The Tupelo journal. (Tupelo, Miss.) 1876-1924, 1909-03-05
Unanimously Endorsed by the Lee
Comfy Bar. Interesting
Addresses Made.

| over TO the guests at o.aU. Opreaa
were laid for twenty, and the guest
never sat down to more tempting
repast. The dining hall was de,orate'
in white and blue, and the columns
and walls were drlped in flags ani
festooned with early spring flowers.
Honorable John Nj. Allen was thu
Toast-master and Claude Clayton, Esq
headed the committee of arrangement;
and was Master of Ceremonies.
The banquet consisted of five course:
with menu embracing select dishes tt
be had at this season of the year, Tht
| preparation and service ELECTED the
highest compliments for the manage
nent of the popular place.
The repast over, Mr.. Allen announce
that as postmaster, he would not cal
on any one to speak, but that every
one was invited to participate in the
s s)eeches that were to follow.
Mr.. Allen, as the close personal friend
O. Judge Sykes, reviewed the friend,
ship that has existed between them fol
the past forty year md 81 ese in NEST
complimentary terms of the life ano
public service of the distinguished
guest. He reviewed that part of Judge
Sykes service to the country, after his
four years service as a Confederate
soldier; the active part he took in the
reconstruction after the war, and the
valuable service rendered the State as
a member of the Legislature, and the
G institutional Convention of 1899. He
then reviewed his service of twelve
years on, the,bench, and his own mimi
table way portrayed in pictures true 10
life, the spotless character of him who
has been an ideal Judge, end one VIE
has done more to raise the moral stan
dard of the people In this section than
any other man. Mr.. Allen spoke in
feeling terms, and the younger members
were deeply impressed by the ecomiums
Dditl W Ll&Slt i.oilNfSA lfi1ild'
Following Mr.. Aliens remarks, Geo.
T. Mitchell presented the resolutions
prepared by the bar. The committee
which drafted the resolutions was eom-
losed of S. ?. Clayton, ], NJ. Thomas
and w. D, Anderson. The resolutions
read by Mr.. Mitchell were as follows:
RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED,
Resolved, That it is the sense of
the members Of the Lee county bar,
''First-That Judge Sykes has made
an able conscientious ana upright Judge
administering justice without respect
to pc sons, doing equal right to the
rich and poor alike. uninAuenced by
fear or favor. getting at the very heart
of the right wien possible under the
rules of law; his splendid legal ability
being supplemented by those indespen-
sable requisites of great judge, an
extraordinary amount of common sense
and deep knowledge of human nature
and moral and mental integrity of the
very highest degree, His administra-
tion of the criminal law, while always
in proper cases tempered with mercy,
has been especially vigorous, able and
effective, accomplishing much good Tor
this section of the state. He mas ever
turned deaf ear to public prejudice
and clamor, and held the scales OF JUS
tice wi h an even hand. H. has been
uniformly courteous, polite and eonsid=
crate toward litigaI'ts, court officers
and membe.s Of the bar,and especially
the younger members of the legal pro-
fession.
.Second-That as man, friend, a
citizen and in the councils OF his state,
and as practicing lawyer, he has few
equals. His conduct has been such as
to inspire his fellow man ta higher
things. He is loyal; he does not turn
away from a friend on account OF self
interest. or small things. As lawyer
he went beyond the mere study OF cas-.
es; he sought to find the reason and
right of tho law. During Reconstruc-
tion times he riskeo his life and his all
on saving his state to the Anglo-Saxon
race. He has served his county nobly,
| both in peace and war.
Third-T That we part with him reluc-
tantly as judge. He takes with him.
and will always have, our affectlonate
friendship. We will rejoice at any gooo
that may come to him. and grieve at
any evil which may befall him.
fourth-ThaI a copy OF these resOlu-
tions be spread ON the minutes of the
circuit court of this county, and given
into the press for publication
Mr.. Mitchell then spoke to the reso
lutions, and in most eloquent talk
paid high tribute to the retiring
| judge.
Following Mr.. Mitchell, Chancellor
]. @. Robins, w. D. Anderson. Esq
Judge w. M Cox. G. P. Long. S. z
Clayton, j. w. P. Boggan, James A
Finley, Geo. I. Hill, Claude Clayton
lO. K. Gary, Wiley A. Blair, ]. NJ
Thomas. paid high tribute to the Judge
each finding some special attribute
which he had discovered to especially
command, and eadear Judge Sykes tt
every member Of the bar and to tn,
people at large.
Al the close of these, Judge Syke
responded fee ingly, and his warm heart
was deeply touched BY the display Q