The San Francisco call., 1909-11-11

cancy in the nations highest tribunal
The action was in line with that taken
by the Virginia bar association Tues
day. when he was accorded a similar
recommendation by the southern state.
The Endorsement was formally extended
in the following resolution proposed by
Oscar F. Trippett of Los Angeles and
seconded by L. T. Hatfield of Sacra-
mento:
Resolved, That this association
does now indorse Erskine NJ. Ross
of California, circuit Judge, as
vacancy existing upon the bench
of the supreme court of the United
States;
That his appointment TO such a
position would be a meritorious
promotion. and we recommend that
the president appoint him to fill
such vacancy.
OLD FUND FOR NEW BODY
The convention was called to order
yesterday morning in the red room of
the st. Francis hotel, with Judge Lind
ley in the chair and Thomas w. Robin
son of Los Angeles as temporary sec
retary, both of (which positions they
were later elected to fill throughout
the session of the convention. The
morning hour was devoted chiefly to
routine business and the appointment
of committees, the most important of
which was a committee of seven named
by the chair to report plan of organi-
zation, with a draft of constitution and
bylaws.
More fortunate than most infants.
the new bar association was born with a
silver spoon in its mouth and in the very
hour of its birth was named sole heir
of a long deceased ancestor through
the enthusiastic endeavors of its own
members acting as self-constituted ex-
ecutors.- Judge ]. *. Law of Merced
initiated the movement by stating that
he was formerly treasurer of the Cali
fornia state bar association, formed in
1890, and that as the surviving Of
ficer of that long defunct body he re-
tained in his possession the sum of
$227.40, which amount he would be
glad to turn over to the new associa-
tion IL it could adequately establish its
title as heir at law
CASH ACCEPTED WITH THANKS
It took the assembled lawyers less
than two minutes to discover that the
former bar association died intestate.
and, with the conniyance of the several
members of the bench present to nut
its estate through probate. There
wasn't loophole left when. they fin-
1shed, and the cash in possession of
Judge Law was accepted with thanks.
Another legacy was received from
still another ancestor of like fate in
the official name chosen for the asso-
citation. The California bar associa-
tion of early days also failed to sur
yive, but its charter name still stands
in the state records. Judge Lindley
stated that he had conferred with the
remaining officers of that extinct as
sociation and had received a deed in
fee to the appellation.
The only argument of the day deveI-
oped in the discussion of the report of
the committee on organization, but was
not of sufficient violence to disrupt the
orderly procedure.
DIFFERENCE OVER VOTING
The point Of difference had to do with
the question of whether only members
named as delegates from properly con-
stituted city or county bar associations
should have the right to vote at annual
meetings of the state body, or whether
the franchise should be extended to all
members, irrespective of the size of
the organizations which they repre-
sented.
The committee on organization.
headed by Judge j, A. Gibson of Los
Angeles. reported in favor of allowing
every member of the association a vote
on Nall matters coming before the an
nual meetings. A substitute was moved
in favor of allowing all members the
floor, but giving the voting power only
to delegates chosen on a per capita
basis of representation by city or
county bar associations. This, it was
argued. would prevent the possibility
Of country district members being out
voted by representatives of the bar in
the larger cities. where the annual
meetings were most likely to be held
and where large numbers of local at
Forneys could be brought together
The opposition TO the committee re-
port was not confined to country law