Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-07-28
Kennebec Bar Honors Chief Justice
Cornish and Associate Justice Spear

given in relation to their superior
qualifications for the great Office to
which they had been appointed. and
many confident predictions that they
could not fail to achieve eminence in
the front rank Of the wise and efficient
practical magistrates and the great
and learned jurists in the history of
our State.
But after the splendid service Of
theses justices on the Bench-fourteen
years by Justice Spear and ten years
by Justice Cornish, and a vacancy in
the Office Of Chief Justice was occa-
stoned by the death of Chief Justice
Savage, the Governor required no fur
ther proofs or recommendations to
guide him in the discharge Of his
duty. He needed no other evidence
than the luminous record Of their per-
vading sense Of justice and their en-
lightened Judgment in the practical
administration of it: no other evidence
than the deep impress which their
service had made upon our jurispru-
dece and the public and professional
life of the State 1t was common
knowledge that they had at all times
act and utterance, constantly and
steadfastly maintained the highest
and best traditions Of their great Office
1n accordance with the predictions
made when they were invested with
their robes of office they promptly occu-
pied conspicuous places in the galaxy
OF Names honored and successful
magistrates and great and learned
jurists. Tho Governor Of the State at
once recognized his duty and unhes-
itatingly performed it.
1t is not fitting, however. on this oc
casion to indulge in fulsome eulogy of
our DISTINGUISHED guests. 1t would be
distasteful to those who have borne
their faculties with such becoming
meel.ness and modesty." But We can
not be too often reminded that wise
and Just administration Of the laws is
the chief end and purpose of human
society, and the highest interest and
most important concern of man in all
of his relations in life; and that rev.
erence for the majesty of the law. the
sanctity of justice and the authority
Of judicial courts is the foundation OF
the great principle of liberty under
law and the glory Of an enlightened
civilization. And it is not improper
that it should he made known to 1u-
dictal officers while living, that just,
conscientious and fearless discharge or
onerous and responsible indicial duties
in our state. doing equal right to the
high and low. the rich and the poor,
the strong and the weak. though ex-
poet I'd as a matter of course, is never
theless appreciated and honored by
the bar and the people Of the state.
justices Cornish and Spear came to
the bench in a progressive or cVolu-
tioncl era, when bewildering discover
les and developments We're constant
~ bAins made involving radical chang
es in nearly all departments of indus
trial activity. 1t also necessarily IN
volved unprecedented judicial growth
and development, particularly with re-
spect to the public service corpora
lions a special designation rarely II
ever heard prior to 1890. 1t became
the duty Of the Court to define more
carefully and definitely the rights ana
duties OF such corporations. and the
rights Of the people whom they served.
Fer while the law and the courts are
wisely conservative, in order that men
Of affairs may know how to act and
saWvers know how to advise,
the>courts are also progressive ia
prorar ard legitimate sense, keeping
in sympathy with the advancing
thought and progressive tendencies
Of the ace. SO in the decisions OF
these novel and important questions
the published opinions of Justices
Cornish and Spear show that they
crapplod with them in a mastery
way. employing great learning,
strong original reasoning. the ripe
fruits of long and varied experience
in order 10 crystalize into judicial
decision the Justice of the state which
hrs been made luminous by reason
and conscience.
The people of Maine do not need to
be assured that the present members
Of tho court will continue to cherish
It's honored traditions in the genera
tons that have gone before and will
omit no duty on their part TO main
tain the proud position which our
State has enjoyed for the prohity of
its public officials, the righteousness
Of its laws and the purity Of it's JUS
tee.
Old associates. old friends, old
comrades, may you have many years
moro OF like benefcent service, and
many remaining years of comfort and
happiness, with good digestion wait
ing on appetite and health on both"
Judge Clarence Hale OF the United
States district court accepted the in
vitation of the association and eX
pected to be present at the banquet
but at the last moment was called to
Boston.
Judge Fred Emery Beane Of our
Kennebec superior court is the dean of
our three superior courts, the last ses
sion of the Legislature having estab-
lshed one in Androscoggin county. In
introducing Judge Bean President
Carleton said:
It is pleasure to see running in
families a strong love for a certain
calling. and naturally it gives US the
pleasure when that calling Is the law.
when successive generations follow
that high road IN our bar we have a
family where three successive gener-
ations have been it's members, first
the grandfather and son being asso-
,iaya6 partrorS than no CON and