New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-12-24
AN ARMY OF LAWYERS.
TENDENCY OF THE TIMES IN THE DlHEc-
TfoN OF sPEcIALTIEs-THE BAR
ASSOCIATION AND THE


Although II has been remarked that the day
Of great lawyers is past. glance NJ the 'o'
OF members of the profession in Greater New.
York or in any Of the cities OF the Union w'''
show many of Americas leading statesmen anu
nubllc men, 1t is recalled that nineteen out VI
the twenty-three Presidents Of the unlted o'a'e'
were lawyers. while a conservative es.~
states that at the present time the po"''
leaders and representatives OF the peopN az
lawyers by a percentage OF 20. Many '""'
has chosen the legal profession firmly beheV'ns
tina. |. was the golden road which led 70 'a'"e
and an everlasting fortune.
Th, nro,ninence OF the New-York bar WAS
fully Illustrated during the political canpa's"
of a month or so ago. the memory OF wh'c" 10
still fresh The names of the ponticai oa"''
dates on both tickets contained many ''"'.
Young and old The fight made over Tue JUL
cial candidates brought out an array Vi 'A''i.
which resulted in some remarkable bursts OF
oratorv and which crowded Carnegie nun anu
Co,.rer Union TO the doors. 1t would be impos-
eihe in q limited amount of space 10 give Ju"
,ice 20 all of the prominent men in this profess
sion, For many years this metropolis mas oeen
exceptionally favored in its legal department.
rh:s citv can proudly claim some of the orght-
cst minds the most brilliant orators ano the
,,os, ,opular legal lights of the world. AHio
,oo1 s,-roundings the American youth Is given
o,.arv Incentive 10 work hard for The goal winch
hoe baen set for him. In his early stuoies TIC
,o,r,ad that Thomas jefferson, lawyer. Wlo'e
cha Federation of Independence: that Alex
ander Hamilton, d lawyer was the originator
of The first financial system. ana that Aoi an''"'
Iincolo n lawyer wrote the EMANCIPATION
Proclamation. He has cultivated deep re'er-
encc for the names of Daniel Webster heiiiy
CLAY Rufus Choate. Edward J. Pheips' anu
scores of lawyers of equal fame and repu'a'ion'
Il has been estimated that there are pet"eeh
15OOO and 10000 lawyers in Greater Ne Non hI
ON the basis Of population or 5'UVc;Vov w. ,n
means a lawyer for about every ~ y, IL
nonulation With such showing there shouio
be no reason why the legal business Vi INA
great centre Of commerce ana weaith Shouu
not be transacted on most satisiact or axtsnt
The profession has drifted to quite an eNlelt ,
fnio specalties. The corporation ana ram odu
LAWYER is usually man OF large income anu
wide influence He represents big interests anu
has n world of responsibility on his shoulders
1t is usual to find railroad and other corpola
ton business in the hands or Dig Ia" III ne
comnosed of several well-known lawyers. Such
firms are found in large numbers in Greater
New York Their offices occupy Wnoie hool
of some big Office building. and the clerlcal Lore
would do credit to mercantile house VIII" "
PIn the employ of such firms will be found
many young lawyers who draw big salaries
in some instances, although as d general u.
it is alleged that the clerks are not overpalu'
Another speciality is the promoting OF trusts
and the formation of big industrial ana COM
merciai corporations There are certain nrmS
which are known far and wide for their skill.
knowledge and experience In TINS particular
field of legal activity, 1nasmuch as Inc Ten
dency of the times is in the direction OF trusts,
this branch of the legal profession has been
acquiring an unwonted prominence 1t woulo
make interesting reading to glance over the
commercial history of the last two years and
note the number OF new trusts formed during
that period. There are many now in exist
ence that 1t is difficult to keep them in mind
One of the most important combinations OF the
wear was incorporated under the laws OF New
Jersey with an authorized capital or SzOo,OU'-
600 The legal details of such an organization
require wise Judgment and wide experience, ana
the fees are of unusual fairness.
Many metropolitan legal lights have mace un-
ending fame in the criminal and divorce courts
Some have been able to accomplish marked sue
cess in the highest courts OF the United states
From the lowest to the highest, the members OF
the New-York Bar compose small army
feared by foes and admired and esteemed by
friends. The Lawyers Club. In the Equitapie
Building Is one Of the most magnificent iuhcn
clubs in the world. 1t has membership OF
over one thousand and enjoys popularity ana
success which has made IL the envy OF SIM
liar institutions in New-York- The Bar Asso-
citation of New-York is composed OF the ieadne
members OF the legal fraternity Of the city ana
has always taken an active interest III every,
thing which pertains to the development and
prosperity of the city. as
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