The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-01-26
EVERY MAN HIS OWN LAWYER
The Measure Defeated by House
Committee.

Representatiy Keefer OF LeaNeiWoith
county was prevented from apped l,,,
before the judiciary committee IN SUI p
port of his bill ito permit any person ~
ne heard in their own Behalf betOre any
court or judge in the state OF Kansas
The judiciary committee reported yes
terday evening recommending 1HaI eii0
bill be not passed. 80
Mr.. Keefer asked that the bill be
printed saying: i have spent SIedt
deal of time on this bill and would IKE
to be heard in a committee OF the
whole l therefore ask that the Dill pc
printed and placed on the calendar
Mr. Keefer then explained the OBJECT
of his bin. to which Mr. Lop S.s salu-
yes it is" said Mr.. Keefer but no
one is permitted to take advantage OF
it owing to the chicanery OF lawyers
and Judges.
IF that is the law now why insist
upon this biu?" asked Mr.. Lobdell-
4 know all about the law said Mr..
Keefer, but what L want IS TO amend n
Chairman Hackney of the Judiciary
committee said:''We considered this bill
in the committee but it was decided to
report it unfavorably. 1 suggested that
Mr.. Keefer be given hearing but the
committee voted me down..
I expected that from a crowd of
lawyers exclaimed Mr.. Keefer with
warmth.
Mr.. Keefer is very bitter in his views
upon this question. To a reporter for
The Journal he explained his position
by saying:
The business men and producers
have allowed themselves to be absolute
" without voice in shaping and enfOrc-
ing the laws under which they live.
The constitution of this state (Act
1913 of the statute) provides, that the
second justices and judges of courts of
record in this state shall have such
jurisdiction at chambers as may be
provided by law Now here are we as
sembled a body of refOrmerS, princi-
pal1y business men and farmers of no
more than ordinary intelligence, who
ask that the judges elected and paid to
determine our grievance, shall be ac-
ceSsible to us without the interruption
of a paid attorney. This committee
composed entirely of lawyers, sat upon,
quash and without hearing deny the
right of members to be heard When I
presented this little bill I had many
misgivings as to the prOpriety of its
going before the judicial tribunal but
/ differed from my better judgment in
the hopes that in this reform movement
We had even lawyers who would rise
above selfish interests. But the prac-
tice of law has the same effect as the
action of a grind stone; it narrows the
mind as we'll as sharpens it. And a
specialist has positive aversion to en-
1arged human views, and finally takes no
more interest in the general welfare of
mankind than the man who spends his
life in duck shooting in the swamps of
the Potomac or SrindS abOr to the last
eternity that dividends may be forth
coming to my Lord and Lady Roths-
child.
I'VE have had governments DONNA
ted by czars, emperors, khedives, kings,
clergies, all of which are Selfishly ad-
ministered and every one of which
sooner or later persisted.
THE United States furnishes the first
example of government selfishIy, en-
tirely and arbitrarily ruled by lawyers
And pretty mess they have made of
1t. There is not a member of the house
including my legal friends who have
not suffered from some unprincipled
member of the bar. 1 could mention
instances innumerable. when whole es-
tates are lost by carelessness, by negli-
gence or ignorance cupidity and yet
the citizen, the tax payer, the maker of
laws, has no redress.
Il know our professional friends will
say he has, but go try to retain one in
a case against another see how he will
dodge and plea the unprofessional cour-
tesy role to you'll our friends are hon
est they should be as interested in
purging the profession as their clients
If they continue as they. at present
seem disposed to do, then the man who
attempts under the present practices of
the law, to be his own lawyer must