The New York herald., 1922-02-24
Gov. Ralston Says Raising
of Standard Would Be In
justice to Poor Boys.
ROOT RAPS INCOMPETENTS
Declares Resolution Of Bar
Association Is Designed to
Protect Public.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 23.-William II
Taft, Chief Justice of the United States
Supreme Court; leaders Of the Ameri-
can bar from all sections of the coun-
try and representatives of universities
and colleges at the opening meeting
to-day of the national conference of
bar associations discussed, at times
somewhat heatedly, the recommenda-
ton OF the American Bar Association
that academic education be required
in the future of all law school gradu.
ates seeking admission to the bar.
The conference of delegates from
more than hundred and fifty bar asso-
Citations was called for the purpose of
eliciting the support, it was explained,
of the different States in an effort
eventually to arrive at definite and
recognized standard Of legal education.
The discussion will be continued to-
morrow and a vote will be taken late
in the day to determine the attitude
Of the States represented.
Elihu Root of New York, speaking at
the morning session of the conference, in
behalf of the American Bar Association
denounced conditions which, he said
made possible the projection into the
ranks of the legal profession of men in
capable OF performing the duties of
lawyer, and asked SUPPORT OF the recon-
mendation OF the association that at
| IAn 81 H.
quired Of all law school graduates in the
future.
Taft for Full College Course.
Chief Justice Taft, picturing condi-
tions of laxity In many communities
which, he declared, enabled incompetents
to be admitted to the bar, was more ur-
gent than Mr.. Root In advocating edu.
i cational reforms so far as the future OF
the legal profession was concerned. Mr.
Taft said he not only was in favor OF
requiring two years college study but
fun college course by law schoo grad
yates before they were certified to prac-
tice law, explaining that "the country
already has too many lawyers. and ]
cannot feel there is going to be dearth
| of them, no matter how thorough the
preparation insisted upon"
The conference was opened by Judge
! Clarence n. Goodwin of Chicago, who
acted as chairman, and after Mr.. Roo:
had addressed the delegates recess
was taken until afternoon. when Chief
Justice Taft was asked to preside. Ad-
dresses were then made by former Gov
Samuel NJ. Ralston of Indiana, former
Gov. Herbert S. Hadley OF Missouri
Prof. Samuel Willison of the Harvard
Law School. President James r. Angel
e y1;r nj II
OF Chicago
A sharp division OF opinion as 20 the
advisability of Federal or State law
which would impose college education as
a qualification of future members Of the
bar developed early in the meeting, wher
Gov Ralston declared that it would
"smack OF tragedy to say to a worthy
and ambitious youth that he has the
ability to do the work OF law school
but that he cannot get q law school edu-
GATOR. because he has not had two years
training In college or that he cannot
qualify himself for the bar for the same
reason"
Root Opposes 'TncOmpetents.'
Mr.. Root previously had declared that
the American Bar Association had for
twenty-five years made study OF con-
ditions in the various communities and
colleges OF the country, and that the
feeling was deep rooted that some
mea sures should he taken Immediately
to correct the injustice imposed upon
the public and the legal profession by
| the graduation and admission to the
bar OF incompetent men.
AS spokesman for the Bar Associa-
ton he also declared that that organi-
zation had compiled n list of the edu-
cational institutions of the country
which conform. in the opinion OF the
association. to what n law school ought
to be-" and list of those institutions
which do not conform, and that the
list would be placed before the country
for the guidance Of the public.
While Chief Justice Taft. Mr.. Root.
Judge Goodwin, President Angel. Prof
williston and former Gov. Hadley ex-
a =