The Washington herald., 1922-02-25
LAWYERS VOTE
TORAISE PLANE
OFPR0FESSION
College Term and Liberal
Education Provided
So
In Resolution.
ROOT AND McADOO
AMONG SPEAKERS
Bar Association Confer.
ence Adjourns An
nual Session Here.

nual session Here.
The conference OF bar associa-
tions, at its final business session
yesterday afternoon adopted reso-
lutions to raise the standard of
the legal profession.
After two days discuss on. of
means to raise the plane Of the
practice of law. the following reso-
lutions were adopted:
Every candidate for admission
to the bar should give evidence
Of graduation from a law school
complying with the following
Standards:
"(a) 1t shall require as a condi-
tion of admission at least two
years Of study In q college.
"(b) II shall require its stu
dents to pursue a course of three
years duration IL they devote sub
stantially all Of their working time
to their studies, and longer
course, equivalent in the number
of working hours. II they devote
only part of their working time to
their studies.
"(c) Ii shall provide an adequate
library available for the use of the
students.
"(d) 1t shall have among fits
teachers a sufficient number CIV
ing their entire time to the school
to insure actual personal acquaSpt-
ance and influence with the whole
student body.
John w. Davis, former Ambassa-
dor to Great Britain, presided at
the afternoon session.
Three motions to amend the res
olutions in favor OF fewer educa-
tional requirements were voted
down.
Elihu Root spoke briefly in sup
port of the resolution. (
First step Of Kind Taken.
Mr.. Root expressed the hope that
the conference would not vote to
stop "the only effort the bar has
ever made to answ er the prayers OF
the good people who want our coun-
try better, and TO answer To the
terrible responsibility that rests
upon It to maintain the free insti-
tutions which are to perpetuate lib
erty and order in our dear country.
= ,':All that the opposition here
comes to is simply to stop, to stop!
to do nothing! stop the American
Bar Association. disapprove them,
tell them they should do nothing
How much better. instead of beat
ing over the prejudices and MEM
ories of a past that is gone, is 1t to
take dear old Edward Everett
Hale's maxim, Look forward, not
back; look upward. not down, and
lend a hand"
Upon completion OF the work of
the conference. President and Mrs.
Harding received the delegates and
women accompanying them at an
informal reception at the White
House. Congratulations were ex-
tended delegates by the President
upon the achievements of the con-
ference.
A dinner at the New Willard
marked the final meeting. Attorney
General Daugherty and others
spoke.
Sound Government Aim.
Declaring that the lawyers first
duty to the public consists in edu-
eating the people to sound and
wholesome notions of government
Mr.. Daugherty said that during the
period he has served as Attorney
General he has not called upon a
single lawyer in the United States
for service who has not responded
e The American lawyer, his ideals
and his conception of service. as
well as his character and equip
ment, both intellectual and moral,
are of paramount Importance to
every man who loves his country
and cherishes its welfare. The very
nature of constitutional government
makes the mission of the lawyer
one of fundamental Importance. In
a government of law and order the
lawyer must occupy a commanding
position. His relation to the state
brings to him the call of public
service. His relation to clients. in
the private affairs OF life, demand
of him Intellectual and moral quail
ties of the highest kind. Hence, IL
Is altogether fitting that you should
gather here, TO the end that the
standards of the American lawyer
may be elevated to as high a point
as possible Your work is intensely
and patriotic"
Need of Education.
Cordenio A. Severance, president
Of the American Bar Assocfa ton,
congratulating the delegates upon
the work of the conferences, said. in
part:
mot so many years ago II was
not deemed even advantageous for
men who were to pursue what is
commonly called a business career
to have had the foundation of \
liberal education. 1t was frequent
ly spoken Of asa waste of time
and a delay In getting on in the
world. -
I'VE have progressed beyond that
period. and In all branches of busi-
ness activity-manufactu agri-
culture, or banking--its is normally
recognized that a man with a coll
lege training or a technical educa-
tion is superior in working capac.
ity and effectiveness to one who -
not possessed of such advantage
OF course. under these conditions
the bar cannot lag behind. But,
however well our young men and
women are grounded in the classics
and other branches of learning in
our universities, and however dili-
gently they pursue their studies in
the law schools before coming to
the bar, they must have something
more than the mere training tns
comes from books.
They must be taught that they
are not entering upon trade, but
are becoming members of learned