Report of the Proceedings (Volume 44)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated.1920 Excerpt: ... THE DIRECT PRIMARY Jess B. Hawley, Boise, Idaho. The lawyer of modern day and tendencies is not so concerned with purely political and governmental laws and discussions as was the lawyer of another generation. The profession comes perilously near being a mere business in many men's minds and the study of legal problems and laws without reward or compensation, merely to thereby render a service to the general public is not as popular as in days gone by. The duty of the lawyer to give his very best talent in analyzing political conditions and intensely studying governmental curealls and radical reforms and departures from tried and workable systems of government is a duty which the lawyer owes to the honor of his profession. One who cannot give some of his mental energy and acumen to that type of service is not appreciative of the government which gives him his chance to be too busy to attend it. With individualism gone rampant there is a real need for trained minds to analyze and dissect the new political thoughts presentedto the pubic, sometimes by earnest thinkers--sometimes by conscientious half thinkers--often times by enthusiastic rattle brains and wide eyed dreamers--quite frequently by cunning crowd psychologists and calculating crooks. The urge of duty--the sentiment of gratitude--the pride of professional citizenship--all unite to drag the capable business-crowded lawyer from the lucratve phases of his professional work to the consideration of higher, though non-lucrative service. This introduction contains the germ at least of the idea which caused the selection of a subject so barren of pecuniary profit and return.' I cannot do justice to the great question presented by a consideration of primary reform without tracing the trend of American pbli...