Evening star., 1925-06-11
BRANDS LAWYERS
AS TOO MERCENARY
Senator King Declares Bar
Has Greatest Influence in
Address at N. u.

That the American lawyer is becom-
ing too mercenary and commercial
was charged last night by Senator
graduates of the law school and school
OF business administration of National
University at it's fifty-sixth annual con-
vocation, held in the auditorium of
the Central High School
II have felt that the legal profes-
sion is one of the most important of
any of pursuits of the people," Sena-
tor King said. Whenever there has
been a corrupt and degenerate bar,
there has been a corrupt and degen-
crate people. Usually, I am glad to
say, lawyers are the leaders of the
community in its efforts for personal
freedom and the rights of the in
dividual"
He pointed out the very large part
lawyers had played in the writing of
the Constitution and the establishment
of the legal systems in the country,
and then entered into the discussion
of the growth of law. 1t was to Rome,
he said, that modern law owed its
birth, for the Romans were the first
people who had a concept of the mean
ing of Jurisprudence, justice and the
rights of the individual. Much of the
Roman glory was due to the wisdom
of her lawyers and much of the ig-
nominy of her downfall was brought
on by the legal profession forgetting
the ideals which should lie back of all
law.
Some BalI Ideals.
''I regret he declared, there is a
feeling that lawyers are not so de-
voted to the high ideals and the mo-
rality of the law as we aver we are.
A1,I y No cot
of our profession who do not under
stand the purpose and character of
law or the fundamental principles of
which laws must be based.
:" A people is judged by it's laws, by
its practices of Jurisprudence and JUS
tice. Thereafter lawyers must be lead
ers in the development of a peoples
law, and must watchfully regard 1t.
Lawyers must remember that they
are officers of the court and are,
therefore quasi-pubhc officials and
owe responsibility to the State and
not merely to themselves. Their sole
duty is not material gain or the pur-
suit of fat emolumentS, but the guard
ing Of the sanctity and health of the
law, and hence the community"
Senator King was given the. honor
ary degree of doctor of laws. A SINH
lar degree was conferred upon two
FClOTdL IleHlDcTS VI ltlc Id" SCnOol
faculty, Hayden Johnson and Conrad
Syme, and also upon Charles H. Meril-
lat, a member of the board of trustees.
Maynard A. Clemens, recently ap-
pointed dean of the school of bust
ness administration, and DR.. Edison
Leone Whitney. economist for the
Department of Labor and professor
Of economies. were given the honor
ary degree of doctor of letters.
Rev. Clarence E. Rice, D. D., pas
tor of the Church of Our Father. Uni
versalist, delivered the Invocation and
benediction, and Sol Minister'S Orches-
ira gave several selections of popular
music. s.
Degrees Conferred.
Degrees were conferred upon the
222 graduates by Charles F. Carusi,
chancellor Of the university, as fol
lows:
Doctor OF civil law-Nelson D.
Brecht, District of Columbia; James
La Sale Brown, District of Columbia;
Luther R. Marrox, Tennessee.
Doctor of jurisprudence-Cons
tine A. Chekrezi, Albania.
Master of laws-J. Frederick Ahlers,
Missouri; Henry Nelson Benoit, Con-
necticut; Millard Blum, California;
Samuel McElroy Burgess, I'd. Mary