Evening star., 1944-05-10
Bar Association Here
0verruIes Directors
On Sedition Trial

Overruling it's own Board of Di-
rectors, the District Bar Association
last night voted to hold a specia
meeting Ito take cognizance" of tht
sedition trial The meeting was
promptly set for May Is.
The lawyers argued for more thar
an hour after Edmund D. Campbell
association vice president, reported
that the associations Board of Di-
rectors had decided unanimously
against calling a special meeting.
The request for the special assem-.
bly, came in a petition signed by II
association members who asked Will
bur Gray, association secretary, to
set the date for a meeting taking
eognizance of the situation and such
action as may result from said meet
ing pertaining TO the so-called sedi-
tion trial"
Action Taken by Board.
The Board of Directors, Mr.. Camp
bell announced, had resolved that
the meeting should not be held while
the trial is pending "for the reason
among others, that any discussion
by this association during the pen
dency of the trial would be highly
improper and prejudicial to the
court, the prosecution, the defend
ants and their respective counsel"
While Mr.. Campbell and Associa-
ton President Milton w. King
argued such a meeting might be
considered contempt of court, Attor-
ney Jean Boardman, one of the sign
ers of the petition, and other asso-
citation members, contended the
associations bylaws should be fol-
lowed.
Mr.. Boardman argued the Board
OF Directors had no authority to
decide against the meeting, that the
bylaws provided for the secretary
to set the date for a special meeting
on the petition of rs members.
Sees Possible Contempt"
Admitting that he now had
serious doubts" about calling the
meeting while the trial was in
progress, Mr.. Boardman insisted
that If the rights of 26 members
were denied, other members might
later be deprived of their rights
under the bylaws.
Mr. Campbell told the meeting the
board admitted its action was "dras-
tic" in view of the right of members
to assemble, but added that "obvi-
ously lawyers should not assemble
openly to commit contempt" Call
ing such meeting or taking special
action under the circumstances
would hold the association up to
disrepute throughout the country,
Mr.. Campbell said. He compared
the boards action to that of the
Senate Judiciary Committee, which
declined to investigate the trial.
Mr.. King described the proposed
meeting as 'impolitic, impolite and
bordering on contempt" and argued
that the board didn't think a special
meeting should be called for such a
vague and indefinite purpose
Members carefully refrained from
discussing what might be brought
up at the meeting except for q
reference by Mr.. Boardman to a
member who, he said, had been pre-
pairing material for the association
to present to Congress for legislation
to pay the fees of lawyers assigned
10 the defense in the sedition trial.
Educational Measure
D. Hobart Little, one of the de-
fense counsel in the trial, said he
thought q special meeting might be
useful as an educational measure
In view of the most tremendous
and colossal ignorance of what Is
happening there in court"
The association voted down three
formal motions before voting to call
the special meeting. Motions to
approve the action of the Board of
Directors because the petition didn't
state the purpose of the meeting,
to call q special meeting within 80
days after the end of the trial and
30 approve the action of the board
without further amendment were
all defeated.
The association belatedly got
around to its main business honor
ing members now serving on draft
boards, appeal boards and as appeal
agents and registrants' advisors.
Mr.. King paid tribute to their per
sonal courage, honesty and high
devotion to duty" and commented
thai their jobs required the pat
ience of Job and the wisdom of
Solomon"
Comdr. winston Speaks.
Comdr, Patrick H. Winston, Ma
taonal Selective Service planning
oficer, spoke of the contribution
made by lawyers to all phases of the
draft and added that mo amount of
money in this country could buy the
ability, honesty and effort of these
men"
Making passing reference to con-
ttnual draft changes, he said 1t was
necessary for the draft to remain
flexible" adding, Il assume you think
we remain too flexible"
District Selective Service Director
William f. Leahy, declared that
without the help of the lawyers 1t
is extremely doubtful that the Selec-
tive Service Act could have been
administered at all"
While all volunteers in the Selec-
tive Service System are doing an
important Job, he said, they look tc
the lawyers for guidance in questions
of law, Interpretation of the regula-
tons and interviewing registrants.