The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1909-07-06
LAWYERS TOUCH
ON VITAL TOPICS
Want Change in Disbar-
ment Legislation
FREIGHT RATE RESOLUTION

adopts Coo Of Ethics of AmericaE
Bar Association. and Ruffin Bcso;u-
ti"n-Spic1d.d Addresses by ThOs
Settle and James ". Osborne, OF
New York.
Especial to News and Observer
AsIleVille, y. c., July 1,-TOday's
session of the North Carolina Bar AS
ISOLATION was notable for the fine ad-
dress of Thomas Settle. the resolu-
ton introduced by Thomas w. Davis,
of Wilmington. and also a bill to be
presented to the next session of the
Legislature for the amendment of
the laws relating to the disbarrment
of attorneys, the resolution by E. J.
Justice, of Greensboro, hat the Bar
Association join with the mercantile
associations of North Carolina in
their deman for just and equitable
freight rates to all points in the state
in comparison to other states, and
the resolution of Thomas Rutfin, Pro-
fessOr of Law at the University of
North Carolina. asking that the Su-
preme Court of North Carolina be
S~tricter in ega to the laws and
rules governing applicants for license
to practice law, and also asking them
to be more vigilant Of the men to
pfeVen cheating IN examinations.
This last resolution brought forth
great discussion and was referred to
Il special committee consisting OF E.
J. Justice, Iredell Meares and Mr..
Kirk. to report at this session.
a telegram was sent to Judge T.
B. Womack expressing sympathy in
his illness and wishing speedy recov-
cry. Messages of sympathy were
sent to Judge Charles A. Moore and
G. NJ. Busbee, who are also sick.
The resolution of T. w. Davis set
forth that the Supreme Court should
require those who wished to practice
law to take the oath which is pre-
scribod by the American Ban AssO-
citation and adopted in some states.
The bill which he presented threw
greater power into the hands of the
Judge to disbar attorneys and in
cluGed those convicted of misdemean-
OrS. The whole matter referred TO
the committee on laws and legisla-
ton for their report next year. The
Far Association are determined 10
have passed laws putting greater
checks upon attorneys. More tina
80 new members have been admitted
to membership, making total over
500 members.
Taking as his subject The Task of
the Legal Profession and its Mem
bcrs in the Rehabilitation of the
South as a Potential Factor in the
Affairs Of Government" Thomas Set
tie delivered a splendid address.
showing great thought, He spoke
upon the Importance of the legal pro-
fesSiOn in the affa rs of the country,
and the fact that while lawyers are
greatly criticized at times, he thought
that they were too philosophical and
passive under this criticism. The
obligation of rehabiltating the SOUTH
rests upon YOU said he, and the
difficulties Which you have to en-
counter are almost innumerable.
thief among which is the illiteracy Of
the South. He then gave some sta
tistics regarding this and said that
the burden of this work fell only upon
the few. hardly one-third of the
population who could grasp the situa-
ton. He said he did not refer to the
i'll tCracy to criticise the people, for
fate had dealt hard With them and
many were not able under crcumstan-
ces to be held responsible for the
conditions. ct is la~nentable." he
declared. 1T is a condition and not
q theory" He then discussed the
part the lawyers We're taking to better
conditions in the South, and thought
they had not done their full duty.
were not keeping up with their
in the government but seemed
to be content with, tend to your own
local AFFAIRS which comes from ma
tiOnal leaders. 1t is the spirit of the
broad craftsmanship and charitable
Judgment it is that spirit that VIII
have to find it's Judgment in the
South through YOU" said Mr.. Settle,
who are trained for the tasks Of gov
ernment. You have that obligation
resting upon you" He spoke of the
fact that the South was not enjoy
the important position in national
that it should, and that our
possessed. In concluding
Settle said that ''the South will
oner or later right herself and find
herself and fulfill her destinies
through the influence, the patience and
he activity of the legal profession"
The Bar Association were the
of the ASheNiua Bar ASSOcia-