CLASSMATES HONOR
YOUNG WOMAN LAWYER.
RISE WHEN HELEN RODGERS
RECEIVES HER DIPLOMA.
Forty-Five Are Graduated From the
Kansas City Law School -- Judge
John F. Philips Delivers
the Annual Address.
As the name of Miss Helen Crawford Rodgers was called last night by the president of the Kansas City Law School, the entire graduating class rose while the young woman received her diploma. It was the occasion of the twelfth annual commencement exercises which were held at the Willis Wood theater. Forty-five graduates received diplomas.
Out of the forty-five graduates, nine received "cum laude" while one was graduated "summa cum laude." Two of the cum laude graduates were graduates of the University of Missouri.
The senior honors follow:
Summa cum laude, Perry W. Seaton; cum laude, Miss Helen Rodgers, W. H. L. Watts, Samuel A. Dew, John B. Gage, Elbridge Broaddus, Jr., Peter J. Neff, Roy W. Crimm, M. L. Driscoll.
Francis M. Black honor, Samule A. Dew; first junior prize, William Jachems; second junior prize, William E. Morton; first freshman prize, Ray E. McGinnis; second freshman prize, W. E. Dreier.
TRIALS OF YOUNG LAWYERS.
An orchestra played "Southern Beauties," after which the Rt. Rev. Thomas F. Lillis delivered the invocation. Another selection was then given by the orchestra which played "Dreams."
In the annual address to the graduating class John F. Phillip, judge of the federal courts took occasion to explain to the young lawyers some of the trials and tribulations of the court. He advised the embryo attorneys not to abuse a judge because of an unfavorable opinion rendered.
"At times the courage necessarily possessed by the court must be greater than that taken to face the booming roar of cannon, or the dangers braved by the seamen who outride the storm in order to save a stricken ship. He is often abused and slandered, and is forced to bow his head, trusting in the Almighty power, being conscious of doing no wrong and having implicit confidence that the sun will come from behind the clouds.
"Yours is the most intellectual and honorable of all the professions. And while crowned with pleasures and honors, thorns are liable to creep in but you must remember they must be worn with the pleasures."
SAYS COURTS ARE MALIGNED.
The court of appeals had been arraigned and maligned because it had sustained the fundamental principle of law giving every man a fair trial, he said. Continuing, Judge Philips said even the supreme court of the state had been abused because it had reversed a case in which the indictment was shown to be faulty through the omission of the word "the." The speaker informed his audience it was necessary that the indictment have the word "the," thus telling in which state the crime was committed.
Competition among lawyers, Judge Philips declared, was only increasing the number of brighter men. The day of the flamboyant lawyer, he said, was past as the attorney with facts and authorities would swamp him before the vocal oratory had a chance to flow. He named the Magna Carta, Declaration of Independence, and the Constitution as the work of lawyers.
CONGRESSMAN BORLAND PRESENT.
The presentation of the diplomas was by Oliver H. Dean, president of the faculty. In a short address to the students the speaker ridiculed the idea of farmers and merchants making the laws of the country, instead of the lawyers, but advised them not to enter politics.
Congressman William P. Borland, formerly dean of the school, returned from Washington to attend the exercises and to present the honors won by the students.
