Norwich bulletin., 1913-12-11
Ccontinued on, Page Fl!
ELks TENDER DINNER
 TO JUDGE E. S. THOMAS.
Governor Baldwin Pays High Tribute
 to Former Secretary.

New Haven, Conn, Dec. 10-Judge Edwin s. Thomas of the United States district court was rendered a compl1- mentaFy dinner tonight at the Hotel Taft by the members of the New Haven Lodge, Benevolent and Pro- tective Order of Elks, of which he is now exalted ruler. Men prominent in Elkdon from all over the state were in attendance and the gathering was a most enthusiastic one.
 Among those present were members of the CofI4aecticut delegation in congress and others well known in the political and civic life in the state, all members of the order,
 Governor Simeon E. Ba1dwin-the only one present who was not a mem Der of the fraternity-gave one of the principal addresses of the evening and paid a glowing tribute to his former executive secretary.
 Governor Baldwin's Address.
 Governor Baldwin said in part,
 This is g festive occasion to every body except me. To me 1t is rathoe the other kind of thing. appear here as the chief nouFner. I have lost my right hand man. >But I was glad 10 lose him. was glad to see him trans ferred to 8 bench which I feel cond- dent he will adorn. and on which, in every year that passes. more and mora work ot highly important character is being thrown.
 The tendencies of our day are tow ards increased legislation by congress and legislation on subjects which here tofore have been left to the states t ], regulate. This practical extension Of national power carries with 1t a cer- tain element of danger to the smaller states. All laws are what the courts say they are. As laws multiply, there lore. 1t becomes ever more necessary to see that our courts are well manned, manned with men of good sense, good judgment, good ability, good heart, good character
 The bar of Connecticut will find al these in Judge Thomas.
 The judge of the district court in small state, where he has it all to him. self i'll federal matters, is a kind of autocrat He must be a wise autocrat and courteous autocrat, Manners" Ralph Waldo Emerson said. make the man" In large measure they make the judge, No one will ever complain that he has not been considerateIy and courteOusly treated in any court where Judge Thomas presides.
 There was d Massachusetts judge once, whose manners were never of the best, and had not been sweetened by age and intirmities that went with it. It was sometimes difficult to get his attention, and always very easy to be tredden on, when you got it. One day after an experience of that sort a. law yer-Fisher Ames, l believe 1t was remarked: T shall not come into that mans courtroom again unless I carry a speaking trumpet in one hand and a club in the other!"
 We shall not have to anticipate a district court of that sort in Connecti- cut were Judge Thomas to preside over it till he is 90. And I dare say he will It is. in a small state, a court favor able to longevity. The smaller the dis triet, the less district judge has to do. Only two states are smaller than ours in territory In one of them. little Delaware, a district judge, ap pointed by President Munroe when a little older than Judge Thomas, is now, Judge Willard Hall, having held on for 49 years. resigning at last at the age of 92 He was a Massachusetts man by birth. Judge Thomas is a western man by birth, and the west knows all it's privileges and holds on to them with a tight grip, under all conditions. l think Judge Thomas should go one better than Judge Hall, and hold on for 50 years at least.
 At all events, l wish him, and we all wish him. a long and honorable ju dfcial career. We wish it and we ex- peet it.