mand just treatment among men of all classes, associations and all enterprises. I rejoice that we are entering upon the era that seems to recognize that the world over-no, not the world over, but the world over so far as we are concerned. The time will come, and must come, when the world will be ruled by ideas and not by bullets; the moral sense of mankind is more powerful than any sixteen-inch gun that can ever be built, or any battleship that can ever float, and if this State shall stand for that, and if this nation shall stand for that, she will take her place in the great galaxy of nations that has glorified the world. North Carolina is higher than her highest mountain; the ideal of North Carolina is higher than the highest mountain in her border, just as New England is higher than Mount Washington. I stood on the summit of our highest mountain a few mornings ago; I watched the night flee away, heard the short, sweet warbles greet the coming day; the stars faded out, the street lamps of the city of God; the universe spread wide its portals for the great, high King. Soon the valley clouds were lifting up and rolled back in billows of flame, and perfect day was established, and there was peace and glory and sunshine. And so it may be with this world, and so it may be with our grand old State, our State, the State of our birth, the State of our lives, the State of our children and their children's children. (Applause.)

Judge Biggs: We have heard Governor Craig most eloquently portray the principle that justice is the corner-stone of the State. The true duty of the lawyer is to see that justice is done in the courts, and the cardinal principle underlying the organization of the Bar Association of North Carolina was to promote the administration of justice.

We have with us this evening a distinguished lawyer of this State who has been honored by the Bar Association as its President for the coming year, and he will respond to the toast, "The Bar Association"-Colonel Harry Skinner, of Greenville.

Colonel Skinner:

Mr. Toast Master, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Bar Association:

As I understand it, the speakers for this banquet were selected at a call meeting of the Executive Committee, of which I am the senior member, both in age and service, and on this occasion the Acting Chairman, therefore, unexplained, it would appear that I am a self-invited speaker of the evening, but it so happened that I was unavoidably absent when the committee fixed this dinner program. They seemed to have rewarded my absence by putting my name on the menu, with the privilege of talking to any subject, or at random; I have chosen to ramble.

In this connection, I am reminded of an incident in the life of our lamented and brilliant friend and brother, Patrick Henry Winston, that comes from his own lips. He was attending a Democratic National Convention, as a delegate from the State of Pennsylvania. Pat being a North Carolinian, let the North Carolina delegation into his plans. The hour was at hand when the great convention was impatiently and nervously waiting for committee reports, and favorite sons from different States were being called out for a speech. Pat visited, incog, the different delegations, and urged them to call for Winston, and assured them that Winston would make them a great speech. So, at the psychological moment, a single, clear-cut call from the gallery was for Winston, which was caught up by different delegations on the floor, and the North Carolina delegation stood up and yelled lustily, “Winston! Winston !" at the same time giving the college yell of Harvard and the University of North Carolina; and, while the band was playing Dixie, Pat secured in good style, under inspirational surroundings, his coveted position on the platform, and, although a very young man, proceeded to make the speech of the Convention, and established his reputation as a great convention orator, which followed him to his grave. I need not tell North Carolinians that the Winstons are all

learned, talented and fine speakers; that is, the three we still have with us, the Doctor and the two Judges. I hope I am not reflecting on any of them when I say that Pat leads them all. I cannot bring you a feast of reason or a flow of soul; even if the circumstances do point to my being a self-appointed speaker. I can only make you a commonplace, common talk, in an old North Carolina-fashioned way.

In this connection, I am again reminded of the Irishman who was president of a railroad two and three-quarter miles long, who applied to the president of the great Pennsylvania system for an annual pass. The Pennsylvania president turned to his railroad guide, and, while turning over the leaves, asked the Irishman how long was his road; the Irishman promptly answered, "Not so long as yours, Mr. President, but just as wide." The result was that the Irishman got his pass. So, on this occasion, while I cannot make as good a speech as a Winston, or as Governor Craig can, or those who will follow me this evening, in some way, it is so managed, so to speak, I am on the platform, and I am told that is all that is necessary to establish my reputation. The public will see through the press that at this dinner I am classed with our distinguished Secretary of the Navy and our own great Governor, and I will be judged by the company I am keeping. The public won't know, and you don't care, what kind of a speech I make, good, bad or indifferent, so I make it short; and as for myself, I am fully compensated at being in such good and distinguished company.

It is always timely, when the serious work of the Bar Association is dispatched, to meet around the festive board, and make suggestions for the good of the order-profession.

First, I want to congratulate the committee and the manager of the Battery Park on the success of a dry banquet, something I never expected to see pulled off at a Bar Association, especially at the Battery Park, situated in these beautiful mountains, where its proverbial dew in "ye ancient days" was accustomed to flow so freely. (Applause.) It increases my respect for the Grier law, and the constabulary of Ashe

ville; but somebody has been intimidated, either or both, the manager of the Battery Park, or the lawyers attending this Association, including the judiciary present. If this law has successfully run the gauntlet over the management of this hotel, and all the lawyers and judges composing this Association, it will probably run the gauntlet over our State Supreme Court; but when it comes before the greatest Court of the world, which will consider it from a different angle, I imagine there will be some reversing; that great court will probably grant on the avenue of Interstate Commerce to suffering and thirsty humanity their ancient personal use privileges, thereby vouchsafing both the liberty of commerce and the liberty of the person. However, after all, I rather like a dry banquet, if this is a dry banquet. It is a good example to set to the young man. I must confess it has secured better order, better humor, better listeners, better cheer, and, with the exception of myself, better speakers. Then, again, I can prophesy, for I speak from the book of experience, that on the morning after we will have no terrible reckonings to make, as we used to have in the old banquet days, and will be able to smile some more. (Applause.) The cold gray dawn cannot then claim us as his melancholy victim, but we will rise in the image of our Maker, free, independent and hopeful men, ready to continue to pursue the primrose paths of pleasure, basking at will in the sunshine of life and laughter, inhaling pure mountain air and drinking pure mountain water, a beverage fit for the gods.

After reaching Asheville, observing my name on this menu, I approached our ever capable, polite and clever Secretary, Mr. Tom Davis, and wanted to know why he had not assigned to me a subject; he replied, "Well, well, that is just it; if we had given you a subject, and time to prepare, you would never know when to quit." I said, "I would like to know what to talk about," and he said, "Oh, talk about the Bar Association, or anything else," and the truth about that, is that, when he said that, he met with my entire agreement. However, there is no particular reason why I should not be

ready and willing at morn, noon and even night, to talk to the Bar Association of North Carolina, with which I have been connected for many years.

The fact is, that since I quit politics, or rather since politics quit me, I have taken great interest in Bar Association work, both State and National. I would love to see every lawyer a member of one or both, for their own good and the good of the Association, and when he becomes a member, if he will only observe and keep inviolate the ethical canons laid down for his professional guide, the individual lawyer can but be improved, and the Association invested with more power and influence, and the State benefited.

There have been, from time to time, different methods suggested to increase our membership. For many years I have adhered to the proposition still pending, to make this Association the door of entrance to, and exit from, the profession. Many States have adopted this plan, and I see no good reason why we should not follow them. If this Association were the door, it would necessarily put every young lawyer into the Association simultaneously with his obtaining the certificate of the Association entitling him to a license; this would bring to our annual meeting, in many instances, the father, mother, brother, sweethearts and friends of the applicants, which would give us always an overflow meeting, and add manifold to the social side of our annual gathering. Then, again, the older members who, from time to time, are appointed to put up the examinations, would become refreshed in the elementary principles, and an equitable division of the tax fee would increase our exchequer.

Let it be understood, that the lawyer must strictly observe the ethical canons of the Association, or he will be expelled from the profession, and you will observe in a very short time a marked improvement in our professional standing, and the profession as a whole would command greater influence. Expulsion under these circumstances would mean loss of character.

The lawyer can endure anything better than the loss of