The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-04-27
PRESIDENT CRUM
 SPEAKS AT STATE 3 A R CONVENTION
Stresses Importance of Con- Stitution At Annual Meet
 ing In Mobile


 Leased Wire.)-The Alabama State Bar association convened In it's forty sixth annual session here this morn- ing and will remain in session until Saturday During the session mem bers of the Alabama supreme court of appeals will be in attendance, some of the latter body having ar- rived this morning.
 The address of welcome by Robert E. Gordon was followed by President Benjamin r. Crum of Montgomery, presiding officer. who delivered his annual address
 MT. Crum declared that there Is crying need of more attention in our common schools to the teaching of the fundamental principles of the constitution and the objects and pur- poses of government.
 This nation will never be safe" MT, Crum declared. Until the consti- MT. Crum declared. until the consti- The young and old alike should feel a new sense of security in the guaranties which are found In this great charter of human liberty" Upholds Supreme Court.
 Mir. Crum referred to the effort he said was now emanating from cer- tain sources to "curtail the power of the supreme court of the United States to declare acts of Congress unconstitutional" He declared that the Alabama Bar association should frown on such effort and added that . the supreme court at all times Should be left free and untrammeled in the exercise of its power to pre- serve and protect the sacred rights and principles guaranteed by the con stitution-bought with the blood of our fathers and handed down to our sacred keeping"
 One hundred per cent American ism means respect for the constitu- tion and obedience to law admin istered by the courts and constituted authority, said President Crum. If any man should uphold the sov- ereignty of the constitutional gov ernment, that man Is the lawyer"
 O O O
 Committee Report.
 Other business transacted included the report of the executive committee and a paper by John H. Peach. Esq. on Shall the Courts of our County Preserve Their Birthright?"
 Charles A. Calhoun spoke on "The Progress of the State Is Being Re- tarded by Our Present State of Con. stitution-Some Suggested Changes"
 Leon c .Broks talked on The De- claratory Judgment-An Innovation in American Jurisprudence" And
 
 Importance of Adopting In Alabama More Of The Uniform State Laws Prepared By The National Confer ence.'
 Appeals Court Indorsed.
 Submission of the report of the committee on Jurisprudence and law reform at the afternoon session of the Alabama Bar association Thurs- day precipitated a length discussion of the states judicial system, which ended with the indorsement of the court of appeals as it Is now consti tuted and the adoption of a motion introduced by Judge Joel B. Brown of Cullman, advocating the re-estab- lishment Lf a separate chancery court In Alabama.
 Several reports and important pa- pers were presented at the afternoon session. The central council report was made by Chambliss Keith. chair man, after which the committee on jurisprudence and law reform pre- scented it's report In the absence of E. Perry Thomas. Montgomery, chair man of this committee. the report was submitted by Jacob A. Walker. Opelika, member of the committee. The committee on Jurisprudence and law reform characterized the act passed by the legislature to provide for the governor or either house of the legislature to obtain advisory opinions If justices of the supreme court on important constitutional questions as "farcial statute" members favor the continuance of a separate operation of the supreme court of appeals. the report stated.
 Charles A. Calhoun of Birmingham paper on the subject. "The Progress of the State Is Being Retarded By Our Present State Con- Suggested Changes" changes in the constitution were rec commended by the speaker, who as- serted that he strongly favored the calling of constitutional convention by the legislature. The constitution should be revised. said MT. Calhoun. declaring that 1t Is a patchwork.
 MT. Calhoun said he considered bi- ennial sessions of the legislature pre- ferable tC the present Quadrennial method. He also advocated decrease in the membership of tho lawmaking b body and an increase in the compen- sation of the legislators.
 up by MT. Calhoun; among them was an expression of expedition to tho election of county superintsndents of education by popular vote.
 Resolutions expressing regret at the decision of Judge Thomas c. Me- Clellan to resign from the Alabama seat were unanimously adopted. Jus tice McClellan's work as a member of the states highest tribunal was highly praised in tho resolution
 President Crum appointed conn mittee on nominations to present a list of nominees for election as new members of tho association Tho committee is composed of Lawrence Cooper of Huntsville. J. K. Dixon of w. o. Mulkey of Geneva. Henry Upson Sims If Birmingham and Judge Norville Leigh of Mobile.
 The committee report will be filed with the assembly Friday.