The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-06-14
Defeat of Anderson Resolution by the
 Bar Association
To the Editor of The AEe-Herald:

Referring to the lively meeting of the Birmingham Bar association on Saturday last, and the defeat of what is known as the Anderson resolution to reseind the Thompson resolution requesting the candidates for office in Jefferson county to disclose what. if any connection they might have with the Ku Klux Klan or any such or ganization which parades the streets in masks, since the newspaper ac- count of the meeting which was otherwise very full and correctly stated did not. however, give copy of the resolution, and since 1t is ap- parent that many of the public are interested in knowing what the reso- lution was and the reasons stated therein for its adoption. 1t seems necessary to ask you to kindly print 1t in full. Said resolution is as fol- lows;
 Whereas, on May 29, 1922. at a called meeting of the Bar association of Birmingham at which the puE- lie and lawyers not members of the association were Invited, or partici- pated therein along with some of the regular paid membership of the asso- ciation, a resolution was adopted which Is in the words and figures as follows.
 z (The substance of the resolution of May 29 is stated in the first para graph hereof and need not be printed).
 And. whereas the constitution and bylaws of the Birmingham B% asso- citation provides as follows:
 Article II. Objects: The associa- tion Is established to maintain tho honor and dignity of the profession of the law, to increase it's usefulness In promoting the due administration of justice, to cultivate social inter course among its members and for the purpose of procuring and main taining a library.
 And, whereas said resolution above quoted is illegal snd void and ultra wires, In this: 1. For that for aught that appears therein said reso- lution does not tend to maintain the honor and dignity of the profession of the law as contemplated and in- tended by the framers of the objects of the constitution, and 2. For that for aught that appears therein said resolution does not In fact tend to increase it's (the Birmingham Bar association's) usefulness in promot- ing the due administration of jus tiee, as contemplated and intended by the framers of the objects of the IOhotltullOHs dnu fOT that TOT aught that appears therein said reso- lution does not tend to cultivate social intercourse among its mem- bers,' but on the contrary Is liable to cause dissensions, divisions and dis cords in said association, and cripple and embarass it In its efforts to re- main coherent body and carry out the objects thereof, and 4. For that for aught that appears therein said resolution does not have for its purpose the procuring and maintain ing of library and
 Whereas, as said resolution while possibly not so intended by tho proponents thereof. if permitted to stand can easily be construed 10 be of a political nature binding the asso- citation to political obligations and schemes which have no place in the objects and constitution and bylaws of the association. and was adopted at meeting not called for such pur- pose. and at which meeting lawyers not members of the association and 1aymen not eligible to vote in the as- soeiation were permitted to vote and did vote thereon; and,
 Whereas, said resolution is deemed unfair to the candidates for office and injects an issue which is not within the objects or Spurview of the constitution and bylaws of the Bar association of Birmingham, which association Is non-political and non partisan but Is composed Of members of all political parties sincerely en- deavoring to cultivate social Inter- course. and a brotheriy ethical feel ing among themselves. and the other legitimate and defined purposes thereof. Now, therefore, be 1t
 Resolved, by the Birmingham Bar association. at a meeting regularly called and in executive session, That said resolution of May 2s be. and the same Is hereby declared to be null and void. and the same Is hereby wholly rescinded and for nothing held. and candidates who may have already received any such question: naires are hereby notified of the re- scinding of the said resolution of May 29, and that no answer thereto will be received"
 Every person who has read the res oiution can now judge for himself the only issue or point raised by 1t, which was. Did the Birmingham Bar asso- citation have the authority under it's constitution and bylaws and objects to promulgate the Thompson resolu- tion and send out questionnaires 70 the candidates as to their affiliation with the Ku Klux Klan or any such organization. etc7" It is we'll known tovmost people that no corporation church. society or association which exists under constitution and by laws or charter can do any act in- consistent with such constitution and bylaws or charter. My sole purpose was. and Is. as member of the Bir- mingham Bar association, who has tacitly at least agreed to live up to it's constitution and bylaws and ob- jects. to keep tn association within the bounds thereof and especially out of politics. The public must not con- fuse the Birmingham Bar association with the lawyers of Birmingham. and in this connection the public mught be interested In short statement of what the Birmingham Bar association Is. whose ulterior motive Is to main tain a library of law books for the use of lawyers unable (and who rep resent clients unable) to provide themselves. and the judges of our courts who are to decide the cases of the poor and the rich, herewith. The Birmingham Bar association has It's headquarters and law books in tho sky parlor of the First National Bank building, for which 1t pays $1 per annun. thanks to the generosity of the First National bank of this city. secretary or librarian is in charge: a telephone is installed: there are books. tables and writing material