New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-03-18
SOME LEADERS OF THE BAR
YOUNG LAWYERS WHO ARE GROWING FA-
NOUS

The younger generation Of New York lawyers con
tans several well known interesting figures who arc
looming up Of distinction and ability No cry IN
America has lawyers TO the square foot thah
Ncw-YOrk II tho law schools were to remain wholly
inactive for the next ten years there is no probability
that that largo portion OF the public which can't get
along withOu: Quarreng would suffer for he want OF
men to fan Its cmbcrs Of discomfort into an angry
flame OF legal controversy Indeed lawyers arc so
numerous and clients scarce that many tricks are
rcsOrtcd to by persons who lack decent pride In their
profession to stimulate business. They Insert cum
ming advertisements in the papers for tho eyes OF nus
bands and wives whose tempers hotter than their
affections. They hunt up people whom they hear
Of IS unfortunate and hold out TO them the attractive
prospect Of a verdict for damages upon an appeal 10
sympathetic jury Of their fellOw-citizens. These
legal mosquitoes are OF course, held in and con
tempt by honorable lawyers, but the injury they
lnnct upon their profession IS serious and lasting.
They be found In hungry swarms around the var-
police and civil district courts, where they form
secret alliances and partnerships with tho attendant
clerks and officers who. being H. constant contact with
unfortunate people, often influential I'm getting
them llttlc fees and little jobs called these fellows
mosquitoes and they do present many points of similar
ity with th Itlc blood suckers Bu they might prop
cIly be conceded a human classification and ranked
among the banditti who nfest great towns I'm various
guiscs. Intellectually they stand somewhat higher
than the toughS, but they really moro an
1t Is disgrace to tho legal profession that they arc
permitted TO exist al ALL and their extinction Is duty
which falls upon the younger members OF the Bar.
Six men stand out distinctly from among fhc body
OF those who may be called young lawyers. There
may be others able, entitled 70 honor as they,
but these six have csmbcrcd obscurlty and have
assumed and held tho rcns Of leadership. Easily at
the heal Of them all stands Elhu Root whose recent
have been startling. His tall, trim figure.
and his high tenor voice familiar at all assemblies
Of local Republican politicians, among whom he has
much Influence. President Arthur was deeply
attached TO Mr. Root and appointed him the United
states District Attorney in which capacity he prose
cuted and convicted James d. Fish, tho president OF
the Marine Bank and the ancient ally OF the original
Young Npoleon of Wall street, Ferdinand ward. Afcr
Fish had been sent TO Auburn prison, Mr Ncol TOOK
up the case Of Ward IN tho oyer and Tornncr court
under the states indictment and convicted him, but
the chief honors OF these prosecutions belong 10 Mt
Root. Mr. Ncos candidacy for Dlst:ici-Aitorncy LAT
fall brought about largely through the work Of
Mr. Root. who labored under the dclusion common
To enthusiastic young men (onc OF tho deusOns, be II
said. that the world cannot aIOrl wholly to dis,lpaic
that The public hal sense enough To know it, own IN
tercst Nlr. and Mr. Nlcoll crossed swords
and tho result va, draw. 1t Wa, the Gao 81 cen
eral shaler charged With bribery OF the few cases
that Mr NicOll lost AID Of tie Few that Nh Root
dl1 not The jury did the he-i they could under
the circumstances and disagreed. Mr Root j. great
adnrcr Of Captain the Honorable " Billy ldchct,.,
that august and formidable pci~onac" WHO
a--i,is tho court et oyer and Jcnincr
In maintaining rs dignity all dceolllI.
AID among tie most Interesting ia. Gcu.,
OF fl. -s.c trial the pa,.asc, between M. Root
and tlr E.,hcii-. Mr Roots voice va. perhaps,
tcnlc"r. emotional, roIc pl,asils bat that 81
Mr. Kchc, possessed fsr tho greater volume and Was
witha much moro persuasive. II f. believed that
Mr Root Va, I'll.u, OF Nir II cleus 100 tHs respect,
Tor when MI Root would s'ok to irsh;sn ard Ierplcx
witnc,, with m"agc succc>.. II va, certainly cXas-
Grating to the witne ,'s tscr baach with
terror AID TO See him shrink up ia the chair lio
scared tulflo when bly, bobbug up behind Linn with
ca cnGod aim, would shooi forth o." single sentence,
"set down iu from, stni,. Now .ct." Mr. Root has
publicly stated that b. would $50 a great deal to
posses, }r. E'rk.t,ss command % language aud J. cat
voice.