The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-03-23
Explains Workings of a Model Court to Distin-
 guished Audience
SPEECH DEMANDED
 INTENSE INTEREST
Noted Chicago Jurist Was Shown Over District Yesterday and Was Surprised at Great
 ness of Birmingham

An audience composed of many of the Judiciary of the county, leading members or the Birmingham bar prominent bpsi- ness men, members of the Civic Improve ment league and other citizens of note were present last night at the auditorium of the Chamber of Commerce where Judge Harry Olson. chief justice of the muni- cipal court Of Chicago, made an address on law reform
 Judge Olson came to Birmingham at the Invitation of the Birmingham Bar asso- citation and the Chamber of Commerce to explain the workings of the Chicago court. which is said to be the most power- full nis prsi court in the world and one that has met the greatest need of Amer ican institutions, The court was organ ized against powerful political opposition and much of it's success has been at tributed to the wise administration of it's affairs by the distinguished iurist, who made the address last night.
 One noted writer has referred to Judge Olson as "a judicial Cromwell. who might have been born 10 organize and govern just such court as that over which he presides." Certain it is, that the reception
 
 earnest attention and deep appreciation given him by his hearers as he clearly and forcefully explained the plan of the ] Chicago court stamped him as a great man with a great message.
 Interest in Speech
 His address was distinguished by the fact that from his opening remarks to the close of his speech the interest never Jagged and at one point when he sus- gested that he had spoken long enough, c..sso2~cf "Go on" came from every part of his audience He was frequently in- terrupted by applause and at the close was given an ovation that lasted several minutes.
 He said among other things that he was glad that the business men of Bir- mingham were showing interest in the puestion of law reform for he said it was largely the influence of the business men of Chicago that the court was established over which he presides
 While the audience was not as large as was expected, yet it was representative. Among those present were: Judge Sharpe, ]. W. Sbley, pr. E. l.. Dickerson, Judge A. o. Howze, Sid Bowie, Erskine Ramsay, Sterling Wood Prof. I. W. McAdory, R. w. Brown, Augustus Benners Judge E. y Crow, II. P. Henn, J. @. Smith, H. K. Write, l.. Pizitz, Charles A. Calhoun, i Judge Hugo Black and others. ]. w. Sibley called the meeting to order lnd introduced Judge Howze, president of he Birmingham Bar association. as the chairman of the meeting. Judge Howze briefly referred to the necessity of law ,eform in Jefferson county and introduced Judge Olson as speaker who would tell now similar conditions had been met suc- .essfully and the methods that had been adopted.
 Glad to Come Here
 Judge Olson said he was glad to come to Birmingham for several reasons, one that Birmingham and Chicago were linked to- ,ether in many ways, and that the busi- ness men and the Civic league had joined n extending the invitation to him to make he address, He said that if the business nen took the right interest in this matter he relief sought would come through hem and their efforts.
 He expressed his surprise to find such a arge city when he arrived in Birmingham with every evidence of progress and pros- ,erity, and stated that, having been over he district and seen such evidences of material development on every hand that ie was making no wild prediction when le stated that Birmingham would in a CIV years reach the 5000Oo population mark, for with the introduction of plants O. the manufacture of finished products IS hat were bound to follow the-Vast pro- luction of raw or unfinished products, iuch as he had witnessed since his ar ival in the city, the population would in rease rapidly.
 Judge olson, then launching into the tubject on which he was to speak, first old of the condition in Chicago which led the institution of the municipal court, z aying that he submitted the remedy ap- ,led there to his audience for local ap- IAication if such was deemed advisable. 10 said in part as follows Judge Olson Speaks
 "Prior to the establishment of munich ,al court part of the jurisdiction now exercised by that court in minor civil and riminal cases was exercised by courts of he justice of the peace
 1.-The justices of the peace and the con-