THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF

REALTY BROKERS

One of the real estate brokerage organizations that seems to be attracting more than ordinary interest throughout the country is the National Association of Realty Brokers. One reason for this interest is perhaps due to the fact that real estate is now beginning to become more active, since the signing of the armistice and the reconstructive efforts that being made to get business conditions back to normal. The paramount reason, however, for interest centering in this Association is because its present officers seem to be endowed with a desire to make the organization really serve its membership along lines worth while and to accomplish beneficial results for them.

The National Association of Realty Brokers has its headquarters in New York City. Its chief aim has been to promote interstate cooperation among real estate men. It was organized originally along the lines of the law list publications, namely, of having one representative in a city or town to encourage the forwarding of business to associate representatives. However, after working along those lines for a number of years, the membership finally heeded the arguments of its most aggressive leaders and voted at its last mid-winter meeting in February, 1919, to change this restriction and make membership unlimited as to the number eligible from any city or town, but in lieu thereof to endeavor to really serve these real estate interests in practical ways.

The Association's amended purposes now include the following:

First-To protect and promote the mutual interest of its members and better facilitate negotiations in real estate.

Second-To create increased opportunities for handling exchange propositions involving property in different sections of the country.

Third-To create a greater outlet for the sale of investment properties, factories, factory sites, hotels, summer cottages, farms and any other form of real estate in which opportunity exists for reaching out beyond the community limits for possible customers or business.

Fourth-To publish or have published under its auspices and for the benefit of its members, listings of properties they are offering for sale or exchange.

Fifth-To promote and encourage the enactment of laws in various States beneficial to real estate or to the brokers handling same, and to oppose by organized united action the enactment or enforcement of unjust or obnoxious legislation pertaining to same.

Sixth-To advocate and encourage by organized united action necessary public improvements affecting real estate, and to insure a square deal to both parties in a transaction by which properties are purchased or exchanged through an Association member.

Seventh-To handle the appraisal of property situated in different sections of the country and to be able to issue under one Association certificate the appraisal of scattered holdings in different States.

Eighth-To assist in financing large building enterprises where mortgages are needed in excess of the ability of local institutions, by securing the co-operation of the Association or the members of the Association situated in the larger financial centers where money in greater amounts might be more easily obtained.

Ninth-To promote better facilities for handling farm mortgages and assist in attracting outside capital for local farming sections.

Tenth-To uphold a higher standard of efficiency among real estate brokers by care in the selection of its members and by giving them the hearty support, endorsement and recommendation of the Association.

Eleventh-To bring its members in closer touch with each other by attendance at conventions, working out attractive features of advertising and adopting practical suggestions of how the Association might be of assistance in building up the business of its members, and

Twelfth-To accomplish by co-operation, benefits that could not be acquired by the individual broker alone, and by working collectively render a better service to the clients of all the members.

The wit, wisdom and philosophy of Judge Henry Lamm, who was first associate and then chief justice of the Supreme Court of Missouri, serving in that capacity for ten years, from 1905 to 1915, had much more than state interest, and bright and telling paragraphs were quoted from his clever and profound talks from the bench all through the United States. Here are some of Judge Lamm's proverbs:

door.

Every lawsuit is hatched from an egg or grows from a seed.

Enough specks make an apple rotten.

Every dog is entitled to at least one worry.

He who wants a mule without fault must walk.

A mule keeps a kick in reserve for his master.

In equity lawyer and money lender meet upon a dead level.

A loose vocabulary is the fruitful mother of evils.

If two opinions split the way, hear what conscience has to say
Verily, freedom flies out of the window when force comes in at the

A fair test of the matter is to put the shoe on the other foot. What the Legislature has put together a court ought not to put asunder.

men.

Law: A bundle of rules to make life more tolerable among civilized

Justice delayed is justice denied; fresh justice is ever sweetest; he gives twice who gives quickly.

Liberty of the citizen is the immediate jewel of the law, to be sacredly cherished and hedged about withal.

ABSTRACT NEWS AND NOTES

The Wayne County Abstract Company have purchased the Berry Abstract plant of Wayne, Neb.

ILLINOIS ABSTRACTERS IN CONVENTION.

The Twelfth Annual Convention of the Illinois Abstracters' Association will meet in the Law Building at the University of Illinois, in Champaign, June 6 and 7, 1919. The Champaign abstracters are always alive and on this occasion will attempt to outdo themselves, both in the way of program and entertainment.

Following are the convention committees:

Program-Edwin Filson, chairman, Champaign; Fred M. Price, Champaign; M. L. McQuiston, Paxton.

Resolutions-C. S. Haas, chairman, Oregon; Mrs. Nellie P. Danks, Clinton; H. C. Gerke, Edwardsville; W. F. Burkitt, Benton; H. H. House, Nashville.

Nominating-J. K. Payton, chairman, Springfield; A. R. Marriott, Chicago; D. C. Hull, Wheaton; A. J. Worman, Effingham; W. H. Armour, Rockford.

Reception-C. B. Sawyer, chairman, Kankakee; H. A. Niehoff, Carlyle; Roy Wilson, Vandalia; J. O. Bailey, Watseka; Mrs. Fred B. Lilly, Lewistown; J. P. Durkin, Peoria; Casper Westermier, Carlinville; J. W. Larimer, Salem; C. N. Hossack, Joliet; R. K. Shelledy, Paris; C. B. Conrad, Sycamore; B. F. Hiltabrand, Bloomington; Charles H. Roe, Pinckneyville.

The following is the program of exercises, beginning with Friday, June 6:

9:30 A. M.-Business meeting. President's annual address.

"Delivery of Deeds" by H. W. Ballantine, Dean of College of Law, University of Illinois.

"Advertising,” paper and discussion, C. B. Sawyer, Kankakee.

1:30 P. M.-Leave the Inman Hotel, Champaign, for Rantoul, where we will visit the Air Service Flying School, Chanute Field, on invitation of Lieut. Col. Longanecker, Commandant.

Tickets for banquet at $1.50 a plate can be secured from secretary. The hotel must be notified of the number before we leave for Rantoul.

6:15 P. M.-Banquet at the Inman. Manford Savage, attorney, Champaign, toastmaster.

"Real Estate Men and Abstracters," S. K. Hughes, past president of Champaign Real Estate Board.

"Abstracts of Titles in Two States," Charles R. Adair, of The Guaranty Title and Mortgage Company, Flint, Mich.

"Methods of Evidencing Titles," R. W. Boddinghouse, secretary of Chicago Title and Trust Company.

9:10 P. M.-Convention will attend Orpheum Theater, Champaign. Tickets will be distributed by secretary at close of morning session.

“Title In and Out of the Government," by Henry W. Berks, vice president, Trevett Mattis Banking Company, Champaign.

"Bonds That Are Liens," R. W. Boddinghouse, secretary of Chicago Title and Trust Company.

In 1918 Tom Scott, president of the American Association of Title Men, was busy morning, noon and night in the interests of the abstracters of the country. In 1919, with J. W. Mason of Atlanta as president, no work has been done and no activity shown. Mr. Mason left the profession of abstracting a few days after he was elected president and is now offering his services to the citizens of Georgia as an attorney-at-law.

LAWYERS AND LAND TITLES.

To the layman the capital and stock in trade of an abstracter are his books, his slips of record which he keeps in his safe, his plats and maps, his typewriter and the general air of prosperity which pervades his office. To the lawyer, however, the capital of the abstracter is the character of the abstracter himself, the reputation he has made in his community for accuracy and for honesty; back of his books and his record slips must always stand the abstracter himself. It has been often said, and truthfully, that back of the opinion of each lawyer must stand the man with his reputation for hon. esty and integrity, or the lack of it.

It may be said that no system of abstracting has ever been devised or will ever be, which can cure dishonesty, inaccuracy or lack of diligence in the man. Every lawyer has had occasion to refuse to pass upon an abstract because it came from what he believed to be a doubtful source. In fairness to his client no lawyer should ever attempt to pass upon an abstract unless he has full and complete confidence in the honesty and the diligence of the man who made it. Of course, should it transpire that the title to the land is flawed, the lawyer may afterwards have the right to say to his client that he was justified in relying upon the abstract as he found it, and that the abstract did not show the flaw, but this would probably not console his client for the loss of his home or for being compelled to discharge a lien. The client is not interested in the relations between the abstracter and the lawyer. His sole purpose is to be assured of good or bad title, and if the lawyer feels that the abstracter himself is not sound this is one of the things that he should tell his client at the beginning of the examination.

A lawyer who takes an abstract of title for examination assumes certain things with reference to the abstract, as, that it has been correctly copied, nothing omitted and nothing added, but there is a far more important assumption that a lawyer must make. He must assume that the abstracter is

honest, that he is conscientious, accurate and painstaking and that he has given due regard to the value of his certificate. A lawyer should never attempt to pass upon an abstract and should never give an opinion with reference to a title unless he can first assume these things concerning the man who made the abstract.

The professional abstracters of Florida have lost one of the best men in their list, but the legal profession has gained thereby. John D. Harris of St. Petersburg graduates from the law department of Stetson University at De Land, June term, 1919. He will at once open law offices with his brother, S. H. Harris, in his home city. They will be located in the Smith building after July 1.

S. H. was for some time engaged with his brother in abstract work. He has only recently returned from foreign service. John D. Harris is one of the best qualified abstracters in Florida. The new firm will specialize in title work, corporation law and investments.

The Florida Association of Title Men will hold their 1919 convention at Daytona on August 14-15. A good program has been arranged and a full attendance is expected. Florida abstracters are known to be a live set. The present officers are B. R. Colson, president, Gainesville; W. W. Clayatt, Ocala, and D. J. Shaw, Tampa, vice presidents; Mrs. M. C. Howard, secretary-treasurer, Gainesville. Executive Committee-E. L. Mack, Bartow; Joseph E. Wilson, Starke, and G. M. Westervelt, Jacksonville.

The program has many strong features. E. L. Mack of Bartow will discuss "Florida Prospects in the Title 'Business." E. A. Nash of Miami will speak on "Office Management." R. H. Welch, General Counsel of the Federal Land Bank at Columbia, S. C., is booked for an address on "Federal Loans and Abstracts." W. R. Lawley of West Palm Beach is on the program for a paper on "Legal Requirements of Abstracters." John D. Harris of St. Petersburg will talk on "Title Legislation." G. Edward Morgan of Ocala will tell how to "Advertise Our Business," while D. J. Shaw of Tampa will explain "Title Insurance."

Among others who will enliven the convention are found George Nash of Jacksonville. Don Peabody of Tavares and P. W. Daniel of Bartow.

The Federal farm loan system is now doing about 15 per cent of all agricultural land loan business in the United States. A report of the Farm Loan Board at the conclusion of the second year of operation shows that loans closed in the last twelve months amounted to $120,238,000. The aggregate of farm loans made by all agencies, public and private, is estimated at about $80,000,000 annually.

The Spokane district has closed over $30,000,000 in loans, more than any other. The Omaha district is second with over $29,000,000; St. Paul, third, with over $28,000,000, and Houston fourth, with over $22,000,000.

By States Texas leads, with $22,531,000; Iowa is second, with $14,385,000;