Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-09-12
eising Generation Shows Ten.
dency to Lawlessness That
Should Be Curbed Early.
JUDGE FISH 50 DECLARES
Address by P. T. Sherman on Law
Of Compensation before Meet
ing Of Vermont Bar
Association.

State Bar association was held Fri
lay with literary exercises In The
Strong theatre at ten o'clock in the morn
ing. followed. after luncheon, by a boat
ride among the islands of Lake Cham.
plain. The threatening weather OF the early
morning hours gave place to n day tina,
was all one could ask. and the trip was
much enjoyed by the members OF the as
ISOLATION and their friends, although
the banquet planned at Bluff Point was
omitted from the schedule OF the after
noon.
The speakers at the morning exercises
we're p. r. Sherman Of the law firm of Taft
e. Sherman of New York. and son Of the
late General w. T. Sherman of Civil
War fame: the Hon. Frank L. Fish Of
vergennes Judge Of the superior court Of
Vermont; and NJ. c. Weber Of Rutland
and George Young of Newport who at
tended the meeting Of the American Bar
association in Milwaukee. Wis. 1t was a
matter OF general regret that Judge
George NJ. Powers Of Morrisvile was un-
able to be present r. r. Brown Of this
city presided The attendance in point Of
numbers was not in keeping with the high
character Of the addresses. Music was
furnished by Romeo's orchestra and a
male Quartette.
Messrs. Young and Weber emphasized
the statement that the American Bar as
ISOLATION will be glad to come to BVrling-
ton the last full week in August. 1913, but
only II the local hotels can arrange to
take proper care Of the 500 or GOO visitors
that would be called to this city by the
annual meeting at that time Members Of
=
that with the rush Of summer travel the
Burlington hotels are able to house only
q fraction Of the total number OF visitors.
The gathering would bring to Vermont
several hundred Of the ''best lawyers in
the world" as one Of the speakers put It.
and would be a great advertisement for
the city and the State. said he.
But the American Bar association" said
Mr.. Weber. rs very much alive. and
would never get over the frost received n
no more enthusiasm were shown by Yer
nonters than is displayed at this summer
meeting Of the State Bar association.
Judge Fish spoke upon a matter OF wide
interest to this locality, in discussing RE-
spect for the Law" and compared condi-
tons in Vermont with those elsewhere
in the United States and abroad His stat.
istics showed that respect for the law IL
apparently no deeper here than in other
sections. and that the rising generation
shows a tendency to lawlessness that may
we'll be curbed at the start. He spoke as
follows:
RESPECT FOR THE LAW.
Address delivered before the Vermont
Bar Association at The Strong Theatre.
Burlington. Vermont September 6. 1912.
Members Of the Vermont Bar Associa-
ton. Ladies' and Gentlemen:
Your President having summoned me
to discussion of some suitable topic at
this time and place, and having given
me the choice of my theme. I wish to
present for your consideration some
facts and conclusions on the subject of
Respect for the Law. II 1t 80 happens
that the discussion shall involve some
questions that are now ag1tating the
public mind, / must be excused from
the charge of political interference on
the ground that politics have brought
Into discussion a question of vital i'm
portance to the bench and the bar.
Theodore Roosevelt said sometime ago.
1.-THE cornerstone of the Republic. as OF
all free governments. is respect for and
obedience to the law" Abraham Lin
coin said In the same connection, Let
reverence for the law be breathed by
every American mother to the babe that
prattles on her lap; let It be taught in
schools and colleges; let It be preached
from the pulpit. proclaimed in legislative |
halls and enforced In courts OF justice. |
And, In short. let II become the political |
li.1n <.f hn lat nj
and the young. the rich and poor. the |
grave and gay Of all sexes and tongues
and colors and conditions sacrifice I'M
upon Its altar"
That we are not a nation that respects |
the law as nations of the old world do |
besides whom we rank In commerce. |
agriculture. the arts and |
sciences, education and most that makes |
for material progress and the prosperity |
Of mankind. Is. unfortunately. too true.
And II should not be amiss Mt this time |
and place TO call attention to condi-
lions as they have existed In this coun-
Try. and do exist, In comparison with
some of the other highly civilized ma
hons. and to point out some OF the
causes as well as the remedies that have
been suggested in the promises.
We have probably not been often
Enough reminded for our own good that
his nation which stands well nigh at
The head. II not at the head, Of all the
nations in most of the elements Of great
ness. stands Jar below the worst OF the
equally civilized nations, in the horrible
record OF crime.
A few years ago tabulatton was
made showing the number OF homicides
In various parts OF the Uni
ed States annually as compared with
hose in the city of London. 1t shows
hat In proportion to the population hon.
cides In New England were ~ times as
numerous as they were In London; in
California they were rs times as numer-
'us as In London. while In Nevada they
we're 246 times as numerous as In Lon
lon. That is to say. New England with
ess Inhabitants than London had "a
annually. while London had
'niy "a; California with less than one
ourth the population of London had az
Iomicides against "a In London: and
What shall be said OF our own orderly,
aw-abiding state that within . year OF
his time had on the court calendars
# the various counties Mt one time 10
omicide cases pending for trial!
In an address delivered last year by
Judge Holt OF New York. he estimated
hat there were a hundred thousand men