The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1901-05-21
He LIKES POLITICS
Young Lawyer Shows How
Politicians Are Made.
LOOKING FOR RESULTS
Usually Have an interest in
judicial Elections.

Vermillion Harris is one OF the most
earnest students of the law in this city.
His father and his grandfather were
lawyers, and it comes natural to Yer
million Like Abe Lincoln he is modest
and looks at things IN common sense
way. A reporter for the Eagle found Mr..
Harris In his Office yesterday and asked
him to explain why young lawyers
nearly always manage TO get into poll
tics. He put his elbows on his knees
and crossing his fingers proceeded 10
explain as follows:
why do young lawyers become inter
ested in politics?" you ask. Most people
would answer you: To get in Office.
But that is not always the truth. and is
never the whole truth, is never the only
reason.
The game of politics. that is the pri-
mary, the convention, the campaign and
the election, is amusing, interesting and
instructive; but what is commonly called
the result Of an election does not inter
est a lawyer as do the effects and con-
sequences of the result. For instance.
in the last election of 1860. the lawyers
of this state were interested more in the
amendment with regard TO the judiciary
Of Kansas than in the candidates for
the governorship. We INDUCED in much
speculation as to whom would be the
new judges. the new lawmakers. Case
law, by that I mean decisions of the
supreme court, has to be learned by a
young lawyer as well as statutes.
"a young man reads text books and
learns the elementary principles of law:
then he has just begun. Besides the re-
ported cases and statutes to be read and
studied, there are decisions being handed
down to us every day; and at each ses-
sion Of the legislature old statutes are
repealed and new ones enacted. Do you
wonder we are interested in judges and
legislators and their creator. politics?
Speaking of judges. met a man the
other day who did not know the name Of
the chief justice of the supreme court
of the United States. That astounded me.
Presidents of our country, not wishing
to tread upon precedent, have not in
vaded isles cleared for the chief justice
of the highest tribunal Of this land;
but have waited until he passed from
his chambers TO the bench.
"'That there are other reasons why a
young lawyer Identifies himself with
a political party, I will admit. AS a
member of a party he is enabled TO let
his fellow citizens know he is on earth.
Champ Clark has said every American
likes to make a speech. need not tell
you that young lawyer is not so modest
as to be an exception to the rule. on
the stump he can talk; talk about any
thing, everything and nothing. He is not
confined by any rules of evidence; he IS
circumscribed only by the boundaries
of his imag ination- On the stump he
can show the people how much he knows
or does not know, IS the case may be.
"But do not misunderstood me. Il the
practice Of law, though the mind of
lawyer is chameleon-like, such it is not
in the study of politics and the cause,
economies. Lord Brougham said it is
the duty OF lawyer TO assist mankind
in difficulty, as 10 minister unto the
afflicted is the duty of doctor. But
in his decision of an economic question
a man is answerable to nsught but his
conscience. A young lawyer Of the Re
publican faith rejoiced in the election
of Mckinley to the presidency because he
represented principles of Republicanism,
just as I would rejoice IL David 3. Hill
were elected to that Office, for he stands
for principles Of Democracy