The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-09-04
"A Country LAWYER. F"

a jealous New Yorker-and the people
OF this city are the most narrow-minded
and jealous OF any 1 have ever known ex-
eept those OF Boston and a few towns in
New Hampshire-said TO William E. Cur
It's Of the Chicago Record. at the Union
League club the other night. with a
slight sheer. that the president vas en-
trusting the negotiation OF the peace
treaty 10 "a lot OF country lawyers.
meaning Secretary Day. Senator Davis,
Senator Frye, and Associate Justice
White. Of the supreme court. OF course.
Whitelaw Reid does not count
1t reminded me of story which Sen
ator Fairbanks OF Indiana is fond OF tell
ing about al invasion OF the Boston courts
by a country lawyer two or three years
ago. A big litigation was on. involving
the control of an Ohio railway. and seven
or eight legal luminaries of the largest
magnitude from Boston were there 70 rep
resent the bond-holders and the ''reorga-
nizers." The local stockholders and the
management Of the road who were repre-
scented for their own preservation were
represented by an unassuming attorney
from small town IN Ohio. who appeared
IN delicate health and was an entire
stranger in Boston. AS he came into
court he modestly tok a back seat without
bow 10 the judge and pleasant good
morning 10 his formidable army of oppo-
nents During the morning proceedings
ne did not open his lips and showed no
particular interest. and when the Boston
lawyers went TO lunch at Young's Hotel
during the noon hour they were chuckiinS
to themselves about the easy manner in
which they were going 20 dispose OF what
they had feared might be very tedious
and troublesome litigation. Senator Fair
banks was present as a spectator. 10
watch the collateral interest OF the Van
daha line. of which he was general sole
itor, and was looked upon as a neutral
party. So they invited him to lunch with
them. and he heard their humorous allu-
sions to the country lawyer who had ap-
peared to represent the other side.
Gentlemen. said the senator. after
awhile. Il have had good deal Of expe-
rience with country lawyers, and have
learned not to despise them. Your con-
duct Of this case Is, OF course, not my
affair, but I advise you TO be on your
guard. for If that country lawyer over
there in the corner of the court room
ever wakes up he is likely TO give you
trouble. l kept my eye on him this morn
ing and have come 70 the conclusion that
he knows his business"
The ornaments of the New England bar
laughed in derision. and when the court
adjourned that afternoon they tainted
Senator Fairbanks with his warning. for
the country lawyer had not opened his
lips during the day. And so the case went
on, the Boston attorneys occupying all
the time, submitting motions. suggestions
and plans for the consideration OF the
court which were entirely n the interest
OF their clients. and having everything
their own way. About the fourth day.
however, the 'reorganiZers'' had disclosed
their whole scheme and committed them
selves TO a line Of procedure which left
the legitimate owners Of the road in the
cold. the country lawyer came forward
and modestly interposed a few objections
in the interest of his clients. The Boston
crowd attempted to throw him down with
a rush. but he quietly plunged his spear
into the weak spots of the armor of every
one of them and drew blood al every
thrust. Before the day was over he had
them all demoralized and quarreling
among themselves. while he submitted
few motions 20 the court. which were I'M
mediatefly sustained. The result. as Sen
ator Fairbanks tells It. was that when
the case was concluded the country law
yer walked off with the whole thing leav-
ing the lights of the Boston bar in semi
comatose condition and wondering what
had happened TO them. The senator SAYS
il was as keen and complete a case of
legal strategy as he has ever known in
his long practice at the bar and that the
country lawyer was William r. Day. OF
Canton O.. now secretary OF state and
a member of the peace commission.