room, and started out to meet life's problems? The newspapers, the magazines, the popular novel, the theater, the church. As to the newspapers and the magazines, what ideas of the law and the Courts do these convey to the average mind? What do we see discussed,-nay, we see but little of discussion-but what do we see chronicled? A gross scandal; an occasional possible miscarriage of justice which in the nature of things is inevitable; an exaggerated caricature of actual Court proceedings; a gross misrepresentation of the attitude of the whole institution and its proceedings. In truth, we scarcely ever see, even in the most conservative and reliable newspapers, anything as to proceedings in Court unless it smacks of the absurd or the sensational. As to the novel, have you ever seen a lawyer pictured except as a wag, a fool, or a knave? And what impression is given of the Courts? I suppose our first conception of a court came to us, as we in childhood (curled up in a corner), read that masterpiece of Dickens, "Bleak House," in which we found this description: This is the Court of Chancery; which has its decaying houses, and its blighted lands in every shire; which has its wornout lunatics in every madhouse, and its dead in every churchyard; which has its ruined suitor with slipshod heels, and threadbare dress, borrowing and begging the rounds of every man's acquaintance; which gives to moneyed might the means abundantly of wearing out the right; which so exhausts finances, patience, courage, hope; so overthrows the brain, and breaks the heart; that there is not an honorable man among its practitioners who does not often give the warning-"Suffer any wrong that can be done you rather than come here." As to the theater, the lawyer is represented as a poltroon or a knave, and as a rule the Court is pictured as a seat of trickery and perjury. Can we not see that unless we educate our childen that they will not only remain in ignorance, but that their minds will be poisoned, and their souls darkened with doubt, and that it will naturally follow that in the time of stress, instead of men and women strong in the faith, we will have doubters, if not rebels at heart. Is it fair to our children, is it just to our country, that we should continue this system? Will the American people shut their eyes to the danger which confronts them? Or will they arouse from their dream of fancied security, and in the power of wholesome knowledge, give security to the Nation and to the Nation's Flag? THE PRESIDENT: Before the noon recess and luncheon, Mr. Emmet Tinley desires to make an announcment. MR. TINLEY: I am afraid there is some misunderstanding in reference to the banquet. I hope every lawyer here, be he a member of this Association or not, will bear in mind that he should register and receive a badge and an envelope containing the little matters we wish your attention called to, for instance, the street car tickets, and the complimentary luncheon tomorrow. I want to direct your attention further to the fact that this afternoon at half-past four o'clock the Pottawattamie County Bar takes the pleasure of driving you over the city to different points of interest; we hope you will all make it a point to confer upon us the pleasure of your company for a brief period of time. I want to call your attention, of course, to the fact that the Annual Banquet is given by the Association. Tickets for that event are on sale at the door and it is very important for the men who have that in charge to know as early as possible the number who will attend. Of course, we want all to attend; we wish to mingle with you around the table. THE PRESIDENT: The Convention will now stand at recess until two o'clock this afternoon. THURSDAY AFTERNOON SESSION THE PRESIDENT: 2 O'CLOCK The convention will be in order. The first thing in order will be the Report of the Committee on Grievances, by Senator J. L. Carney. REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON GRIEVANCES To the Iowa State Bar Association: Your Committee on Grievances hereby makes its annual report. There is no action that the Committee will recommend to the Association to be taken in regard to any matter. This does not mean that the Committee has not had complaints and had some investigations to make. But it does mean that, there being no affirmative action believed necessary by the Committee under the rules, we make no specific report. In one case where complaint was made that an attorney had withheld unlawfully a will from probate, complaints were filed with affidavits and other showing, and answer made and replies filed. Copies of the original were submitted to each member of the Committtee and each member of the Committee voted in favor of no action being taken. In another matter of complaint it was charged that an attorney had withheld an accounting for a collection to a non-résident for over a year. On the attorney's attention being called to it by the Chairman, he immediately traveled from his home to see the Chairman and pledged himself to make immediate settlement, which the undersigned has reason to believe has been done. Other matter of minor importance was brought to the attention of the Committee, but as stated before, no action is recommended. J. L. CARNEY, Chairman. SENATOR CARNEY: I move you that the report be received and placed on file. (The motion was duly seconded and carried.) THE PRESIDENT: Next will be the Report of the Librarian, which will be read by the Secretary. REPORT OF THE LIBRARIAN To the President and Members of the Iowa State Bar Association: As your librarian, it is my pleasure to again submit my annual report in conformity with the usual custom since you honored me with the office some years ago. There is little new that can be said, as the duties of the librarian are largely routine and much the same year after year. The surplus volumes of the 1916 Proceedings, paper bound, have been received from the Secretary and part thereof carefully distributed. As the years pass, there will be an increasing demand by librarians and institutions for these Proceedings, as they contain much valuable information, so it is well to conserve the limited supply and distribute them judiciously. I consider the splendid file of State Bar Proceedings of the various States as among the richest materials contained in the State Law Library. It is to be regretted that no provision was made by the recent Legislature to safeguard these valuable collections and to relieve the congested condition of the Law Library. Your Committee is to be commended on its efforts to secure the erection of a Judiciary Building. Senate File No. 491 passed the Senate but failed in the House. The motion to reconsider in the House was lost, but had it not been so late in the session, the motion doubtless would have been reconsidered and the bill passed. The splendid work of your Committee on Judiciary Building during the past year will prove a good foundation for presenting the matter again in 1919, when it is hoped that a bill will pass authorizing the erection of a suitable building for the Supreme Court and Judicial Departments, and to properly house and care for the law library. Appreciating the high cost of production, I have required a price for Proceedings from those individuals and institutions. from which we do not receive a corresponding exchange value. Herewith I submit a report of the funds received from the sale of Proceedings, and accompanying the same is my check for $10.00, amount due the Association. Respecfully submitted, Des Moines, Iowa, June 26, 1917. A. J. SMALL, Librarian. FINANCIAL STATEMENT Iowa State Bar Association In account with A. J. Small, Librarian Receipts and Disbursements from June 27, 1916, to June 26, 1917 Receipts from sale of Proceedings Dec. 2, 1916, To A. C. McClurg & Co., Chicago, one copy each Proceedings 1915 and 1916 and postage.. .$ 1.20 March 13, 1917, To J. H. Cole, Detroit, Mich., one copy each Proceedings 1914, 1915 and 1916.... 1.50 March 23, 1917, To Harvard University, Cambridge, one copy each 1.20 April 8, 1917, To Columbia University Law Library, New York City, 1.00 6.50 $11.40 Expenditures March 13, 1917, Postage for mailing Proceedings.. .$ 1.40 10.00 $11.40 (On motion duly made the report was received and placed on file.) THE PRESIDENT: The next will be the report of the Section on Taxation. THE SECRETARY: I have a letter from Senator John T. Clarkson, of Albia, who upon the death of Colonel J. H. McConlogue was to act in his stead, which with your permission I will read: |