The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1919-07-04
BAR ASSOCIATION
MEETS
|, ery v, STEELE MADE A STRIKING
10 ,ooafss ON "GOMING EXPANSION OF
nrp law. Mr.. PARKE AND Mr..
s srErF ELECTED OFFICERS OF AS
SOGIATION.

sEELE ELECTED OFFICERS OF AS
SOGIATION'
rho annual meeting of the Mary
ctate Bar Association held at
ala a.lartic Tc City on June rs, p and %
Aua4 tho most successful in its history.
" " I leading lawyers of the State at
ile D5od if among those from Carroll
Slu NV being Mr.. and Mrs E. o.
nt gu and Miss Weant, and Mr. and
wv CIV W. Steele and Miss Mary
Grafton Steele.
't Mr. Steele read a paper entitled
.cnmipg ,u EXPANSION Of Our Law" OF
s;nb the Baltimore Sun said:
- Mr. Steeles idea was that the
.iritnaI change wrought in us by
r. ' war would he reflected in the law,
..torring u the duties of individuals and
carnations to the public, assert
u that the law had been developed
Sufficiently to protect the rights OF
.ar.ous and that the changed cOndl-
ions of life required that the duty
i canitaI and labor to the public
rmst be enforced. He traced the
NJ origin and development of the law,
sbowing that its paramount feature
ras that of duty to the community,
nntiI the Christian era, that from
tMs period its development was on
tho side of the rights of men and pri-
yste property. which has Influenced
the great mOvemetn Of our race.
The rights OF man reached the
limits of their growth shortly after
be Civil War. Mr. Steele said, as
freedom as great as is consistent with
our civilization had then been attain
Al and the laws future expansion
musr lie i'm the direction of the right
men.
II was about 30 years ago, he con-
-nued. that the rights OF the public
began to be considered and laws sOf
a humanitarian character have since
been passed. which. however. do not
recognize the true relationship of
combinations Of men to society. The
law of the future will reflect our
inner feelings of right, and it is neGes-
sary to consider what change has
been wrought in us by the war.
The necessity Of some basic prin-
Cple upon which our future legisla-
ton will grow is most apparent when
We consider our specialized civiliza-
ton. which has resulted in uiOst
deplorable state of dependency.
mo longer is man independent, and
Our bOasted freedom is a mirage
Some one whom we don't know pro
rides for us practically every neces-
sity of life, to whom we must trust
to furnish it at reasonable price
The truth of Saint Paul is manifest
for no one liveth to himself alone.
A selfish dispute between capital INC
labor can result in our being de.
priVed of heat, of light, of clothes
in fact, of the very things that make
life possible This condition is in,
tolerable and must be met by .legis.
iatiOn which will prevent the Organi-
zalUns our laws have created tc
work contrary to the end of the law
inc public good. What is the ans wer
10 what root idea must we cling in
order that our future actions will pro
mote the public veal?
AS the right of personal Liberty
and private possession was the ,d1rec-
uOn OF our progress when man pos
SeSsed within himself the power oI
SuStenance, so in the future, as in ou1
early days, when men relied upon the
OF the tribe for existence
must our duty to the community, the
rights of men, be the direction ou1
laws development must take.
And it seems to me that we law
!efs' clear thinkers. of strong con-
rtclons, are not taking the part We
SHOULD IN teaching the people these
fundamental truths and how besL to
tue themselves i'm our changed con-
GtlOns- Y Instead of trying to direct
Ile rising flood Of protest into the
iislt channel, we are strictly attend
lHs 10 our own business, instead OF
u!mg to guide the public mind to-
"aIuS wa, the road it should pursue in
',ueF That laws can be framed suit
lUle 70 our new conditions, we are
nn "IiiS al1owing men who think wrong,
"no are not familiar with the his
NY OF our laws expansion to direct
He az; peoples thoughts in the wrong
All over the land are heard today
j esponslble agitators, the voices Of
'noit sighted pessimists, who, in
oI'lohally or ignorantly, are attempt
IN 70 destroy our government. Ap-
4 eItlv they expected the millennium
MI Utio" the signing of the armistice,
] - nave not common sense sufficient
! ! Ieallze, I or familiarity with history
Io,lA Ano"' that there is inevitably a
n y" growth in human affairs; rhat
. m ndOits OF society cannot be dis
ueu h. Immediately, no more than
~ ~ individual can throw off at once
bana0l a0lts' and that our laws will
,la,n e slowly and only as the peo-
boS, conduct changes. The people
nadn realize that it is their law,
Nj /. ~ them, which is enforced,
III III ], tilat ~ can reflect only their in
ivi1i r views Of life, for law never leads
MI dAl1hanon, th but follows in its wake;
.nd tLough aog its purpose II to regulate
,aeb eontfol the relation of men to
rbia, a other and the Community M
nnst they live. these relationships
orm S' peiore ~ can take
;ociatr nas been positive loss To
lnnlas.t mat the word Law" has an
able sant tsan sound, and it is lamen-
IlwavS" "i"t' the thoughts of men should
S onr oonnect it with wrong. This
o mot opportunity by unselfigh action
'btain only ! aid humanity, but also to
learts :. place Of affection in the
d tbs II q q our countrymen. Our i stand md
\ Hmn