Evening star., 1941-02-18
D. T.. Bar Association
Ends 12-Year Dispute;
Will Admit Women
Low Library to
Be Moved as Result
Of Jackson UItimotum

matum requiring either that the
Federal building quarters be re-
| linquished or the facilities of the
library be made available to "all
members of the bar in good stand
ing, without discrimination on ac-
count of race, color, religion or sex. -
This course was adopted last
night at a meeting at the MayfloWer
| when the association, after a r.
year argument announced that
woman lowyerS hereafter will be
welcomed to membership.
In a third momentous ruling
for the legal fraternity, the asso-
citation, after a heated debate, in
dorsed eight of its members as can
| didates for the vacancy on the Dis
trict Court bench. Those having the
bars approval are Henry Schwein-
haut, George B. Barse, Brice Clag-
EFT, Leo A Rover, District Attorney
Edward M. Curran, Lawrence Koe-
nigsberger, 10 V. Morgan and Seftor
Darr.
The lawyers made up their minds
on the library matter after a sur
priSingly brief discussion. In fact
it was evident that a majority o1
the members had decided the queS-
ton to their own satisfaction before
the meeting.
Can't Have "Our Books"
After hearing a restatement ot
Mr.. Jackson's letter, published sew
eral days ago, the bar heard John
j. Carmody report for a committee
that had investigated the possibil-
tiles of obtaining new quarters. Mr.
Carmody said it was his personal
sentiment that if the Attorney
General wants the District Court
library he can have it-but not our
books" And that seemed to be the
sentiment of a majority of the law
yerS. ElWood Seal sought to have
the bar acquieSce in Mr.. Jackson's
order, but with hardly another dis
Senting voice the lawyers backed Mr.
Carmody'S recommendation that the
association rent quarters until the
group is able to purchase or erect g
building of its own. The move will
be made by the end of March.
The question of admitting woman
members TO the association took
more time. 1t was Edward c. Dut-
ton, speaking for a committee that
studied the proposal, who urged
that the women be received, such
as has been done by all other city
bar associations with the exception
OF Washington and Baltimore"
Dubious Distinction.
Hilton Jackson said he favored
letting Baltimore have the dubious
distinction of harboring the only
strictly male bar association, and
Richard E. Wexford revealed that
he had "blackballed" woman law
yers years ago, but that he had
lived to regret it. George M Morris
recalled that the bar had banned
women in the past because it feared
they would interfere with the or
ganization's social functions" and
because they might inject a con-
fusion of thought" He said his OBJ
servations of woman lawyers at
work had convinced him they would
not lower the associations stand
ards. DiSSenters to the Dutton
motion were distinctly in the minor
fty and it was voted 100 to % to
admit women.
Archie K. Shipe, reporting for a
committee that has been looking
into the progress on the proposed
new District court house, announced
the structure to be built on the
Pension Office site is practically an
accomplished fact"
Walter M. Bastian, making the
report for the bars Committee on
Judicial Selection, recommended
that the eight names submitted by
his group be approved by the entire
membership so they could be for
Warded to the Justice Department
and in turn be relayed to the White
House when President Roosevelt
appoints successor to District
Court Justice Peyton Gordon, re-
tired.
Justice Miller Heard.
Mr.. Seal Immediately moved that
the list of eight be shortened to
three and that the bar then and
there name the trio it considered
best fitted. James H. Murdock Sug-
geSted that Mr.. Seals motion be
softened and that Mr.. Bastian's
committee be delegated to trim the
list if that was the associations
pleasure. John Paul Jones argued
that failure of the bar to act
promptly on its committees recon-
mendations might result in giving
the Justice Department a loophole"
to boost some one outside the aSSo-
cations pale. There were other
arguments that to abbreviate the
list might reflect on the ability and
qualifications of those omitted.
Harry S. Wender eventually Of
fered substitute motion that the
BaStian committees report, indorsing
all eight. be submitted 70 a vote.
The lawyers approved it, 109 to Al.
No distinctions were drawn between
any OF those recommended.
Midway the association suspended
its regular business to hear Associate
Justice Justin Miller of the Court of
Appeals speak on Increasing the
Effectiveness of Oral Argument on
Appeal"
Pungent Advice to Lawyers.
Justice Miller, giving his personal
observations, said the lawyer who
fails to argue his case orally is al
most guilty of criminal neglect" 1t
is more effective, the jurist told the
lawyers, to speak your piece than
read it, because an eye-to-eye speech
Is the most effective way of holding
the bench's attention"
Justice Miller Shuddered at the
thought of great orations-those
five or ten minute ear-ringers." He
said it is hard to be attentive when
were in discomfort" He advised the
lawyers to make a psychological
study of the judge, ito watch care
fully and see what his intake capaci-
ty is on the case you are arguing"
Thin-skinned lawyers and timid
lawyers, Justice Miller said, are not
apt to make a good impression. BY
the easily punctured type, he meant
l L. "a