The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1895-06-19
CORPORATION LAWYERS


rule, or of injustice to the common
people while comforting favors upon
the rich. that cannot be traced direct
ly to the, Vaccinations and intrigue
of the corporation lawyer.
Corporations are veritable govern
ments, deriving their powers from
governments formed by the people,
usurping the power of the civil gov
ernment, and avoiding responsibility
and punishment. no matter what the
controversy, by always having a
"friend at COURT" or paid servant,
or both, in the person of the corpora.
tion 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 a
mighty poor lawyer, but he is always a
good fee-taker. Nobody ever knew a
lawyer to refuse any part Of fee Of
fered him.
Now take lawyer who has spent
half his life working for the man or
corporation that will pay him the big
gest fee, instead of studying questions
welware of his fellowman, and he is
mighty poor material to make dis in
terested, unseltsh, patriotic states
man Of. Ten chances to one he will
keep right on taking fees from the
most generous fee-giver.
Uncle Sam pays lawyer $4,000 a
year for his services as United States
Senator. His old master, certain
railroad corporation in whose emp 10y
he may yet continue secretly, can pay
him $50, 900 for his vote on an import
ant measure and make money by the
opera tion. Can the conscience of the
average corporation lawyer stand such
a strain?
Uncle Sam pays his president $4,000
a year. A money syndicate, or corp,-
ration of bankers ii you please, can
pay him 81 100000 to force big bond
issue, and make for them $4,000, 900
clear by the operation. Could man,
accustomed ali his life to taking fees
from corporations and trying to make
the wrong side of questions appear
right, resist such a temptation?
A man accustomed all his life to re-
gard his fee as the most important
feature Of any transaction is dan
gerous man to represent the interests
Of the common people who are unable
to back up small salary with extra
fees and perq uisites.
And yet it is just the cla SIS of men
who get into Otfice-especi tally into
legislative halls-elected by the aid of
corporations, to do the dirty work Of
corporations.
You can count on your fingers the
names of every Congressman and
United States Senator who was prior
to his election neither corporation
attorney nor an officer, director or
stockhOlder in national bank.
Nearly every cabinet officer since
the days of Lincoln has been corpo-
ration lawyea. Every president since
Grant has been d corporation lawyer.
Eve ry federal judge of the present
day with scarcely an exception has
been a corporation lawyer.
Shiras, who went over to the mil
lionaireS with the casting vote on the
income tax. was corporation lawyer.
Olney, the new Secretary Of State,
won has appointment through his de.
votion to the interests of corporations
less than a year ago.
Harmon, the new Attorney General,
has long been the head Of a firm of
corporation lawyers, and announces
that business in his interest will still
be transacted at the old stand.
Chauncey Depew gets 100000 year
as attorney for single corporation,
and the IN an whom he is coaching for
president wouldn' t stand the ghost OF
chance for denomination were it not
for his past services at attorney for
railroad corporations.
With the executive, judicial and
legislative branches of our govern
me Mt under the management Of cor.
poration lawers, is it any wonder that
our laws are passed, interpreted. and
| executed in the interest Of corpora
tions and to the great detriment OF
| the common people:
There is little hope for genuine po-
ltic al reform until the corporation
lawyer is made to step down and out
Chicago Sentinel.