Evening star., 1932-10-12
Of BAR
RAPS TAX BURDEN
Guy A. Thompson Assai|s
Congress in Opening As
sociation Convention.
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government in whichever man and
woman is a ruler crowned with the
right Of suffrage, yet less than one
half Of the citizens Of adult age vote
at the general elections and less than
one-fourth of them at the primaries"
Business Competition.
He also paid his respects to Govern
ment competition with private business,
saying this now exists in more than $50
lines.
Against the impending-indeed, the
menacing-danger, what is our protec-
tion?" Thompson asked. Political
parties cannot save us, the Constitution
cannot save us, the Supreme Court
cannot save us. We must save our
selves. An enlightened, aroused and
irresistible public opinion is our only
hope"
The urgent need, he continued, is
leadership that is self-sacrificing, in
formed. intelligent and courageous" ="
This, he amplified. means leadership
with the intelligence to apply its in
formation and the lessons OF the past
to the problems Of the present, and to
reconcile government with liberty; to
reaWaken the public consciousness and
convince the people that they can have
such government as they desire, and
that they do have such government as
they deserve; that their active interest
and participation in public affairs are
both a privilege and an obligation es-
sential in the maintenance of repre-
sentative government; that the most
worthless citizen is he who. obliviouS of
the public business, devotes all of his
thought, effort and time during his
barren life to the amassing of wealth"
Such leadership, Mr.. Thompson en-
phasized, must come from the body
of the bar. Only there Is the needed
equipment. Only there are the spirit
of self-sacrifice, the information, the
intelligence and the courage to be
found in requisite combination. Fur
thermore, ours is public profession.
Both by our training and our calling
We are obligated, as we are specially
commissioned, to deal with conditions
that now imperil our national safety"
"Laymans Complaint"
At the outset of his speech Mr.
Thompson took up the "layman's COM
plant" that the legal profession does
nothing to improve the administration
of justice. entering denial" Various
law organizations are rendering Valu-
able service, he said. citing as one in
stance that the American Bar Asso-
citation is expendlng 100000 annually,
contributed by its members, in this
cause.
Lawyers require the cooperation Of
laymen to bring about reforms. he said.
Self government for bar and courts
were among the remedial measures he
suggested. He added, too, that the lay
man must do his part as voter and
juror.
Mr. Thompson told his confreres that
despite the economic situation, the
American Bar Association had added
more than 5000 members IN the past
year, bringing its total strength to the
new high mark OF 10000.
Cites Voteless District.
The disenfranchised status OF Wash
ingtonians was brought to the attention
of the bar delegates at their opening
session by Frank J. Hogan, president of
the District Bar Association.
Congress has adjourned, he said in
his opening address, the bonus army
has evacuated and courts started a
recess; voteless and voiceless in all
public affairs, We are engaged in no
political activities.
Our decks are cleared for action;
our entire attention is centered in this
fifty-fifth annual meeting Of the Amer
lean Bar Association"
The response was by Frank E.
Atwood, Chief Justice of the Supreme
Court Of Missouri, who said sound
leadership is necessary more than ever
now that we are beginning to emerge
from the depression"
AT the conclusion of the morning
meeting, State delegates met to nomi-
nate members Of the general council
On the platform this morning were five
former presidents of the Bar Associa-
tion, including Frank B. Kellogg, former
Ambassador to England and one time
Secretary Of State; John w. Davis of
New York former Gov. Charles Whit
man of New York: former Senator
Chester I. Long of Kansas, and Silas
w. Strawn Of Chicago.
Vice Presidents Reduced.
The association voted to cut the num-
ber Of vice presidents to 10. one from
each judicial circuit. These will be
nominated by the general council.
Previously a vice president represented
each State and was chosen by the State
council. The term of Office of the gen.
eral counsel was increased to three
years instead of one.
The association also backed several
moves in the interest of better enforce
inent of criminal law.
One Of these provided for the ap-
pointment by the chairman of the sec
tion on criminal law and criminology
of a committee to recommend ways and
means for better training and selection
of personnel in the administration OF
criminal justice.
Another authorized the section to
promote chronological Institutes under
State supervision and third provided
for programs over the National Broad
casting Co. dealing with criminal law.
Uhe association is meeting this after
noon at the Chamber Of Commerce OF
the United States to take up reports
from the several sections. There is also
a speech by senior United States Circuit
Judge Kimbrough of the eighth circuit.
Chief Justice Hughes will preside at the
meeting tonight, which will be ad-
dressed by President Hoover.