Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-09-25


comes from California, and in legal way
he is we'll qualified for the position He is
now ffty-fOur years of age, and Is in his
physical and Intellectual prime. He Is a
we'll in Supreme Court gown. He stands
as straight as one of the big trees of
Mariposa, and he dresses SO correctly that
he makes you think of Pitt Crawley. in
Vanity Fair, who would rather have dice
than sat down to dinner in anything else
than a dress suit and a white necktie.
called at the Attorney Generals office the
other day and had a short chat with Judge
Mckenna about the law and other mat
tiers. He told me that his family came
from the north of Ireland, but that he
was born in Philadelphia, while his father
was running bakery there. He was Only
twelve years old when the family emigrat-
ed to California and settled near Benecia.
1t was here that young McKenna went to
school and studied law, and from here
later on he was sent to Congress. In my
chat. / asked the judge to tell me some
thing about his first law case. lie replied
Il cannot fully recall the circumstances,
but it was before a justice of the peace.
remember that l felt very consequential.
from which 1 quoted and argued before
the justice with more assurance than l
have shown in many cases since then.
think I won the case.
Il should think you would remember
what the case was about, judge" said /.
Il do not replied the Attorney General,
but had a case shortly after that which
impressed me more. 1t was in relation to
a mortgage. Ny client had bought lot
without knowing that there were lien
upon it. He built house upon the lot, and
the danger was that both the house and lot
would be sold to satisfy the mortgage.
When he advised with me l told him that
his best plan was to move the house off
before any action could be taken. Said l.:
You must have two sets of men. You
must start your first set to moving the
Az a +
gage see what you are doing they will ar
rest the laborers. but you must have an
other set at hand and before they can act
again you will be able to get the house OFF.
Then we can go to law as to whether the
mortgage should be paid or not Well,
my client was an energetic fellow. He got
two gangs of men at work and the house
was moved before the plaintiff could act.
We fought in the courts as to the balance
of the mortgage. but the popularity Of
my plan was the saving Of the house and
I really think it was worthy OF an older
lawyer"
what do you think of the law as a
profession. Mr.. Attorney General?" said l.
I 1T Is the one which I chose for my life
work.. replied Judge McKenna. 81 have
never regretted my choice. 1 think 1t IL a
good profession and that 1t will always be
50. As long as men own property and each
man has an individuality there will be
work for lawyers, and that time l sup
pose will last forever"
Would you advise young man to study
law"
1T depends upon the man." replied the
| Attorney General. IF he has fair
amount Of natural ability and an extra
| ordinary amount Of industry and patience
he can devote himself to the law with
profit. The law. however, is no light mas
| ter. and one who expects to succeed In it
will have to work. AS to great successes
| In the law. as in anything else, might
| answer as Daniel Webster did when he
| was asked the same question and replied
/ There is always room at the top"
Country Lawyers vs.. City Lawyers.
| ''But. judge. does not the practice of law
materially change as time goes on as for
| tunes accumulate and big combinations OF
| capital are formed?"
YES" answered Judge McKenna. 1.-THE
practice of the law is largely the result OF
| conditions. Where there are great corpor.
| atoms there must be great corporation law
yers to defend their interests. In a large
| city you will find specialties of law just as
of medicine. In such places there are men
| who devote themselves to criminal law
you will find real estate lawyers. corpora.
| ton lawyers and railroad lawyers"
| your practice has not been along special
lines. has 1t, Mr. Attorney General?' j
1 asked.
| mo. have been more Of a country law.
yer and my practice has been Of a general
nature"
| Does not this kind Of practice make q
better ell around lawyer than the work OF
l the SPECIALIST"
Il should think it naturally would" re.
| piled the Attorney General. you see the
| general practitioner has to deal with all
kinds Of cases. He has to investigate all
| branches OF the law, and his mind is there.
| by more evenly developed. Yes, I should
| IL ink he would make an all around better
| lawyer"
| The Attorney Generars Joh.
what kind Of legal work does the Attor.
ney General Fave to dor
Almost every kind" replied Mr.. Nc.
Kenna- The Attorney General is the law.
yer Of the United States government. The
cases Of the different district attorney
i are under him. He II asked for opinions
by all the various departments Of the gov.