The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1918-01-03
LAWYERS TOLD
OF OBLIGATIONS
Stirring Addresses Before
the Vermont Bar AS
ISOLATION
GOOD ATTENDANCE
AT MONTPELIER
Walter G. Smith of Philadel-
phia, President of Ameri-
can Bar Assn, Spoke

The afternoon trains Wednesday brougl
to Montpelier several more of the men
bers of the Vermont Bar association, $
that there was a much larger attendant
than is usually the case for the annul
meeting The commission, of which W
r. McFeeters was chairman to increas
the membership, reported several neN
applications, several of whom appeare
on the afternoon train to attend tn
meeting of the association.
The addresses were very interesting
The presidents address was upon "Th
Lawyer-IIis Place and Function" giyeI
by Pres. G. b. Young, was well pre-
pared article, to which Mr.. Young mus
have given great deal of time anc
thought and for which he received great
many complimentary remarks as to it:
information upon the different points Of
the theme. Under the sub-head of the
lawyers place, he referred to the change
in penalties in the passing years and
the changes in the different countries
especially mentioning the effort of the
century to abolish lawyers, but the ex-
pertinent failed, and compared these with
the qualifications for attorneys in this
country and state. Vermont lawyers are
generally recognized to have faithfully
performed their duties and have brought
credit to the state, at home and abroad.
He discussed the duty of the lawyer to
the court, his fidelity to it, and the aid
he should give.
If there is any lack of efficiency in the
courts, he alleged it was due to the bar
as much as anything. He attributed the
workmens compensation act and the
creation of commissions to the DELAY of
the bench and bar to recognize the de-
mands of social Justice under changed
conditions. He asserts that the growth
of Socialism is serious menace to this
country, He claims the duty to the state
is no less great than that to the court,
as owed to the public. Lawyers should
be leaders of reforms 1t is too common
fault with the bar to feel their duties
are to themselves and their clients.
Speaking of court procedure he re-
ferred to a untitieated court with one
Justice as advocated by the national as
ISOLATION and the different branches fol-
lowing down the line. Referring to war,
he said it SIS the supreme effort of the
nation" He said the public policy of
recent years has destroyed the credit off
the railroads and the taking over of the |
railroads by the government is a future
problem with unforeseen results. The |
great business of this nation to-day is to
win the war. Germany is far from ex
4 al H., Ia, H. -
month of wonderful military strength.
He predicted three to five years will be
needed to win the war. The United |
States must produce a great commander
He urged the lawyers that they must I
not fall behind in their service to the
country and be ready to assume duties |,
that are not now known.
John C. Sherburne of Randolph gave
the report of the committee on legal his
tory and biography. During the evening
Robert C. Bacon gave sketch of the life
of the late c. c. Fits. The report of the
secretary and treasurer We're made. as
well as that of the nominating commit
tee for officers.
Chief Justice Watson.
Chief Justice John H. Watson of the
supreme court gave an able address upon
THE Supreme Court, It's Methods of
Work" in which he told the work which
he court used to be under the old sys
-em which was changed about 1906 to
he dual system and which would have
worked out very well but the legislature
saw fit to change it before the law had
IN opportunity to show its worth. He
vas confident that if it had been given
better try it would have proved well
worthy of its enactment.
Speaking of the number of members .
hat supreme court should be composed b,
IT. he said that it should be adequately /
arge so that it would give confidence by {
Is acts not only to its citizenship but to q
he courts OF other states, and should !,
Ne of an odd number. He expressed the !,
opinion that five was sufficiently small. !;
lis reason for an odd number was that !
majority of the court would form an :
pinion, thus settling cssse for the per- a
ons involved. He thought that with :
eW improvements, the present system 4
answered all the state needs. !
Relative to the increased expense. on I
1hch some make considerable, he said
is in accord with that of the other de- !,
artments of the state and that to crit !,
.ize without investigation of the other n
apartments was unjust. He spoke of q
he change in the consultations and the a
lore frequent conferences of the judges,
-hich results in each justice going over %
aeh opinion by himself and then with t
he other justices. He spoke of the n
hange in the system so that not only )
an causes be passed to the court from f,
Dunty courts but from Is municipal a
lurts, public service commission, com Ia
lissioner of industries and other com
ifssions. He discussed the formation of II