Omaha daily bee., 1899-06-12
TIMELY ADVICE TO poprLrsrs

This country has raised up a breed OF law
yers that have been an unmitgated curse
to the whole land. In their practice they
have abandoned all the principles OF the
common law and in their lives been guided
by no principle OF morality known to
Christian nations. Big fees, regardless OF
how or in whose service they were obtained,
have been the only objects sought after.
The lawyers Of the land could have pre-
vented the formation Of any or all trusts If
they had been disposed so to do, whether
there had ever been an antitrust act passed
or not. The commcn law was sufficient to
prevent their formation and to overthrow
them IL formed What ought the lawyers
to have done? Inasmuch as courts from the
days Of Lord Coke to the present time have
never given monopoly standing, either in
equity or law the lawyers could have long
ago killed every monopolstic concern in the
United States If they had wished to do so.
But while they have not killed one OF them,
they have the impudence to come before the
people claiming all patriotism and ask for
all the offices. They had better do some-
thing to show their patriotism. The lawyers,
IL they had wanted to do it, could have
taken the following principles laid down by
Lord Coke and gone into the courts and
cleaned out the whole gang of trusts and
combinations. They are so axiomatlc that
there is not Judge in the land who would
dare to disregard them. Lord Coke, in speak
ing of monopoies, says:
First, the price of the commodity VIII
be raised, for he who has the sole selling
will always make the price as he pleases;
second, after the monopoly is established
commodity is not so good and merchantable
as it was before, for the monopolist, having
the sole trade or control, always regards
private benefit before he considers beneht
to the commonwealth; third, it always has
impoverished many artisans and working
men. who, before, by the labor Of their
hands in their art or trade had maintained
themselves their families and their COM
munties, and who, after such trusts are
formed, are constrained to five in idleness
and bcggary."
The Independent proposes that the populist
party lay it down as a rule that until these
lawyers get a move on them and go into
the courts and do something to relieve the
people of the oppression of the trusts and
combinations of capital, not one OF them
shall have an office of any kind, even If we
have to elect farmers to the positions OF
judges and attorney generals. If they VIII
do their duty as officers of the court to pro-
tect the rights of the people against the
aggressions Of the concentration Of capital
I'm the Da0QS Oh lup lew, luey van h1''S 'ii
the offices as far as this writer is concerned
But until they go to work and really do
something, we are in favor OF shutting
them out-Nebraska Independent.
Our populst contemporary has hit the
nail squarely on the head. The law
yers ought to take a back seat for
while and let the farmers, merchants,
mechanics and other producers have
voice in the affairs of government.
But reform should have been begun
long ago by the reformers. Yet what
have they done? Up to date they have
injected more lawyers into office in Ne
braska than any of the old parties.
With the exception of KEN every
man elected by them to represent Ne
| braska in congress has been a lawyer
Senator Allen was a lawyer. SO are
Holcomb, Neville. the Harringtons and
nearly all the lesser and bigger popo-
| cratic lights, including William D..
| Bryan.
| If the policy of retiring lawyers to
the rear advocated by the lndepend-
ent is to be adopted, new blood will
have to be infused among the leader
| shin of the reform forces.