Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1914-01-30
KANSAS SHORTHAND
REPORTERS ASSOCIATION.

The Democrat man, through the
courtesy Of Secretary Geo. W. Reich
q has enjoyed the privilege of reading
the report Of the Second Annual Ses-
sion Of the Kansas Shorthand Re
porters' Association, which was he'd
in Topeka some time ago, and found
IN its ,perusal many things both inr
teresting and of an educational ma
ture to the average man.
This association, which was formed
. something over two years ago, is
: composed Of a number Of the mos
expert stenOgaphers Of the state,
the most Of whom are engaged in ju-
dicial stenographic work, and it IS
to promote their interests and to ed
ucate those most in need Of expert,
accurate stenographic work, that they
have banded themselves together in
this society.
The position of a s1enographer, and
most especially those engaged in
court reporting work or other work
Of this nature, is one which carries
with it grave responsibilities, and de-
mands the very best service the pro-
fession is capable of rendering, and
which service is most generally rem
dered al a price far under its real
value, considering its importance to
the case in hand, and in this cOunec-
tion We desire to quote one para
graph from the address of Mr.. Reich
ard at the association meeting, deal
ing with this subject, which strikes
US as particularly appropriate and alb
solutey correct as to facts:
THE attorneys come into court and
proceed to pump the case into the
jury at from 15O to 275 words per
minute, with precious little thought
for the expert stenographic reporter
quietly taking It, and as quietly &C
cepting the responsibility Of both liti.
.gants' rights. The attorneys accept
that reporters record with the know
ledge and silent assent OF those &C.
.custmed to deal with experts that
It Is absolutely correct in every par
O ticuhr. They perfect their appeal,
g the Supreme Court passes upon the
. case on the fact, solely, Of the record
made by that expert sheuographdc re
porter, depiving men Of their hber-
ty, taking thousands upon thousands
Of dollars from one man and giving
Il to another, forcing corporations to
pay heavy damages to those whom
they injure, and in some states de-
priving men Of their lives, and all up
on the strength of what appears in
typewriRee copy from the hands of
The Silent Man
And the speaker was absolutely
right in every detail, Outside of the
Judge upon the bench, there is no
person in the court room on whom
0 there rests greater responsibility
than on the stenographic reporter
whose notes are the final authority
on whether John Jones struck the
man in the head or in the alley, and
the members of this association
should be congratulated on their band
ing together in am effort to have the
position Of stenOgraphic reporter plac'
ed on the high responsible plane on
which it belongs and in attempting to
secure commensurate remun eTatior
for their services.
In his address Of welcome to the
association at Topeka Captain Jos.
G. Waters made the following peril
nent remarks which are worthy OF
note regarding this association and
the work Of its members.
ITO be doubly sure Of that of which
I am absolutely certain, that the re-
port taken by you gentlemen on my
remarks will be Immediately correct