of course is not in finding timber for these offices, for there is much timber for them, and we hope that every member will bear in mind, in the consideration of this report, the embarrassment which the committee has had in considering the merits of the several gentlemen who are members of this Association. The Committee nominates to you for the office of President of this Association for the ensuing year, Mr. T. M. Cunningham, Jr., of Savannah. Mr. President, I desire to state personally, on account of the relationship which exists between my family and Mr. Cunningham's, that I did not suggest his name, and I disqualified while it was under consideration. For first Vice-President the Committee nominates Judge Joel Branham of Rome. For second Vice-President, John E. Donalson of Bainbridge. For third Vice-President, W. K. Miller of Augusta. For fourth Vice-President, A. W. Evans of Sandersville. For fifth Vice-President, A. H. Thompson of LaGrange. For the Executive Committee: Mr. Alex. W. Smith of Atlanta, Chairman; Hon. Roland Ellis of Macon; Mr. Thos. J. Chappell of Columbus, Mr. T. F. Green of Athens. For the respective positions of Treasurer and Secretary, the Committee has nominated our old and faithful friends and servants, Mr. Z. D. Harrison of Atlanta, and Mr. Orville A. Park of Macon. Mr. T. A. Hammond (Atlanta): I move that the Secretary be requested to cast the vote of the Association for the Officers named by the Chairman of the Nominating Committee. Mr. Hamilton Douglas (Atlanta): I desire to second that motion. The motion was put to vote and carried. The Secretary: I take pleasure in casting the vote for all of these gentlemen except myself, and as I have done that so often I may say that I take pleasure in doing that also. The President: Next is the report of the Committee on Local Bar Associations. The Chairman, Mr. John J. Strickland of Athens, is unable to be with us to-day, so I will ask Mr. W. W. Gordon, Jr., of Savannah, to take charge of that report. I Mr. W. W. Gordon, Jr., (Savannah): The report has been printed and mailed to everybody. In justice to Mr. Strickland, I beg to say in advance that he has been particularly active on this Committee, and has prepared the report, in which Mr. Park and myself have simply acquiesced. might add that we are heartily in sympathy with the report, and we would be glad to see it adopted. It seems to me a matter of great advantage that these local Associations should be formed. Those nominated as delegates may feel it an honor to come here, and in that way we may increase our attendance. I think we will all go home with the feeling that we have had one of the best meetings that we have ever had, and I wish all of our friends had been present. I say it is likely to increase our attendance, because these local Bar Associations will send delegates here, and I am sure they will feel it an honor to come, and meet their feliow members of the Bar, whether they are members of this Association or not. Besides, I am sure that out of this number of delegates we are bound to secure some new members for our Association. Then again, if our recommendations are carried out, we are to send our literature to these various local Bar Associations, and thereby we will disseminate the proceedings of our Association, and get a larger number of the lawyers of the State and the members of the Bar in accord with the high principles that pervade the Georgia Bar Association. If we could do nothing better than to draw them under the influence of the Code of Ethics passed to-day, this meeting will not have been in vain. From the standpoint of the local Bar Associations, I think it is desirable for them to organize. I am not speaking of those already organized, for they have already seen the advantage, but in regard to new Associations, the lawyers will undoubtedly find it advantageous to associate themselves together. Our Committee was charged with the duty of preparing amendments to the Constitution of the Georgia Bar Association that would provide for the affiliation of Bar Associations already organized, and other local Bar Associations to be organized in the future. Article 13, proposed in this report, provides that they shall send delegates to the meetings of the Georgia Bar Association, and be entitled to all the privileges of regular members during said meetings. I think an addition should be made to that to this effect: "With the exception that they shall not have the right to vote." I think it is desirable to have these delegates here, and increase the attendance at our meetings and let them enjoy these splendid scholarly papers that we have here every session, but I do not think they should vote in our meetings, when they are not regular members of the Georgia Bar Association. I therefore move the adoption of Article XIII as it stands, except that the delegates be not entitled to vote. Mr. L. C. Slade (Columbus): This report has been sent around to the various members of the Association. We have a local Bar Association in Columbus, and this report happened to be sent to us immediately after one of our meetings, and the question at once came up as to just what would be the status of one of these delegates here. Every Bar Association could very readily understand that the delegates would have the rights of other members of the Association, if they were members of the Association, and they should not have the rights of members of this Association unless they were members of it. For that reason I think that that should be stated very clearly. Mr. W. W. Gordon, Jr., (Savannah): I have no objection to adding to that Article XIII "except they be denied the right to vote unless they be members of this Association." The Article as thus amended was then adopted. Mr. W. W. Gordon, Jr., (Savannah): I move the adoption of Article XIV as it stands. You all have the printed report in your hands, and can see what that sets out. This motion was seconded and carried. Mr. W. W. Gordon, Jr., (Savannah): I move the adoption of Exhibit B. This was adopted with the exception of two words in proposed Article II, the words being: "without more." Then on motion recommendations 3 and 4 as shown by the report were adopted without discussion. (For the report of Committee on Local Bar Associations as amended and adopted, see Appendix S.) Mr. S. H. Sibley (Union Point): I wish to offer this resolution, Mr. President: "BE IT RESOLVED, that the thanks of the Association be extended to our honored guest, the Hon. Hannis Taylor, for his presence with us, and his instructive and inspiring address delivered to us on this occasion." This resolution was seconded and carried by rising vote. A resolution was offered by Mr. John M. Graham as follows: "RESOLVED that the Secretary of this Association be requested to furnish to each of the State Libraries of the United States, to each of the State Bar Associations, and to each library of this State on application, a copy of the Bleckley Memorial Volume issued by this Association." Upon being informed by the Secretary that the disposition of the remaining volumes of the Bleckley Memorial on hand, had by previous resolution been left with the Executive Committee, Mr. Graham withdrew his resolution. Judge S. B. Adams (Savannah): I move we adjourn. The President: I declare the twenty-sixth annual Convention of the Georgia Bar Association adjourned. APPENDIX A. TREASURER'S REPORT. Z. D. Harrison, Treasurer. In account with the Georgia Bar Association. To balance May 28, 1908- Dr. Cr. To dues collected since May 28, 1908------ 1,610.00 By voucher No. 2, Fielder & Allen---- By voucher No. 3. Wigwam Hotel----- By voucher No. 13, Byrd Printing Co.--- $ 67.40 26.00 5.00 2.50 59.16 24.43 770.75 5.87 29.68 1,063.03 22.40 7.50 16.30 300.00 150.00 579.63 $3,129.65 $3,129.65 Examined and approved by Executive Committee June 2, 1909. SAML. H. SIBLEY, Chairman. |