The Hawaiian gazette., 1909-11-26
BAR ASSOCIATION
HAD warm time
Motion to Recommend De Bolt as
Supreme Justice Results
in Hot Speeches.
rFrom Thursdays Advertiser,


The bar association INDUCED in a
heated debate ut its meeting yesterday
afternoon on n motion made by S. NJ.
Ballou that a prior motion to recon-.
mend Circuit Court Judge De Bolt for
appointment to the supreme court
bench to succeed Justice Wilder, be
indefinitely postponed. This motion was
resented by several of the lawyers pres
emit, who vofced their opposition and
finally outv0ted the motion to indef-
initely postpone the consideration of
Judge De Bolt Is name, stating that it
should be discussed, at least.
Incidentally, so.called one.man rule
came in for vigorous scoring, various
attorneys expressing themselves as be-
ing decidedly opposed to allowing the
Governor to take matters into his own
hands and recommend his own man for
the position without consulting the as
ISOLATION. 1t was stated by some of
the members of the bar association that
Governor Frear g choice is Robbins b.
Anderson.
The meeting of the association was
called for the purpose of considering
the matter of recommending to Gov.
ernor Frear for recommendation to
Washington n candidate to fill Justice
Wilder place when he resigns.
A. G. M. Robertson promptly moved
that the bar association recommend the
appointment of Judge De Bolt. This
threw the matter open for discussion,
and Ballou moved the indefinite post
ponement of Robertson Is motion. The
carrying of such a motion, of course,
would cut De Bolt out and prevent the
bar association from ever considering
his name again in connection with the
vacancy on the supreme bench.
Thompson Awake.
But Frank Thompson was decidedly
not in favor of this. He sprang to his
feet. "Mr. Ballou s motion, if car
ried,' he said, "will absolutely kill
Mr.. Robertson s notion
At this point, w. U. Smith objected
to the presence of reporter and pass
ed it up to the association whether or
not he should be allowed to remain.
Frank Thompson promptly moved that
the reporter stay, as has always been
customary, and the members of the as
ISOLATION sustained Thompson in the
matter.
George A. Davis, in characteristic
speech, said that he was placed in an
awkward position. He considered
Ballou's motion nonsense, he said. He
didn't care for the task of helping to
select supreme justice before whom
he must later appear as attorney, but
he considered it the business of the
bar association and not of the Gov
ernOr to select a successor to Justice
Wilder. "a man should be indepep
dent,'S he said, "even if it costs him
something" Davis thought the mat.
ter sho I'D be referred to the executive
commit ee to make nominations.
Associations Duty.
I. M. Harrison thought it the duty of
the association to recommend some
body, no matter how well qualified the
Governor might be to select a man.
The Governor, he said, is only one man
and he has his own friends. 1t is the
duty of the bar association to pass
upon someone.
W. X. Castle thought the suggestion
MAUI ny oeOTke "A. DaNlS good one
and moved an amendment TO the
original motion, to the effect that the
matter be referred TO the executive
committee. Frank Thompson objected
%. this and contended that the motion
10 postpone indefinitely should be put.
Robertson got the floor. Governor
Garter is reported to have said once, "
ase remarked, "that the bar association
had no backbone. If Mr.. Ballou S mo.
tion prevails, / think that Governor
Carter will be proved to have been
right. i am not trying to shut out the
name of any other man; | am willing
TO give every candidate fair chance
If there are any other aspirants to be
mentioned, L am perfectly willing to
hear their names. But to do nothing
rs absolutely eowardly. What is the
bar association for if it is not TO take
action upon such occasions as thisf We
might as well dissolve into dinner
club.
Ballou's motion indefinitely to post
Pone Robertson motion was put and
lost by heavy vote.
W. II. Castle then moved that the
matter be referred to the executive
committee TO select a name or names
and report back TO the bar association
at an adjourned meeting to be held
December !. This motion prevailed and
the meeting adjourned.
h was an angry crowd of lawyers
shat went down on the elevator,