today is hot, and our city, legislatively speaking, is dry, but the warmth of the weather is but an expression of the warmth of our welcome, but, as to the dryness, the Committee has made provision for an ample supply of Cumberland River water, so no one may remain thirsty. Gentlemen of the Bar Association, again voicing the unanimous sentiments of our Bar, in an appreciation of your character and worth, and the gladness we all feel in having you in our midst, I again bid you a most cordial welcome. President Keeble :-I will now call on Judge W. W. Farabaugh of Memphis, to make the response to Col. Bryan's wel. coming words. Jr. W. W. Farabaing@:-VIPresident, gentlemen of the Bar Association, ayd• Laeties. : In response to the beautiful words of welcome.of. Judigt .Bryan, I desire to say I have no speech prepared; hint i kriow that the beautiful sentiments he expressed cameo four liis heart, and he expresses the sentiments of all of the people of Nashville, and all the lawyers of Nashville welcoming this Bar Association meeting here. Permit me to say, gentlemen of the Association, just at this point, Judge Bryan referred to the Cumberland River. That was a proper remark in more senses than one. I do not believe in waiting until a man is dead before putting flowers upon his of this world. I do not believe there is a city on the face of the earth whose citizenship will average higher than the City of Nashville, Tenn. Because it is made up of the descendants of the original stock, with a very small percentage of the undesirable. It comes from that early stock of the stalwart English, the Scotch, Irish, the Hugenots, and all those grand old libertyloving patriots that builded an empire, and in building an empire, made a free republic. It is composed of that stock that in the early centuries came out of the Black Forests of Germany, crowded the old world civilization out, and then christianized it. Permit me to say further in this connection, Judge Bryan referred to the dryness of this town, legislatively, and assured us a plenty of Cumberland River water. That is all right, that is good Cumberland River water. I asked Judge Wilson if he remembered the year 1817, and the great drouth of that year, and he said he could not quite recall it. That was a very dry year, it didn't rain in the south part of this country from the early days of March until late in November and the great drouth extended over the country, over the whole world ; the River Seine dried up except a hole here and there, now and then; the River Rhone almost dried up. There was a printer and publisher in . the City of New York, his name was Samuel Woodworth, and he had a fashion and a habit on his way home in the evening, to go by a certain grocery store and call for his brandy and water. One evening as he sat his glass back on the counter, one hot August evening, he said, that is the best drink that a man ever drank. A voice in the rear said, no that is not true. He saw he had an honorable brother present that he hadn't noticed, and he turned and asked, what drink is better than that? He said, "In the long, long ago, when you and I were down on the farm, after working all day in the harvest field, when we came home in the evening and went down to the well, dropped the bucket down, drew it up and sat the mossy bucket on the curb and drank from that bucket, that was a better drink than you have just had." A teardrop glistened in Woodworth's eye for a moment, and he said, “True, quite true." He turned on his ” heel, went back to his office and in half an hour, that beautiful poem we have all read and heard sung, many times, the Old Oaken Bucket, was written. He wrote it by inspiration : a grave, but I always had an idea it was well enough to hand him a flower while he lives, and I want to say this in reference to Hion, JI. T. Bryan. He is due as much credit and he has done as much, if not more, than any other living man in Tennessee, for the beautiful Cumberland, to make it a high way of commerce. The enterprise and energy exhibited by him, and other citizens of Nashville, and of this community is somewhat akin to that gigantic enterprise of continental surgery that dividing the hemispheres, making a new ocean, and causing the blue of the gulf to mingle with the gold of the Pacific. Gentlemen of the Bar Association, permit me to say, a good many things hare been said about the grand old City of Nashville, but the subject has never been exhausted. I have never lived in Vashville, but have always regretted the fact that I have not, and I say it here, in this presence, not in a spirit of flattery or taffy, but after a careful study of the citizenship of the cities How dear to my heart are the scenes of my childhood, When fond recollection presents them to view; And every loved spot which my infancy knew; The bridge and the rock where the cataract fell; And the old oaken bucket that hung in the well. the well. I have forgotten the rest of it. If I had some of that Cumberland River water, now, I could remember it. But at any rate, in the next stanza of that poem, he said, “Not a full blushing goblet could tempt me to leave it.” And I want to say to Judge Bryan in this enlightened age of advanced sentiment, Cumberland River water will be no disappointment to us. Now, permit me to say, Gentlemen of the Bar Association, we are glad to be here. We are glad to come and attend the Bar Association in the beautiful city of Nashville, and although it is warm, I am satisfied that our President has made abundant provision for other things than Cumberland River water to slack the thirst of the thirsty. President Keeble :- It is a very remarkable thing that a man who pays such a beautiful tribute to the Old Oaken Bucket, and the water drawn by it, or that Cumberland River water, at last, should wind up, “In spite of all this, I have heard or I have thought that other provision had been made for circumventing local prohibition." And while a man may rejoice for a time in being in the dry town of Nashville, he cannot help but drop a word that it would be pretty hard to stay here long on that sort of diet. Now, in regard to the social features of this meeting, I desire to say that the local committees have made preparation for the entertainment of the guests. I call your attention to this leaflet, which will be circulated among you. To begin with, without making any reference to the oases that may have been provided at various places along the route, we will go for an automobile drive through the city to various points of interest, and How dear to my heart are the scenes of my childhood, When fond recollection presents them to view; And every loved spot which my infancy knew; The bridge and the rock where the cataract fell; And the old oaken bucket that hung in the well. the well. as we drive and the dust begins to arise, we will pause at the first oasis, where Col. and Mrs. Acklen are entertaining the visiting ladies, the wives of the lawyers, in their beautiful home, and he has invited all the lawyers, the visitors and the home lawyers on their way on this drive and on the way to the Club, where we will gather at seven o'clock, to stop by and meet the ladies; and while Col. Acklen is too gallant to mention or emphasize any form of entertainment, except that of meeting the ladies, we all know Col. Acklen, and I am satisfied no man who comes from his part of town will fail to stop by Col. Acklen's to meet the ladies. a I have forgotten the rest of it. If I had some of that Cumberland River water, now, I could remember it. But at any rate, in the next stanza of that poem, he said, “Not a full blushing goblet could tempt me to leave it." And I want to say to Judge Bryan in this enlightened age of advanced sentiment, Cumberland River water will be no disappointment to us. Now, permit me to say, Gentlemen of the Bar Association, we are glad to be here. We are glad to come and attend the Bar Association in the beautiful city of Nashville, and although it is warm, I am satisfied that our President has made abundant provision for other things than Cumberland River water to slack Now, after we have met the ladies at Col. Acklen's, those of us that are able to travel, will assemble at the Golf and Country Club where an informal dinner will be spread by the local lawyers at 7:30. There the lawyers, their wives and daughters are expected; ample provision has been made for your entertainment. And after that, the members of the Club will meet and there will be a dance and other social features, and such of you as can dance, will dance, and those of you who cannot dance, will look on. I think it is a question today, whether it is more fun looking on or dancing, according to the modern interpretation of that art. Now, tomorrow afternoon from five to seven o'clock, Mrs. Keeble and I will entertain the visiting lawyers and the local lawyers and their wives and daughters, to meet the Attorney General, at our home. At eight-thirty o'clock, the local bar tenders the visiting members a dinner on the roof garden of the Hermitage Club. Every member is invited to be present, and we desire you to notify the Secretary that you can be present, not for any other purpose than that you may be amply provided for. Mrs. J. M. Anderson will give a luncheon tomorrow at her residence, in compliment to the visiting ladies of the Bar Association. I come now to that part of the program which the heat of the day makes me hesitate to take up, but which the mandate of the Constitution compels me to carry out, and that is, the address of the President. the thirst of the thirsty. a man who pays such a beautiful tribute to the Old Oaken Bucket, and the water drawn by it, or that Cumberland River water, at last, should wind up, “In spite of all this, I have heard of I hare thought that other provision had been made for circum а renting local prohibition." And while a man may rejoice for a time in being in the dry town of Nashville, he cannot help but drop a word that it would be pretty hard to stay here long on that sort of diet Voir, in regard to the social features of this meeting, I desire to say that the local committees have made preparation for the entertainment of the guests. I call your attention to this leaflet, which will be circulated among you. To begin with, with. making any reference to the oases that may have been provarious places along the route, we will go for an auta nch the city to various points of interest, and PRESIDENT'S ANNUAL ADDRESS. JOHN BELL KEEBLE. Even today, when the larger part of the lawyer's work is done in a place where he is alone, and is done in connection with many prosaic matters of business, the mission of the lawyer is far from being an ignoble one. This class of work is far less dramatic, and far less inspirational, perhaps, than the work of the advocate. The conduct of great causes in the trial courts demands more of the artistic emotions, and histrionic ability than this quiet class of labor. Consequently, the advocate, or the trial lawyer who has had a brilliant career, has impressed himself more vividly upon the minds of the community at large, than the lawyer whose labor has been to preserve property rights by negotiations, by counsel, and by diplomacy, rather than by brilliant achievements in the Court room. Nevertheless, it is a noble thing to keep down strife, and to preserve the rights of property, as well as the rights of liberty and life, although this work is done away from the public gaze. It is entirely natural, however, for a man who spends most of his life in this modern method of the practice of the law, to become self-centered, and to lose something of the power of the esprit de corps of his profession, when the profession is viewed from its highest and best missions, We live in an age when the majority of callings are on trial, and no class of men have the sweeping influence over their fellows that many classes had a generation ago. The legal profession is not unlike the clergy in this—That they have largely lost the influence upon the communities in which they live and labor; and, in the majority of cases, because the members of both professions have not kept pace with the demands of the time, and have been inclined to shut their eyes to the march of events. The very fact that this Association has, from time to time, discussed reform in judicial procedure; the very fact that all over the country advance thinkers are giving attention to this subject, is an indication that unless the lawyers reform their PRESIDENT'S ANNUAL ADDRESS John BELL KEEBLE. Even today, when the larger part of the lawyer's work is done in a place where he is alone, and is done in connection with many prosaic matters of business, the mission of the lawyer is far from being an ignoble one. This class of work is far less dramatic, and far less inspirational, perhaps, than the work of the advocate. The conduct of great causes in the trial courts demands more of the artistic emotions, and histrionic ability than this quiet class of labor. Consequently, the advocate, or the trial lawyer who has had a brilliant career, has impressed himself more vividly upon the minds of the community at large, than the lawyer whose labor has been to preserve property rights by negotiations, by counsel , and by diplomacy, rather than by brilliant achievements in the Court room. Nevertheless, it is a noble thing to keep down strife, and to preserve the rights of property, as well as the rights of liberty and life, although this work is done away from the publfe gaze. It is entirely natural, however, for a man who spends most of his life in this modern method of the practice of the law, to become self-centered, and to lose something of the power of judicial procedure for themselves, so as to bring about a more speedy conclusion of judicial controversies, the laymen will do it for them-with less precision and scientific results, perhaps, but with more celerity and satisfaction to themselves. In addition to this, whether we care to admit it or not, our profession does not stand in the same high place ethically, in the minds of the people; and, in fact, in the minds of the lawyers themselves, as formerly, by reason of the fact that we have worn our professional robes loosely, and have tolerated, even if we have frowned at, irregular practices. I but mention these matters as an indication of some of the changes that are taking place in the ranks of our professional life-not for the purpose of entering into any particular discussion of these special matters. For myself, I believe it is essential that the profession should strive to maintain its prestige by making a successful crusade against all of these tendencies which I have enumerated; but I believe that there is yet a more important mission for our profession than this. A lawyer who merely practices his profession in an ethical way; who contributes something to the expediting of the process of judicial procedure; who, by wise counsel, keeps down unnecessary and useless litigation; who, by his advice, protects the property rights of his clients; and who, if he is so fortunately endowed, also has essayed with success, the role of the advocate, with all that that means, has not fulfilled his highest duty to his people. The greatest lawyers have been the men who have contributed most to the making of the law; to the announcement of great principles, and to the fashioning and interpretation of constitutions. He, only, is entitled to be regarded as a true member of the legal profession, who has at least given some of his time and attention to these great problems. Lawyers have done much for the establishment of liberty and individual rights, and constitutional limitations for centuries, among the English speaking people. It would be wrong for the lawyer to resign his place in such a service, and to abandon it to others, less capable by reason of training and tradition, to make laws, to make constitutions, and to destroy constitutional limitations. the esprit de corps of his profession, when the profession is We live in an age when the majority of callings are on trial, and no class of men have the sweeping influence over their fellows that many classes had a generation ago. The legal profession is not unlike the clergy in this - That they have largely lost the influence upon the communities in which they live and labor; and, in the majority of cases, because the mem. bers of both professions have not kept pace with the demands of the time, and have been inclined to shut their eyes to the march of events The very fact that this Association has, from time to time, discussed reform in judicial procedure; the very fact that all the country adrance thinkers are giving attention to this indication that unless the lawyers reform their |