Proceedings of Annual, Adjourned and Special Meetings Louisiana Bar Association New Orleans, Lonisiana May 4 and 16 and June 6, 1914 ANNUAL MEETING OF THE LOUISIANA BAR ASSOCIA- The meeting was called to order by Vice-President Purnell M. Milner. MR. MILNER: Gentlemen, my individual idea about this matter is that a ratification is hardly the proper procedure, and if I was to act on my own judgment, I would suggest to you gentlemen to really have your nominations and your election here in the State of Louisiana. I may be wrong about that, and as the matter has evidently been thought of and carried out, I would suggest that we adjourn this meeting until tomorrow morning. MR. ARMSTRONG: I object to that. MR. MILNER: My individual view of the matter is I don't know whether you agree with it or not-under our law you can't transact any business looking to the legal capacity of this corporation, or the exercise of any of its functions or election of any officers, outside of the State of Louisiana, or outside of your domicile. MR. ARMSTRONG: Then, I will nominate the men who were nominated the other day at Gulfport, Mississippi. MR. FLORANCE: I think the President is right, for another If the work that we are going to do today is going to have any effect, it should be the result of a meeting of which reason: LOUISIANA BAR ASSOCIATION the membership has been duly notified, and which will be large enough to carry weight. There are recommendations here for amendments to the Constitution, and for other serious legislation. There are about twelve of us here, including Johnston Armstrong, as two. I think the President is correct in the position he has taken, and I think the additional reason should also have a controlling effect. I think postal cards should be sent to the members of the Association calling them to a meeting at which will be transacted the business of this Association. I believe, under the circumstances, we would have a larger meeting, and a larger meeting would certainly carry more weight with the Legislature than a meeting of this style. MR. WAGUESPACK: What does the charter provide as to the annual meeting for the purpose of electing officers, because we have to follow that-the charter requires that we should MR. MILNER: Why not eliminate all this discussion and hold a meeting later? MR. W. O. HART: I move the Executive Committee fix the date. MR. FLORANCE: I move the Executive Committee be instructed to call a general meeting for all purposes, and especially for the purpose of electing officers and hearing and acting upon the reports, and the passing of all necessary resolutions. MR. WAGUESPACK: I second that. MR. W. O. HART: I would use the words of the Charter, and I would add that we invite the Governor and the members of the Judiciary Committee of the two Houses to attend the meeting. Nine-tenths of the Legislators will be in the City on that Saturday. LOUISIANA BAR ASSOCIATION MR. MILNER: Let us have that in the form of a separate motion. Will you accept Mr. Hart's amendment, Mr. Florance, to your motion? MR. FLORANCE: I will accept it. MR. MILNER: Gentlemen, it has been moved and seconded that the Executive Committee order a meeting of the Association on Saturday week, May 16th, 1914, this meeting to be the annual meeting of the Association called under the provisions of the Charter. All in favor of that motion, say, aye; contrary-minded, no. The motion was unanimously carried. MR.W. O. HART: I now move that the Executive Committee be requested to consider the advisability of inviting the Governor of the State and members of the Judiciary Committee of both Houses of the Legislature to attend that meeting. The motion was seconded and unanimously carried. On motion duly seconded, the meeting then adjourned. ANNUAL MEETING OF THE LOUISIANA BAR ASSOCIATION NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA, MAY 16TH, 1914 11 O'CLOCK A. M THE PRESIDENT: This meeting is called for the purpose of holding a business meeting in New Orleans for the purpose of confirming what we did at the social meeting at Gulfport. The Secretary assures me that there is a quorum present, and the first order of business will be the consideration of the amendment which was taken up at the meeting at Gulfport. The amendment, in brief, was that the Association being nonpolitical in character, would not endorse any candidate for judicial office, but would have the right to express its disapproval of the candidate that it considered unworthy. Amendment is read by the Secretary, as follows: The Association being non-political in character shall not endorse any candidate for judicial office; but shall have and exercise the right to condemn any unworthy person who offers. THE PRESIDENT: This was carried at Gulfport, so the action taken at Gulfport is now before you for ratification. A motion was made and seconded that the resolution proposing the amendment be adopted, ratifying the action taken at Gulfport. MR. MILNER: It seems to me, and I say it with all due deference, that the proper proceeding would be to act upon all these things as an original proceeding. I do not believe any action we |