The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1922-02-24
Liberal Education and
Moral Character Pre-
requisites of Success.
CHIEF JUSTICE TAFT
WILL ALSO SPEAK
Meeting of American Bar
Association AdjOurns
This Afternoon.


the conference of Bar associations
yesterday morning. Elihu Root
urged two years of college work
preparatory to the study of law.
The meeting was a special session
called to consider the recommenda-
tion of the American Bar Associa-
tion that hereafter two years OF
college work and three years in a
recognized law school shall be ire
quired as a condition for adhis-
sion to the bar. The conference
will adjourn this afternoon.
Mr.. Root, who was presented by
Clarence n. Goodman, chairman. re-
ceiyed an ovation, as he ascended
the platform.
Speaking on the resolution
adopted by the American Bar As
sociation, Mr.. Root said that or
ganization already expressed its
opinion What you can do" he
said. and what / hope you will do.
Is to range yourselves by the side
Of the American Bar Association to
give effect to that opinion.
"A method of giving effect to this
opinion is what has brought US
here 1t is a direction of the asso-
citation to cooperate with the State
and local bar associations. to urge
upon the duly constituted authori-
ties of the several States the
adoption of the above requirements
and the direction for the calling
of this conference for the purpose
bodies in an effort to create condi-
tions in the several States favor
able to the adoption of these prin-
ciples."
Neglect L. Condemned.
Rehesrsing the evils which result
from inadequate college prepara-
tion. Mr.. Root condemned the fail
ure to bring the practice of law
to a plane with other learned pro-
fessions.
The American Bar Association
has been talking about It for
twenty-five years." he said, zap
pointing committees. listening to
reports, and filing them. This is
the first attempt. in any authorita-
tive and conclusive way, to do
something. am here to ask you
to help in II.
The old practice of Lincoln's
time" Mr.. Root continued. under
which a young man studied in a
law ONCE. got a little coaching. a
little steering from members of the
firm. read a few fundamental
books. got educated as a lawyer
in that way. has passed Here and
there in the country districts II
may remain, but by and large II
has gone. That pathway Is no
longer open to the young man who
seeks admittance to the bar"
Attributing the decline of the
legal profession to a want of moral
GuaIitiea. Mr.. Root stressed the ne
c~g-ity fo- broad conceptions OF
standards of morality. equity and
Justice. which. he said. are most
, readily attained in a general col
lege course.
Mr.. Root said that while serving
on the character committee of the
CITY Of New York he had come in
contact with hundreds of appli-
cants for admission to the bar
They were acute. subtle. adroit
skillfuI." he said. They had
crammed for their examinations
They could trot around any simple
minded boy from the country three
times a day Evidences are coming
in all the time of a great influx
into the legal profession of men
with lntelleCludl anu HC
moral qualities"
Need of Education.
The solution of the problem. said
Mr. Root. lies in giving force to
requirements which compel law stu
dents to acquire a liberal education
in the arts and sciences before be-
ginning the study of law.
There Is enough money wasted
gs;,
sIoyenly incompetent, ignorant
their rights. to pay for the educa-
tion of all the men that will apply
for admission to the American bar
in the next twenty-five years.
The afternoon session was pre-.
sided over by william Howard
Taft. In a brief address to the as.
sembly Mr.. Taft outlined the rela.
tion of the legal profession to our
social. political and economic
structure, advocating broad college
preparation by young men prepar'
ing for the practice Of law.
Tor no learned profession" said
Mr.. Taft, ''is a thorough and gen.
eraI education more necessary thar
for that of the law. In the new
rules adopted by the American Bar
y
complete college course necessary
before study Of the law begins
though hope we may ultimately
do so. We are moving in that di
rection by requiring two years oi
COLLEGIATE training.
'Fhere Is nothing aristocratic OF
exclusive about our policy. wher
you come to employ a doctor to at
tend your very sick wife or chill
YOU don't think yourself exclusive
YOU don't count yourself an aristo'
crat because you make diligent In
quiry to obtain the best doctor YOU
can get when you are seeking tc
recover just compensation for q
gross injustice done you. or are de-
Tending yourself against a danger
Gus and fraudulent suit against
yourself for heavy damages. or are
seeking to save your, property from
total loss at the hands of some ons
whom you have unwisely trusted
with IL. you cannot be called a pa.
tricfan.s or a snob. or an aristocra-
because you try to find a lawyer
who Is the shlest and best-fitted
man to preserve your rights at the
bar"