The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-09-03
UNIVERSITY MEN HONOR SOMERV|LLE. Jolly Crowd Banquets At Hotel
 HiIIman BOOST FOR THE COLLEGE Candidacy of Trained Mind' Well comed-AIlen on Fuller Bill. WeatherIy Humorous-Bow-
 e's Tribute to "AIabama."
BOOST FOR THE COLLEGE

ie's Tribute to "Alabama."
 If it be possible that lawyers can en- joy a cold water banquet they succe aded last night, when a group of former stu dents of the University of Alabama in- augurated the campaign of Prof. Ormond Somerville for justice of the supreme court. In fact they found unusual pleas ure in laughing about the absence of the beverage and cheerfully closed the occa- sion with toast to Trouble"
 Grouped around the board were some of the strongest and most influential as we'll as the youngest and most promising law yers of the Birmingham bar. The fea- ture of the programme was the appeal for the young lawyer and the university man to enter politics, and the indorse- ment of Professor Somerville on account of his own personality, ability and stand ing, as well in memory of and loving tribute to his father Judge Somervile, who will always have a warm place in the hearts of the older graduates of the Uni- versity of Alabama.
 The gray-haired pleaders referred with eloquence to those days in the 7Vs and sos when they were guided through the law school by Judge Somerville, while the younger graduates paid tribute to the son, their teacher, who has for the past IA years led them through the devious paths of the law: declaring all together in the words of Sidney J. Bowie that "No other organization in the world ever ex- erted wider or deeper influence nor deeper impress upon public affairs than this same University of Alabama"
 Major Smith Presides.
 J. Q. Smith presided, and made a grace ful toastmaster. After few remarks, which tended to show that he was not professional but successful amateur at the business, Major Smith said:
 My friends, We have with us tonight as ous distinguished guest man that we all know, we admire him as a teacher, re- spect him as able lawyer, and love him as an honorable Christian gentle man.
 He has served the University of Ala bama and our beloved state for many years, and he has done his work well, and now after many years as a teacher and a practicing lawyer he has the am- bitien to serve his state on the supreme court bench, and, gentlemen, I wish to say that his ambition is worthy one, and if that ambition is fulfilled, and he is elected to the supreme court bench, that he will make this state one of the best judges that ever sat upon the bench, and that his record will be equal to that of his distinguished father, who for many years was a member of that great trl- bunal, and whose name Is recorded among our greatest and best judges, Professor Somerville.''
 Professor Somerville made an interest ing talk in which he thanked his friends for their enthusiastic support briefly an- nounced his intention to resign from the university and become candidate for the supreme court, and was loudly applauded
 Charles E. Rice responded to the toast "Our Honored Guest,'' paying very high tribute to Professor Somerville both as a friend, a teacher and a pubic-spirited man qualified to fill the judicial position
 Allen Boasts Fuller Bill.
 B. M. Allen was introduced as "A Man That Can Talk on Any Subject, which he proceeded to do. He said that he was glad to see the lawyers ready to agree on one subject, but it was not long before he was dilating upon the advantages to be found by the young lawyer in the Full Ter bill. Old lawyers, he said, could never read through it.; that so far as he could hear, 1t prohibits everything. "These new laws appal me-, he declared. If Moses were to undertake to incorporate the laws of the last legislature in his code he would be forced to buy marble quarry. He heartily indorsed the many good things said about Professor Somervile, and thought that his appearing for the office a matter of congratulation for the state of Alabama.
 Judge w. c. Garrett, who responded to the toast, An Ideal Judge" first held up before the eyes of the young lawyer Jeffries, in English history, and then painted the ideal judge with telling effect In closing he referred to the guest of the banquet, and said, within the next IS months we expect to see in him an ideal judge.'
 c. F. Beddow spoke on ''The Young Lawyer in Politics. first in humorous vein, asking, What else can the young lawyer do but get into poltics?" and then insisting seriously that it is his field and his duty to bear the burden of gov- ernment.
 Bowie Praises University.
 'The Influence of the University Man in Politics. was the toast assigned Sid- ney J. Bowie He spoke of the enormous influence which the University of Ala bama has wielded. "No other institution has ever exerted a wider or deeper in- fuence nor spread such spirit of fel- lowship. Not a period in the past 75 years has passed in which the university has failed to leave deep impress upon public affairs. The scholar in politics brings high -mindedness, disinterestedness and exalted character"
 MT. Bowie said that 1t had been his. pleasure and privilege to know intimately | MT. Somerville's father, land in honoring l his son we older lawyers are paying the | highest possible tribute to our beloved | teacher'
 WeatherIy on "Trouble."
 James Weatherly was asked to dis
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