Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-03-05
bar NOT. PERTURBED
Undismayed by Understands
Threat to Quit Body.
HELD UNAWARE OF FACTS
Attorney General Poorly Informed
in Writing Lewis Letter.
ASSOCIATION HAS PRECEDENT
Members Refer to Action of Meet
ing in 19O1-Use of Frank
for Mail Denied.
ASSOCIATION HAS PRECEDENT

heHDeTS OI the American odF ASSOcld-
ton i'll Washington and throughout the
country generally will not feel that the
association has suffered an irreparabe
loss should Attorney General Wickersham
carry into execution the threat made by
him today to withdraw from membership
in the organization in case action unfa-
vorable to the continued membership of
Assistant Attorney General William fl.
Lewis of Boston is taken by the general
council of the association as body.
This is the gist CT statements made to-
day by local members of the American
Bar Association.
These statements. made by many of the
most prominent attorneys in Washington,
all of whom are members of the Ameri-
can Bar Association, came as the result
of the Attorney Generals declaration that
he will resign his membership in case
the organization decides against the con-
tinued membership of Assistant Attorney
General Lewis
That the Attorney Generals recent
/ open letter to members Of the associa-
ton all over the country was written
without any knowledge of the true
facts in the case. and in ignorance of a
precedent established by the organiza-
ton eleven years ago, also was the
positive statement made today by
Washington members of that body.
The Attorney Generals open letter
follows:
Office of the Attorney General.
Washington, February ), 1872.
To the Members of the American Bar
Association:
Gentlemen-Mr w. Fl. Lewis. a MEM
Der of the bar OF the state of Massachu
sets and an assistant attorney general
of the United States was elected a men,
Der of this association by the executive
committee August I, 1911. at the invita-
ton of the secretary of the association.
and upon the written nomination of the
vice president and members of the local
council of the state of Massachusetts in
conformity with the provisions of article
~ of the constitution. He qualified by
making payment of the annual dues as
required by article V.
The term of office of the executive COM
mittee expired. and new Committee was
elected at the annual meeting in 1911
Two of the members of the committee so
elected had not been previously members
of the committee: the remainder had
constituted part of the former committee
In January. 1872. the new executive
committee undertook by resolution to
cancel the election of Mr.. Lewis and
place his name on the list of persons pro-
posed for membership to be voted upon
at the next annual meeting. basing this
action upon the statement that when he
was elected the executive committee did
not know he was colored man.
Protest was made on Mr.. Lewis be-
half. tutsth committee has declined to
reconsider its action. A copy of CORE
spondence with the Secretary is hereto
annexed
The object of the association is
stated in the constitution to be Ito ad-
vance the science of Jurisprudence pro-
mote the administration of Justice
uphold the honor Of the profess
sion OF the law and encourage cordial
intercourse among the members of the
American bar
Eligibility Requirements.
Any person" is declared to be eligible
TO membership who shall be, and shall
for five years next preceding, have been
member of the bar of any state and
who shall also he nominated as herein
after provided.
The action of the executive committee
would in effect arbitrarily amend these
provisions by adding proviso to the fol-
lowing effect: That the election of any
member may be Cancelled by the execu-
tive committee. whether the committee
who elected him or one subsequently
chosen. whenever a majority of its men,
bers object to the race, color or other
characteristics of such member, no mat
ter when those members may ascertain
the facts concerning such characteristics
1t can hardly be contended that such
action tends to uphold the honor of the
profession of the law and encourage cor
dial Intercourse among the members Of
The bar. 1t certainly does not tend to
promote. the administration of Justice
Under the circumstances. Mr. Lewis
only redress Is to appeal to the member
ship of the association to protest against
the injustice done him in their name
~ the committee which has arrogated
to itself a power not conferred upon it
oy the constitution or bylaws. i'm order
10 crafty a race prejudice entertained
, by some of its members.
AS the head of the department of
the federal government in which Mr..
Lewis holds an honored position, and
as member of this association / beg
every member who disapproves of the
course of the executive committee to
sign and mail the inclosed postal card,
and to take other steps as he NAV
think proper to prevent the proposed
unlawful expulsion of Mr.. Lewis from
the association.
Very truly yours,
GEORGE w. WICKERSHAM.