out of the committee to which it was referred, and if it should see the light of day it is very probable that the good sense of the Michigan legislators will prevent its passage. Both the Wisconsin and the Michigan law burdens the abstracters without any certainty or reasonable assurance of the betterment of the abstracting service generally.

WASHINGTON TITLE MEN SPEAK OUT.

The Washington Association of Title Men at their last convention unanimously passed the following resolutions.

"Be it resolved by Washington Association of Title Men in annual convention assembled:

"That we believe that the power and influence of the American Asso ciation of Title Men and its usefulness to its members would be greatly increased by the establishment of a permanent central office and headquarters. and the employment of a paid secretary of proper qualifications to the end that the following objects may be accomplished, viz:

"1st. That the committee reports that all important papers presented at the annual meeting of our Association may be promptly printed and placed in the hands of State Associations and individual members for consideration and action while they are yet live issues.

"2nd That there may be a permanent and active center of influence in stimulating interest in the purposes and work of the Association and increasing its membership.

"3rd. That State Associations and individual members may be kept in touch with the activities of one another and with legislation or proposed legislation and judicial decisions and with changes or improvements in methods of conducting the title business.

"4th. And that to this end either a series of bulletins be issued at frequent intervals or that a title department be maintained under the editorship of our secretary in some established publication selected for that purpose, and

"Resolved Further, That copies of this resolution be sent to each member of the Executive Committee with the request that due consideration be given thereto at their first meeting and a plan formulated by them in detail with estimate of cost and plan for raising this cost and such pian and estimate, with recommendations, be presented at the coming annual meeting of the National Association. And

"Resolved Further, That copies of this resolution be sent to the Presi dent of each State Association which is a member of the National Association with the idea that the proposal be given careful consideration by the State Associations so that their representatives at the next Annual Convention of the National Association may be prepared to vote on plans as presented by the Executive Committee."

SOUTHERN STORIES

Judge: "Have you ever seen the prisoner at the bar, Joshua?"

"No, sah, Jedge. I aint never seen him dere, but I powerfully s'pected sometimes dat he'd been dere."

Two negro soldiers listened in amazement while some officers discussed the long range of modern guns.

"Dar, now," said one, after hearing of the havoc wrought by a forty-two centimeter shell, "jes' like I been tellin' yo' niggahs all de time! Why, us coons could start a-runnin'-run all day, git mos' away, and den get kilt jes 'fore suppah."

"Dat's de truf," assented his companion, "and let me tell yo' sumpin' else; all dem guns needs is jes' yo' address-dat's all; jes' gib 'em de ad. dress, an' dey'll get yo' mos' eb'ry time-yes, sah!"

A colored man was brought before a police judge charged with stealing chickens. He pleaded guilty and received sentence, when the judge asked him how he managed to lift those chickens out, right under the window of the owner's house, when there was a dog in the yard.

"It wouldn't be no use tryin' to 'splain it to you'," he said to the judge. "cause if yo' should try dat, yo'd shuah git cotched at it."

"Yes, your Honor, I done warned dat der nigger."

'You warned, him you say. How."

"Nigger," I says, "don't mess wid me, 'kase, when yo' do, yo' shuah is flirtin' wid de hearse."

"Yes, and what did the other nigger say?"

"He jes plum' tells me-'don't pesticate me, don't fo'ce me to press dis upon yo', 'kase if I does, I'll hit yo' so ha'd I'll sep'rate yo' from amazin' grace to a floatin' opportunity.”

"Well, and what did you say then."

"Ah jes natcherally remarks, if yo' mess wid me, nigger, I'll jes' make one pass, an' dere'll be a man pattin' yo' in the face wid a spade tomorrow mo'nin. Dat's all ah sed, your Honor."

Nute Killens came into town to consult General J. W. Lewis of Paris, Tenn., and asked him-'if your wife was to throw a shovel full of hot embers in your face, what would you do?"

Mr. Lewis told him, "Well, I don't know, Nute. But I expect I'd knock hell out of her."

"Well, Mr. Lewis, that's just what I done."

A young attorney has been appointed to defend a negro who was too poor to employ counsel. Eager for an acquittal, the young lawyer challenged several jurors, who, he said, might have a prejudice againt his client.

"Are there any others?" he whispered to the negro.

"No, boss, but Ah wants you ter challenge dat judge.

Ah's been con

victed undah him seberal times, now, and Ah doan' wanter take no chances dis time."

"You say the prisoner had been drinking?" asked the judge; "Drinking what?"

"Whiskey, I think."

"You think? Don't you know the smell of whiskey? Aren't you a judge?" "No, your Honor; only a policeman."

The new reporter on The States was told by the editor to never state as a fact anything he was not certain about; that this was a precautionary measure against libel suits.

"In such cases," said the editor, "Use the words alleged, claimed, reputed, rumored, and so on."

But when the following production of this appeared in print, he was promptly discharged:

"It is rumored that a card party was given yesterday at the home of Mrs. Higgins, to a number of reputed ladies. It is alleged that the guests were served with punch and sandwiches. Mrs. Higgins claims to be the wife of the well-known merchant by that name."

WHO WON THE CASE?

A woman from the East came to a Southern city seeking a divorce from an alleged husband. The case was hotly contected. After the court had announced its decision she wired a gentlemen friend saying:

Right has triumphed."

Back over the wire was flashed this reply.

"Better appeal at once."

WANTED A CHANCE FOR HIS LIFE.

A Hinderburg-jowled tough-looking yegg was on trial for murder in a Texas court. He had no counsel so the Court appointed a young man just admitted to defend the accused. He of the Potsdam expression asked the Judge.

"Is dis de guy who is going to defend me."

"Yes," said the Judge, "he is your lawyer."

"If he should die, could I get another?"

"Sure thing," replied the Court.

After a moment, the murderer said in a low voice, "Judge, can I see that young man alone for a few minutes?"

WORDS OF COMMENDATION.

Under date of March 3rd, 1919, A. H. Hendrickson, former owner of the Latimer County Abstract Company of Wilburton, Oklahoma, writes the Editor.

"I can truthfully say that your Magazine has been worth far more than the money to me. It has brought me work from Bankers and Lawyers all over the United States."

John Thorington, a leading lawyer of the Montgomery,.. Alabama, bar, Vice-President of the State Abstract Company of that city, and now President of the Alabama Title Men's Association, says, under date of March 12th last:

"I always appreciate your Magazine, and read it with a great deal of interest. The articles are always clear cut, to the point, and written in an interesting style. I enjoyed the February issue very much."

The opinion of J. K. Brockman, General Manager of The Title and Guaranty Company of Birmingham, Ala., as to the value of the Lawyer and Banker to title men, follows:

"I want to compliment you on the last issue of The Lawer and Banker. There are some things in there I could not agree with, particularly with reference to the questions of dealing with the Kaiser, but as a whole, the publication is fine. Every Abstractor and Title Man should be a subscriber."

Hon. Thomas M. Scott of Paris Texas, late President of The American Association of Title Men, in a recent letter paid a high compliment to the value of The Lawyer and Banker, and its value to title men and kindred interests. Mr. Scott is pronounced in favor of remedial legislation in Texas as affecting the abstracters of his State. In this respect he is opposed by the Texas Association, of which Mr. D. B. Mizell of Kaufman is an active member. Under date of March 12th Mr. Mizell wrote the Editor:

"Every abstractor and title man in the country should rally to your support. You are doing a great work for title interests which is particularly valuable because of your independent course. We feel you can always be depended upon to protect and advance the interest of the abstracting profession."

Mr. G. A. Schaefer, Manager of The Riverside Abstract Company, Riverside, Calif., one of the live-wire title insurance plants of California, under date of March 12th says:

"The Torrens system has suffered a severe relapse in Southern California. Violent means have been taken to revive the patient, but it looks like a hopeless case. The last number of your publication reflects the greatest credit upon you, and we believe that such a magazine as yours is an absolute necessity in the field of title examinations."

Mr. W. S. Holt, President of The Arkansas Abstract & Law Company of Little Rock, Ark., pays us this compliment:

"I read every number with much interest, not only the articles pertaining to title business, but the others as well. I am much pleased with your publication."

S. M. Hedgecoke of Plemons, Texas, under date of March 20, 1919, in subscribing, says: "I have just seen a copy of the December number of THE LAWYER AND BANKER. It is alone worth a whole year's subscription. Enclosed find check. See I do not miss a number."

Dr. J. R. Morgan, President and Manager of The Johnson Abstract Company of Kokomo, Indiana, has the following comment which is replete with valuable suggestions:

I have just received and read the last issue of your journal and though I have been a subscriber for many years, dating back to the time the paper was published in California, and though I acknowledge that I have received full value from every number, I am free to say that the last issue eclipsed them all for quantity and quality, and this is especially true of that part of said magazines pertaining to the subject of titles. This issue is certainly replete with title lore, and ought to be in the hands of every abstracter and title man in America. It seems to me that every title man should rally to the support of such a journal, at least to the extent of his subscription, which would be some encouragement. Of course we are all more or less sensitive, and when we see something in The Lawyer and Banker that gets on our toes then we go straight up and withdraw or withhold our support. It is a hard matter for us to see things alike and sometimes we have odd ways of airing our differences. If The Lawyer and Banker has ever touched my sensitive spots and aroused my ire, I have forgotten it, and intend to give the Journal my support for I think that your are publishing a very interesting magazine.

This last issue would make a splendid campaign document to go into the hands of every legislator in every state where there is pending Torrens legislation.

I notice in your last issue the Farm Land Bank People in the Texas district have asked for the bonding of abstracters. I wish to say a word about the fallacy of the bonding idea. The sufficiency of an abstract depends upon the ability of the abstracter and the completeness and reliability of his outfit. Whenever the law requires an abstracter to file a bond; then the abstracter, who is not efficient and who has never put a dollar into an abstract plant, can file his bond and immediately stand on the same footing as the man thoroughly efficient with thousands of dollars invested in his plant. Most any man can give bond; this is demonstrated in criminal and civil courts every day and is further demonstrated by the fact that casualty companies will insure loss against titles they have never examined. If they will insure titles, the abstracts of which they have not examined; then it is reasonable to presume that they would bond the abstracter. Now a man picks his abstracter for his reputation for ability and honesty and the plant he has behind him-just as he picks his banker.

With a bonding law the public will throw aside this precaution and may pick any one bonded, believing that the State is behind him, which it is not. The strongest thing behind an abstract of title is the ability of the man and his outfit, and his moral obligation, which no reputable business man can violate. By the way, I wonder if the Farm Land Bank in the Texas district has sustained any losses on behalf of Texas abstracters.