOrs Of so called public news, and
I'm part due to ourselves.
Each one OF US. in admission TO the
bar. has taken solemn oath to main
tain the respect due to the courts of
justice and judicial officers. Do We do
it, Every judge ought to be amenable
10 fair. just and honest criticism. but
he should be free from unjust and un-
reasoning attack. In this respect we
may not hope 10 reform the press.
Rather. as has been stated by a New
York journal of good standing and
repute. our efforts should be toward re-
forming the newspaper reader. When
the patron OF the newspaper is taught
10 turn in disgust from that which is
trivial vapid and silly the reformation
Of the press may be brought about.
CHANGE DEEMED NECESSARY
Undoubtedly the attitude of the
public 10 the law is in some measure
HdSen upon the tOndlLlOn OF the law
Both bench and bar realize that some
change is necessary and that the pres
ent system. more or less archaic, is
wholly inadequate to cope with the
demands OF the modern age.
These are matters for the bar asso-
citation TO discuss and remedy. Let
US not forget that every man is held
debtor 20 his profession"
Plain speaking of similar sort
characterized the speech Of Charles S.
Wheeler in his address on The Ideals
Of the Profession" He repeatedly
scored his fellow professionals for
their lack of ideals. referring to a Ger
tain class as puppets Of the pluto
cratic classes, contemplate" and
traitors TO the constitution He
called TO their minds their oaths as
attorneys and vehemently criticised
those who. IN their zeal for success.
violated their professional obligations.
He painted with glowing colors the
ideals and standing Of the Legal pro-
fessi0n in the past and then, turning
sharply on his auditors. he fayed and
dashed and scored them for the dis
repute into which the bar had fallen
as a result Of what he termed the
tyranny Of vast wealth
RECALLS DE TOQUEVILLE'S VISIT
Tie told OF the visit of the great De
ToQueville TO America and his char
acterization OF the bar and bench Of
the United States as its true aristocra-
cy. But what IL De Toqueville came
back today2" cried Wheeler: would he
repeat his immortal phrase2 No: he
would feel constrained 10 say that
the so called aristocracy Of America
no longer was on the bench and al
the bar
Through great aggregations of
wealth and the Capitalization of money
power in the hands of few. the law
Yer Of today has been seduced from
his high ideals OF the past and has
become but the plaything and puppet
Of plutOcrats. He has devoted nc
talents not to the uplifting but 70 the
degradation OF the bar and its tradi-
lions.
And has he been true TO his oath RI
support the constitution of the ITnited
States2 When i look about me a. tho
cringing. shrinking, mock modest
almost said contemptible-attft OF
the members Of the bar. I feel con
strained TO use a harsh term but a trua
one-they are traitors.
For fidelity TO the constitution docs
not consist in not warning against vour
country with bullets and bayonets. but
IN upholding the laws you have sworn
10 guard with your honor
Declare, then. answering war
against the traitor who would steal
the right Of popular government bv
manipulation of political parties or
otherwise so that the nation is ruled
by a minority and not by the majority
in the true way laid down in our con-
stitution-
Are you going to remain a body Of
ncnassertive men. afraid to have
opinions OF your own or TO EXPRESS
them II you have them. or is vour
standing in the community to go lower
and lower and the ideals Of our Young
lawyers 70 be shattered altogether
JURY SYSTEM REFORMS
Speaking on The Reform of the Jury
system Chief Justice William II
Beatty said that there was no doubt
that the present state OF affairs in this
regard was oppressive and unjust. He
strongly opposed the plan Of judges
making out a list OF trial jurors
The assessment roll should be the
jury list" said he. and the burden of
jury serving should be borne by all
equally. ] should suggest the skeleton
OF a plan by which every man with the
necessary qualifications should be re-
CURED to act. Those on whom serving
on jury would mean an excessive