New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-06-15
POLITICAL LAWYERS.

How far practising attorney may 90 In COM
blning business and politics, and using politicai
influence attained by party SURFACES Tor the pro-
motion Of his professional advantage, Without
violating propricty and creating scandal may pe
An omen question Hut IL seems to us there can
II. no doubt Of one thing and that Is that no
Marty can long retain the confidence Of the pub
lie which consciously and deliberately selects Tor
It's executive offices lawyers whose professional
practice consists largely Of cases brought in one
form and another before legislative bodies D.!
the members Of which they are recognized as
poli,Ical leaders and advisers. In plain words
the practitioner before legislative committees.
whether a regular attorney or lay lobbyist mas
no business 10 be In a position where ne can PACK
the court before which lie practiscs. II may not
he breach of statute law. but II Is certainly suci
a violation Of the proprieties and such an offence
against common morality "A cannot long escape
observation nor In the end fail TO operate to the
DISADVANTAGE Of the party that tolcraies 1t. That
,v.ry member ~ the Legislature owes his nom
Ination and election In large measure I'd 'h'
executive officer Of his party committee Is ho'o
rously true Equally true that he mas sense
Of pcrsonal obligation To his c"innitt'ch man.
and unfortunately. no less true that the COM
mittrc-man In most cases Is Wiling anu eager
T., avail himself ~ this sense ~ obligation anu
make reUsI,on upon his beneficiary for reclpro'
cal favors.
~ then the party committees or their chair
men mr.. under rctalncrs from individuals or cor
poratlons having schemes uf their own I" carry
throuph a Legislature or schemes of Their "p
u,u,n,s IA defeat. and these committees con
trailing the machinery Of the party ana con
duclinc The primaries. do In effect choose 'h'
Legislature. VIVA, Is II but packed court anu
uh,, hon. il there for fair hearing or for com
man Justice from such tribunal; Ana how long
win IN, honest voting masses tolerate the dom
nation Of n party which permits Tue ""''"''
If i,s lawmakers hy the attorneys of individuals
ar corporations having u special ana S'''sh u"
forest ln the legislation they are commissioner
IA ,nncty II does not take long Tor any one "h'
hns "A reasonable degree of faiih III 'h' 'h'''''
rcucr of the average voter Ia answer mat 'i''s
lion I, makes no difference II all The schemes
If ,hc paid attorneys aud lobbyists who ~" po'
utlcul posilion and influence to pack 'h" court
ore commcndablc and useful and pr"n"'lN' "i
,h.. general welfare. the method Of furthcring
Them Is none the less In conliaN'h'i"h "' J"S"0'
and fairness aud ordinary political morality
We shall not now be- more explicit. We SIN
ply direct attention 10 the fact ana preg
nant fact It that there IL great danger mat
the Republican party Of this city and State may
be nut at disadvantage and suffer III publlc
estimation by the negligence Of personal duty
ON the part Of It's honest voting masses through
which legislative attorneys and lobbyists are per
ml,ted 10 exercise the partys cxcctti'" rune
tons. The Republican party Of this State can
| no, afford 10 let itself be- used 10y any lawyer "f
,cbbyist 20 pack Legislature for hi~ professional
advantage Its executive officers should be free
from any suspicion of that sort