The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-01-13
HONEST LAWYERS
They Are the Dead Ones" Says
F. DumOnt Smith.
Speaks at State Bar Association
Banquet.
STATISTICS NO PROOF
Established Any Side of Con-
trOversy''-NO ftZger.
Submit Judges Decision to
People, candrett.

With statistics, a certain railroad
proves that its property is worth $780,
GOO mile with the same statistics
Governor Stubs proves that the same
property is worth 81 200 a mile SEX
ator t. A. Noftzger, Anthony.
Honest lawyers, like good Indians
are. dead lawyers,-the white-bIack
birds. F Dumont Smith, Hutchinson.
The young lawyers would like the
older members of the bar to work for
legislation asking that when the de-
cisions of the courts do not please them
the decisions be held in allegiance until
submitted to the people at general
election. b. w. Scandrett, Topeka
L said iN my haste that all men
are liars Probably laymen in their
haste have said the same of lawyers"
James w. Reid, Chanute
Burr W. Jones. with whom I was n
classmate in college, once had great
military ambitions. CLARK A. Smith.
Cawker City.
CLARK A. Smith was jealous of my
military career."-Burr W. Jones. au-
thor of Jones on Evidence Madison,
Wis.
The above are abstracts. of deposi-
tions made by expert witnesses at the
banquet given by the State Bar asso-
citation at the Masonic temple last
evening, closing the twenty eighth an
nual meeting of the association which
49, majority of them were made in
a serio-comic vein with an occasional
flutter if not flight of oratory. Judge
West was POSTMASTER.
He introduced each speaker with
flowery and spicy remarks appropriate
TO each case.
Senator T. A. Noftzger, in his voice
as euphonious and sonorous as his
name. responded to the toast: Pre-
sumption of Innocence" He said in
part:
THE plea of Not guilty means that
St didn't happen, or that the defendant
didn't do it. or that he was insane
when he cid it. In looking up the ref
erence required to impart this informa-
ton I have acquired a great mass of
statistics. The beauty of statistics is
that with them any side of any pro-
position may be proved.
"A certain railroad in the state
proved by statistics that its property is
worth 900 a mile, and Governor
Stubs, by the same statistics, proved
that it was worth 200 a mile.
mo man. governor of the state two
terms, is entitled to the presumption II
innocence. And the presumption of in
nocence is in violation to custom. When
an editor of p daily paper prints bad
story about your neighbor you believe
that neighbor is guilty"
sAny Old Law Will Do
What is the remedy! Pass a law
ally NliliS just 81 II a law anu III btlt
interest of people Then the peoplf
could stay out of Jail, and send ths
banker, the trusts and the corporation
lawyer to the penitentiary and-'rid oui
fair state of all vipers preyino upon ITS
substance"
Mr. Scandrett said that the new code
urged b., the bar association gave thu
new lawyers much advantage but th'
new lawyer would also like them to ash
for law requiring the courts decision
displeasing to the latter to be held j:
allegiance until submitted to the PEG
pie. He responded to the toast ''Ne7
Laws and New Lawyers"
Smiths Toast-and Roast.
F. Dunont Smith said in part-ant
in neutrality-suspicious. to the toast
1.-THE Honest Lawyer:
"Fellow Criminals: How in the nam
of God can any man talk about some
thing not in existence2 Honest law
yers, like good Indians, are dead. Nov
don't mob me until l explain. w
start honest. and the first requisite
good moral character. No other pro
fession or avocation sets up this re
ouirement. The candidate must hav
a spotless character for admittance t
the bar. although he may sometime
slip through without knowing law an
become eligible to the supreme bench
But what happens? He must hav
fees and. is thrown in with all kind
OF characters. These, with tainte
company and tainted money-mor
often the former than the latter