The Louisiana populist., 1895-10-11
LAWYERS FOk GOLD.
WHEN MADE LEGISLATORS
JUDGES. OR OFFICIALS.
Are True to Their Old Masters, the
Corporations, and Their Fees Go Right
Along-Time for Him to Step Down
and Out.

The Representative: The infa MES
perpetrated by the corporations are
aided by the corporation lawyer, and
the fact that he becomes a legislator,
a judge, or holds any other government
position, does not in any degree absolve
him from his allegiance to the corpora
tion. There is," says the Chicago
Weekly Sentinel, scarcely an instance
Of misru.e or of injustice to the common
people, while comforting favors upon
the rich. that cannot be traced directly
to the Vaccinations and intrigue of the
corporation lawyer"
Corporations are veritable govern
ments, deriving their powers from gov
ernments formed by the people, usurp-
ing the power of the civil government
and avoiding responsibility and punish
ment, no matter what the controversy,
by always having "a friend at court"
or paid servant, or both, in the person
OF the corporation lawyer.
The government is poor, can raise
money only by taxation; corporations
are rich, can pay their hired servants
princely sums.
Every attorney regards it as his first
great duty to provide for the payment
of his fee. He will take any case, or
any side of case, provided his fee is
forthcoming. A man may be mighty
poor lawyer, but he is always a good
fee-taker. Nobody ever knew a lawyer
to refuse any part of fee offered him.
Now, take lawyer who has spent
half of his life working for the man
or corporation that will pay him the
biggest fee, instead of studying ques-
tions of right and wrong that affect the
welfare of his fellow man, and he is
mighty poor material to make a disin-
terested, unselfish, patriotic statesman
of. Ten chances to one he will keep
right on taking fees from the most gen.
erous fee-giver.
Uncle Sam pays lawyer 5000 a
year for his services as United States
senator. His old master, certain rail-
road corporation, in whose employ he
may yet continue secretly, can pay him
$50, 900 for his vote on an important
measure, and make money by the op-
Grafton. Can the conscience of the av-
erage corporation lawyer stand such a
strain?
Uncle Sam pays his president $4,000
year. A money syndicate, or corpora
tion Of bankers. If you please, can pay
him 81 900, 900 to force big bond issue,
and make for them $10,OOO,O00 clear by
the operation. Could man accustomed
all his. life to taking fees from corpora
tions, and trying to make the wrong
side Of questions appear right, resist
such temptation?
A man accustomed all his life to re-
gard his fee as the most important
feature Of any transaction is a danger
GUS man to represent the interests of
the common people, who are unable TO
back up small salary with extra fees
and perquisites.
And yet 1t Is just that class of men
who get into Office, especially into legis-
lative halls, elected by the aid of corpo-
rations, to do the dirty work of corpo-
rations.
You can count on your fingers the
names of every congressman and U. S.
senator who was, prior to his election,
neither a corporation attorney nor an
officer, director or stockholder in a ma
tional bank.
Nearly every cabinet officer since the
days of Lincoln has been a corporation
lawyer. Every president since Grant
has been corporation lawyer.
Every federal Judge of the present
day, with scarcely an exception, has
been a corporation lawyer.
Shiras, who went over to the million
aires with the casting vote on the in
come tax. was a corporation lawyer.
Olney, the new secretary of state. won
his appointment through his devotion
to the interests of corporations less than
a year ago.
Harmon, the new attorney genc-al,
has long been the head of a firm of
lawyers, and announces
that business in his interest will still be
transacted at the old stand.
Chauncey Depew gets 100000 a year
as attorney for single corporation,
and the man whom he is coaching for
president wouldn't stand the ghost of
a chance for denomination were it not
for his past services as attorney for
corporations.
With the executive. judicial and leg
islative branches of our government
under the management of corporation
lawyers, is it any wonder that our laws
are passed, interpreted and executed
in the interest of corporations, and to
the great detriment of the common peo-
pie?
There is little hope for genuine po-
litical reform until the corporation law
yer Is made to step down and out.
Dishpnest MOpsy.