No longer is arbitrary punishment meted out by the Captain of the ship and Admiral of the fleet. Ordinary legal process is instituted for the punishment of even slight offenses, and the greater offenses are tried as you know by courts-martial established in accordance with the law, and by officers specially selected by the Secretary of the Navy. During the four years in which I have been at the head of the department, the average number of courts-martial passing over the desk of the Secretary has been about 2000. May I say to you without unduly exaggerating the importance or significance of the legal profession, it has been a great source of satisfaction to me to have had as a background a practical administration of the criminal law in civil courts and the administration of the law in juvenile courts to assist me in determining the proper action in the individual cases and in the administration of law as an entirety.

It has been my ambition and desire that in the administration of law in the Navy that we should keep pace with the advanced ideas of legal procedure in our civil courts. Without ostentation and without published notice, rules have been enacted and formulated for the administration of justice in the Navy, and it is a pleasure to be able to report to you that the effect of a careful and systematic administration of these laws, with due respect to the fundamental principles of justice, has been one of the things that has resulted more and more in the fine discipline in the Navy-the splendid spirit among the officers and men. After all what the average human being seeks for in dealing with his fellow men is the application of that higher sense of justice which comes to the heart and mind and creates a feeling that whether he suffers punishment or receives reward that it has been administered in each instance in accordance with fixed rules applied by men of discernment, actuated by a desire to do justice in meting out punishment and in awarding prizes. When I turn my back upon the Navy Department and return to the administration of law before the Bar, I hope that I may carry with me a renewed sense of the fact that the lawyer finds expression not only in the courts and on the Bench but in whatever place he may be assigned in our government, and the training he has received will be the finest background for the administration of the

affairs of the nation in executive, judicial or legislative functions. These things have been often said. They will be repeated again, because as men come in contact with these problems they realize more and more the significance of this great profession in which we have all been trained, which we love and which we feel and believe has been able to bless the American people and guide them through its manifold difficulties in trying to establish a great government based upon equality and justice, and so far as we have succeeded in all our branches, we owe to those who have preceded us and those who are joining with us in the effort, a great debt of gratitude.

I thank you for the opportunity of here testifying before the young men, as well as the older ones, my high sense of obligation to those who have on the Bênch and at the Bar assisted me in learning the principles of American jurisprudence, and those who have cooperated with me in their application.

I thank you.

President Strawn:

Mr. Secretary, we are very grateful to you for the words of wisdom and advice and sympathy which you have expressed to us this morning.

W. M. Gardiner, of Nevada:

Mr. President, in the resolution of appreciation of the entertainment provided for the members of the Association, I know it was only through inadvertence that the United States Navy was not mentioned, and I therefore move the thanks and appreciation of the convention be tendered to the United States Navy for the entertainment afforded.

President Strawn:

It has been suggested by a man who is always wise in his suggestion that it was the Pacific Fleet, not the entire United States Navy, because if it were we would not be able to express our full measure of appreciation.

Thereupon the motion was seconded and unanimously carried.

President Strawn:

Now, ladies and gentlemen, I expect I will see all of you at the dinner this evening. Lest I may not, I desire to avail myself of this opportunity of saying the last word that I have to say to you as your President, and of expressing my very deep sense of gratitude for the splendid cooperation which you have given me during the last year, and especially do I want you to know that I have had an Executive Committee than which there never has been one better, and I dare say none so able, cooperative, so sympathetic and so altogether efficient. For these men I have not only the strongest feeling of friendship, but feelings of most affectionate regard. During all of the year we have not had the slightest difference of opinion, no conflict, nothing except the highest sense of duty in the discharge of the obligations imposed upon the Executive Committee.

I have not heard any criticism from any member of the Bar, although I dare say there have been many occasions when the members of the Bar might have criticized the inefficiency of your President. I am relinquishing the office with a conscientious belief that I have tried to do the best I could and that I have had your sympathetic consideration in my weaknesses.

Now, if there is nothing else left for your consideration we will declare the 51st annual meeting of the American Bar Association adjourned sine die.

WILLIAM P. MACCRACKEN, JR., Secretary.

ANNUAL DINNER

The Annual Dinner was held on Friday evening, July 27, 1928, at the Civic Auditorium, Seattle, Washington. The retiring President of the Association, Silas H. Strawn, presided.

The speakers were: Hon. Calvin S. Hall, Seattle, Washington; Mr. Justice Morrison, Vancouver, British Columbia; Mrs. Mabel Walker Willebrandt, Washington, D. C.; Hon. Hugh Kennedy, Dublin, Ireland; Mr. Ernest Palmer, Chicago, Illinois, and Gurney E. Newlin, Los Angeles, California, the newly elected President of the Association.

There were 1089 members and guests in attendance at the dinner.

Hon. C. L. McAlpine, Vancouver, Canada.
Hon. A. D. Macfarlane, Victoria, Canada.
Hon. J. K. Macrae, Vancouver, Canada.
Mr. Justice Morrison, Vancouver, Canada.
Hon. P. Luna y Parra, Mexico City,
Mexico.

Dr. William Allen Pusey, Chicago, Illinois.
Hon. J. B. Roberts, Vancouver, Canada.
Hon. F. W. Tiffin, Vancouver, Canada.
Hon. Thos. E. Wilson, Vancouver, Canada.