The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-01-30

pealed a century later, but another
half century passed before labor was
granted any power.
Court Critisim Unjust.
In discussing present day criticism
of courts. w. d. Vance. of Belleville,
stated that while most of the criticism
was unjust, there are many causes for
distrust."
There are doubtless many more
causes for the prevalence of the criti-
cism of and distrust in the courts that
bring to mind at this time" Vance
declared, but may l direct your at
tention to some of them"
Vance then pointed out the follow
ing:
First, failure to dethrone the dishonest
Second. failure to replace the incapable
and inefficient official.
Third. failure of attorneys to be square
in the presentation of their cause to the
court.
Fourth. attorneys knocking and critics.
ing the courts because of adverse decisions.
Fifth, failure Of the public to inquire as
to the facts before offering criticism.
Sixth. the frequent practice of the litigant
his side only of the story.
Seventh, the practice of reporters, editors
the SANDER, the absurd and the unusual In
court proceedings, or urging some panacea
for all Ills to get in the limelight.
Eighth, failure of the profession to recog-
nize and seek to overcome unjust reports
and criticism of courts and the profession.
Ninth, failure of the profession to more
generally condemn and seek TO rid itself Of
the "snitch" and other cIsreputable mem
bers.
to entirely eliminate politics from their
conduct of the courts.
Can Eliminate knocks"
IT am, however, firm in the convic-
ton that the profession, this associa-
ton, by concerted effort and firm
4
could eliminate 80 per cent of the
criticism of the courts and the pro-
fession, If they will but heed the sug-
gestions 1 have attempted to make, If
the attorneys will learn to weed out
the cases they are asked to bring be-
fore the courts, If they preach and
practice the ethics of the profession,
if they will stop knocking, be good
losers, if they will combine to make
all courts reputable and real courts
frank to the courts and the public,
and inviting, urging and insisting
upon the same thing from all courts,
If they will put to the rear the thought
of mere tactful advantage. the idea
of contest of wits and substitute
therefor a square, open deal for liti-
giants before the court-the critics
will become boosters, even the news
writers will recognize there is place
in the world for the profession and
will not urge that we are a prey upon
humanity"
A retrospect on the law courts of
the Philippine Islands was read by
Leo T. Gibbons, of Scott City, in
which he portrayed the salutary re-
forms in legal procedure brought to
the Filipinos by the Americans. Be-
ginning with the Spanish occupation
in 1865, he traced the history of the
islands legal institutions down to the
present day.
The snitch the ambulance chaser
and the lawyer who tries his cases
in advance" he continued, %. are
present but held in the same esteem
as here. There is also the lawyer, not
| a stranger to this Jurisdiction, who
counts that day lost whose low de-
other cause begun Fortunately the
American system does not lend
itself naturally or otherwise to any
but the highest professional practice"
United States Lawyers in Philippines.
Gibbons said the vast army of the
bar in the Philippines is made up of
Americans formerly in the insular
American law schools. Politics and
their influences have been successfully
kept in the background, he declared
A plea for q stronger organization
and greater activity among the attor-
neys of Kansas was made this morning
bq John .. Hogin, of Be1leville. presi-
dent of the State Bar association, in
his address before the thirty-seventh
annual meeting in the supreme court
room.
Hogin took a forceful but friendly
| slap at the manner in which the assoc
| citation has been conducted during
| the past few years. He pointed out
| that less than one-fourth of the 1000
| lawyers in Kansas are members of the
| association and that less than half of
4 = A.
a matter of fact, the order functions
but two days in the year, he declared.
"Changc Convention Date"
| AS a remedy for this evil, he recon-
mended changing the date of the an
nual meeting from January, when the
weather is bad and the courts are
| busy, to spring or fall when more
lawyers will be at leisure to attend.
He advocated the publication of a
monthly or quarterly magazine de-
voted to the interests of the legal pro-
fession. He pleaded for the organiZa-
ton of more county and district bar
| associations; the printing of the code
of professional ethics, calculated to
elevate the standard of professional
integrity and placing it in the hands
of every attorney; more liberal ex-
Ipense account to encourage the vari-
Gus standing committees to function
more than once a year and a concise
program, in brief. to make the aSso-
citation more attractive and a source
of pride to it's members. There are
Iample funds in the treasury to carry
out these ideas without embarrass-
ment. he declared.
The meeting opened this morning al
1000 o'clock. The session was con-
fined chiefly to business. including the
reports of the officers and various
COMMITTEES. Two hundred lawyers will
have attended before the convention
closes, it was said.
| Tonight at s O'Clock the annual ad-
dress will be made by Hon. James c
Jones, prominent st. Louis attorney OF
the subject: why is the Constitution
of the United States?" Mr.. Jones wa:
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