The age-herald., 1899-07-04
ROOSEVELT AD.IsEs YoUN4ILAwYERs

Il. l. Cleveland in Chicago Times-Herald.
 Some years ago when Governor Roosevelt was at Columbia law school an associate or ms was young man from St. Paul. hlf'n., who was very anxious to make a successful start in life, and vet was uncer- tam Just now to begin when he should have graduated. He admired the character of Roosevelt and determined to seek his ad- vice. One day, meeting him, he said:
 have chosen the law for my profession, ana wish to commence practice in the city in which I was raised. l have friends there, but also many competitors, old and established lawyers, and l am afraid that may not have the courage to wait for business or even to develop it. I shall start my practice with very little money, but I need advice more than money. Can you help me?'
 Roosevelt carefully questioned him as to the character of the city, the class his friends belonged to, and some other points, and then said to him:
 If were you I would, on reaching home and hanging out my shingle get case I don't care how you get it. Your own wits ought to find one case at least which no other lawyer has. I wouldn't take justice shop case, either. I'd find a case that was right up in the regular courts and which possessed some merit. I wouldn't take it for nothing, either, or on a contingency I IL. other words, I would have as many respect able features attached to the case as possi- ble under the circumstances.
 
 Having got that case" continued Roose- welt, 'I would try it as if it were the last case I ever expected to have or which would ever be in the courts. I would not make nuisance of myself. You know enough to avoid that but you can be so persistent that you will win the respect of everyone who in any way comes into con- nection with the trial. Put all of yourself in the case. Get every side of it, and above all things hammer it into your client by the force of your actions that your integri- ty is above reproach When you get done with that case you will have a reputation that many lawyers waste years in other ways trying to obtain. You will find that a second case is certain to come to you whether you lose or win the first one
 
 "I would treat the second case" he con- tinued, just as I did the first one. Live and act as if there was never such case in existence before. and master it just as you are required to master your studies here. If you find yourself weakening at all use the spur and the whip until you have created an enthusiasm in your work that imparts itself to client, court and jury and results in your victory"
 He paused after saying this and the young man ventured to ask:
 How about the third case?' "Go at it in the same way" was the re- ply. "And for that matter, as your patron- age increases give the same treatment to all your cases, Ton will create a confidence in yourself that will insure you a constant practice.and your clients, once secured, will never leave you.
 Enthusiasm in work is the best antidote for no patronage that I know of for any professional man. In fact the rule applies to every walk of life If your heart is in what you have to do. no matter how small the undertaking. the greater things are cer- tain to come to you. and in rich reward" It so happened that the first case which this young man ever had to try involved at the time a technical point, not first noticed by him. which it would necessitate the United States supreme court to pass upon. He put what he called "Roosevelt's enthu- siasm" into the case, found the technlcality carried it through all the courts of the state, took it to the highest tribunal and won. The case made his reputation and fortune. It earned for also the title of being the most ''disagreeable persistent" lawyer that the old bar had yet encountered. But after all he was only an exemplfication of what Roosevelt is himself-the strenuous man.