The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-06-08
SUGGEST CHANGES
LAWYERS WOULD NAME THE sU'
 PREA1E COURT.
Committee Appointed by the Bar As- nocaation senas a Letter to EAch Lawyer Making Suggestions
 In Regard f0 Matter.

In a letter which says that a vast ma fority of the lawyers or the SIate are not satisfied with the present sys- tenn of selecting the Supreme court, w, F. Thetford. IT,. Chairman or the committee appointed by the Alabama Far Association, is sending out the following letter to the lawyers Of the state which unfoids 8 plan for a change in the manner of selection.
 gro the Lawyers of Alabama:
 .We herewith enclose you copy Of some resolutions which were introduc- ed at the last meeting of the Alabama Bar Association. The resolutions were referred to a committee of which the undersiRned are members and the committee was instructed to report 70 the next meeting of<the Bar Associa- tion.
 "This is a matter which concerns the public and especially every lawyer anu we do not feel that we have any more interest in it than other lawyers. ana sor this reason. we would like to have the benefit of the opinion of the public and of every lawyer in this State. and we therefore, ask, you to make cara- full examination of the plan and Of this letter. and write the Chairman frankly what you think about it.
 'Following are some Of the suggest ions which have been made to the com mltt0G anu uEBC0 AOA ~SASANS~- ~~' the matter:
 ;FIrst-That the vast majority of our lawyers are not satisfied with the nreaent system of selecting the Su- nrerne Court. That 1t Is distasteful to fine lawyers who desire to become cam didates. That 1t requires such an out" lay. both of time and money. as to com gtitute a heavy tax upon any candidate That the expense accounts nled by can didates show expenditures on their mart freouently vastly out of propors fion to their means, and that it IS com monly reported that the expense inci- dent to a campaign has deterred more than one desirable man from making inc race. That this feature was over iooked In the original conception of the urinary plan, but 1t is steadily devel- oping, and If the primary plan IS com tinued, it will In future undoubtedly De A greater burden than in the past.
 "second--Thet 1t involves an appeal for support to the lawyers of the state and not only to the lawyers. but to the citizeus generally. That it is perfectly snnarsnt to any lawyer that for a member of the Supreme Court, seeking d re-nomInation. to apply for support to the voters generally Is embarrassing to the judge an dis liable to miscon- struction on the part of the voter. Tnat this is particularly true where the campaign Is being conducted at e tims when the Supreme Court Is In session
 "ThIrd-That the voters of our State generally are not informed as to the Judicial ability of the candidates ana there is no way by which they can in- form themselves, other than by the ao . vice of some lawyer. That this Is not the Idea of lawyers alone, but that the voters generally recognise it, and are frank to admit that they are not In Zo1ItIon to form an Intelligent opinion. That in the experience Of lawyers their clients and friends have often asked their advice in reference to their vote for a member of the supreme Court. and followed 1t. That the plan which is offered Is designed to give to the voters generally the benefit of the opinion of the lawyers of the state. That 1t is not intended for the lawyers to assume the right to dictate the se- lection of the Supreme Court, or in any degree to take away from the voters the right given them by the Constitu- tion and laws of the State; but the ob- feet is to inform the voters of the opin- ion of the body Of lawyers as to the merits of the candidates.
 Among some of the objections made to the plan and urged upon the com mittee for consideration in this mat ter. are the following:
 ''FirstAThat at this time large number of the best lawyers of the state do not belong to the Bar Asso'
 "second-That the people generally | will regard this plan as usurpatioT l of their rights.
 "Third-That the plan Is not avail
 able on account of politics.
 'Fourth-That such movement or | the nAEt of tha Bar Association WoulC