The Mankato free press., 1915-11-12
Seeks to Have Lawyers Live Up
To Profession Ethics
From saturdays Daily.

Copies or the following circular let-
ter have been sent out by Stiles w.
Burr and Chester l.. Caldwell, presi-
dent and secretary of the Minnesota
State Bar association. The letter ex-
plants itself:
The Minnesota Bar association
has already proved itself power for
good. but II has by no means oxerted
the full influence which IL can and
ought to exert for the benefit of the
profession and the public And Il is
the earnest desire OF those who have
been most intimately connected with
the work bf the association that the
present year shall be signalized by
the inauguration of activities along
certain lines which In the past have
received less attention than their i'm
poriancc seems TO demand.
The integrity and reputation OF
their profession is something pecu-
liarly in tho Keeping OF lawyers and
associations or lawyers. When they
do not strive 10 protect the courts and
public from unprolcssional conduct
and practices on the part OF members
OF their own profession. they and their
profession are subjected to deserved
rcproach and suspicion. lr the bust
ness or Investigation and prosecution
or complaints Of professional mlscon-
duct Is left tO the voluntary action of
individual lawyers or casually organ
i7cd committees. the offenders are apt
To 90 unwhippCd OF Justice: since
experience has demonstrated that the
inStrumentalitiCs which the lcgisla
turp has provided for dealing with
such cases are not efficient for the
purpose. Under present conditions
such abuse can he effectively dealt
with only by regularly organized bar
associations: and It is believed that
the Minnesota state Bar association.
hy reason Cf the strength uf its mcm
bCrship and tho extent OF IT'S influence
is the best agency for that purpose.
ami ought To assume the burden.
The present ethics committee Of
tho state assoc 'ation has been organ
izcd with special view to active work
along the lines indicated. The com
mitiCC Is made up OF men OF wide cK-
p"ricnCr. high ideals and strong con-
victions respecting tho standards OF
professional conduct and the duty of
lawyers TO protect courts. the pro-
fcssiOn and the public from fraud.
trickCrv. dishonesty and oppression by
those licensed 10 practice law. Tho
chairman and the members OF the |
committee are pledged to give prompt 4,
and thorough consideration to any
complaint or professional misconduc; f!
on the part cf any lawyer i'm Mime |
sofa. whether member of the asso- !
citation or not. by whomsorvcr pre-
Sentch: ard the personnel of the |
rUmmittcc is guaranty of the abil- /!
ity. thornughnCss and disintercstcd-
hess with which Investigations will |
bc conducted. The officers and men, |
bCrs or the board OF governors of the I,
association have likewise pledged !
themselves 10 assist and support tho !
in every possible way. And |
Assurance Is given that when the in !.
OF any complaint estab- !
fishes just cause for prosecution. |
the case goes before the supreme !
court. through tho proper channels |
and in the proper form. aud that Il is |
prosecuted.
Any complaint OF misconduct on |
the part OF an attorney-at law. sub |
mittcd by any responsible person. |
whether member of the association |
or not. and whether lawyer or lay !
man, when made TO the chairman or |
any member Of the committee. or to !
any officer nG the association. will |
be promptly taken up by the commit |
tee and given due consideration.
THE committee consists OF George |
w. burlington. 925 New York Life |
building. Minneapolis. chairman: Ed |
ward Ices. Winona: Victor .Stcarns.
Duluth: Burt +. Lum. Minneapolis:
and Robert T.. Olds. St. Paul.
Another line Of work which seems
peculiarly To belong 10 the State Bar
association Is the consideration OF
suggestions for reform and improve
mcnt In those branches of the law
which are neither political nor COM
mcrcial. but with which lawyers come
into contact ir their daily practice.
This inciudCs not only matters OF
procedure In the courts. but also in
Vulnerable questions proCcdural and
otherwise. with which lawyers are
most familiar
Question which are non political I'm
their nature. which do not Immediate
ly affect the work OF administrative
officers. state and municipal. or the
interest OF social. commercial or in
dustrial groups or organizations. but
which inrGiYc defects, Inconsistencies
and complications Of the law that af-
fest the occasional individual IN the
occasional case only. are apt TO go
disregarded and unremedled for lack
OF an organized effort at reform. And
is believed TO be the province
ana the duty OF this association to
deal with such cases. .,
Under the constitution of this as
sociation such questions belong TO the
committee on Jurisprudence aud Law
reform. and the present committee of
that name has been organized with
a view TO special ard effective activity,
along that line. II Is made up OF
men OF great ability and broad ex-
perience in widely varying lines. The
committee is composed of l.. L. Brown
OF Winona, who is chairman: Arthur
NJ. Keith of Minneapolis. Henry Oh
denburg of Carlton. Harold ]. Richard
son. formerly OF Rochester and now
OF st. Paul. and w. r. Vance. dean
OF the law department OF the Univer-
Sity Of Nfnnacata