The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-07-10


 and holy, let's uphold them when they deserve such"
 Walker Percy, having taken the head of the table pending the arrival of thu toastmaster, MT. Weatherly, opened the programme of speech of the evening" He said that had 1t not been announced that Mir. Weatherly would be in at Il o'clock distinguished friends place by any means. Addressing the banqueters further, he said in part:
 ''ihe initiative for real reform in Ala bama must come from the State Bar association. This thing of having the leg islature working at Y4 day per member under the very dictation of executive head is not calculated to give the best laws for the commonwealth. member of the legislature ought to be just as ln- dependent of executive domination as d member of Congress. l believe this as- sociation has cause for much gratlfca- tion tor the members of our profession who have been elevated to the bench of the state. l believe that this association has a tremendous field of useIul oper- ation and l believe that Held IS just be- ginning to open up to us."
 The first toast, line Bar Association" was responded to by Edward ue Graf fenreid of Greensboro MT. de Graffen- reid spoke at some length on the growth of the association ana of the good pur- pose for which 1t was organized. lie said he believed the association mad car ried out the objects for which it was formed, and stated that as tune goes on the field tor useful service will broaden and the association will grow and accom- plish its enus until it's service Will be recognized in all parts of the state.
 The Supreme Court, by Judge K. w. Walker of Huntsville. was the second toast on the programme, but Juoge Walk CT being apsent the chairman proposed a silent toast to the supreme court or Ala bama, which was orunK while the ban quelers stood.
 MT. Lackey was the next speaker and he was followed by w. P. AcKer of An nston, who responded 10 the toast, Tine Country Lawyer.
 After induging in little "take-of' on the country lawyer, MT .Acker said: There are corporation lawyers, damage suit lawyers, patent lawyers, equity law yers, and all sorts of other kinds of lawyers, but they are very easily grouped in two classes-city lawyers and country lawyers. l am a country lawyer and am proud of it.'
 MT. Acker then dwelt on the function of the country lawyer, stating that he
  points of the law but that he relied on common sense and reason and had conf dence in his jury to decide what Is right He then went on to tell how the country lawyers had filled the legislative halls and made laws which the city lawyer re- lied upon in the trial of his cases.
 Empet ONeal of Florence in response to the boast, '"The Bar of North Alabama a Retrospect" dwelt, in an able address, on the service of the old-school lawyers of North Alabama. He went back to the i time just before the outbreak of the Civil war and paid eloquent compliment to l, the lawyers of that day and time. i A. s. VandeGraaff of Tuscaloosa being i absent, the toast, "A Well Educated Lawyer" was omitted and w F. Thet- 1 ford. Jr.. of Montgomery was called upon to respond to the toast. "The Honest i Lawyer" Mr.. Thetford's speech. owing to the late hour, was made brief. How ever, he spoke quite humorousy of the 1 "honest" lawyer and his speech was ' greatly enjoyed.
 | With the conclusion of MT. Thetford' 8 address Mir Weatherly. who had, in the meantime. arrived. called on Emmet | O'Neal the newly elected president who delivered the parting words to the asso- | citation prior to the final adjournment.