Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1890-06-07
Counsel or Lobbyist.

Nashville Banner.
Col. Patterson in his effort to eX-
plain his action as lobbyist for the
spectators bank depositors' bill,
places himself in an exceedingly
awkward position. He admits that
he tried to get the bill passed by the
Legislature, but he insists that he
only acted "as counsel" after he had
closely looked into the merits of the
claims, and yet he says he would We
to the bill if he were elected Govern
or, because he had once been "coun-
sci" before the Legislature for it. In
other words, Col. Patterson declares
that he would be incompetent to pass
on measure involving the appro-
priation of some millions of dollars of
the peoples money, and therefore he
would veto the bill, not on its merits
or dement's, but because he has as
"counsel" tried to press it through
the Legislature.
This is sad admission for Col. Pat
terson to make. He begs the ques-
ton and makes pitiful plea to re.
lieve himself from the full response
bility of his record as a lobbyist for
the depositors' bill. He and his Re-
publican ally, Roderick Random
Butler, are equally committed by
their records as citizens to the depos-
itors' bill scheme, and Roderick can
with as much grace insist upon the
Guphemism of counsel" as applied
to his lobby work.
When Col. Patterson says that if
elected Governor he will veto the
depOsitors' bill because he was engag-
ed by the depositors as counsel, he re-
fleets upon the legal profession.
What lawyer is there in the State
would declare he could not freely and
properly discharge the duties of Gov
ernor because forsooth he had been
engaged as counsel in the 1908 bond
case or in some other case which in
volved a question of legislation?
The counsel who defends a man
charged with murder does not per-
sonally commit himself to justifica-
ton or conformation of crime, and
therefore has no apology to make
and no pennance to endure. Why
then should a candidate for Office pub
licly admit that he could not freely
perform the official function in a Ger.
tain matter on the ground that as
counsel he had professionally present
ed one side of the case? If it were
merely as legal counsel i'll the cleal
l and distinct scope of that professional
relation that Col. Patterson was EN-
, ployed by the holders of depositors
: claims, he throws discredit upon the
! professional function and dignity o
{ the lawyer when he publicly an
t nounces that he would be disqualified
e as Governor in the event of resur
I rection of the depositors' bill.
r IfCol. Patterson feels constrained
: to declare that in certain contingen
e cies he would be incompetent to ac
as the chief executor of the STATE
upon the merits of questions present
: ed, he should not be elected Govern
=, or. If this declaration is forced as {
- matter Of policy to remove opposition
to him because of his personal iden
tifcation with the unpopular deposi
y tors bill, there is all the more reason
h why he should not be nominated
r, The attorney has no apology, NJ
e explanation to make concerning tn
d discharge of his professional duties
r The lobbyist, who Identifies himsel
d personally with an obnoxious mea;
i ure which the people condemn, ma
2 have urgent need of making excuses
ic But the lobbyist should net try t
er throw the hindering weight of hi
a record upon the shoulders of a pre-
IN fession which does not recognize lot
e bying as the legitimate or allowabl
IS business of the attorney-at-lav
re whether the inducement be 20 or
u. per cent. of the hundreds or thou
is ands of dollars which, it is proposed
H. to appropriate out of the people
be treasury.
TX