The Washington times., 1902-05-21
Senator Deliver to Grad
yates of Washington
College.
ANNUAL CLOSING EXERCISES
Tells Them They Know Little or Nothing
Upon Leaving School and Have to Get
knowledge by Brushing Up Against
World-Settle in Growing West.

last night addressed the graduates of the
Washington College CT Law and large
audience OF their friends at their COM
,nenceIaent exercises held at the National
Rifles Armory.
The class, which was the fourth TO
graduate from the school, was composed
principally of ladies. who decided to
adopt the legal profession as their life
work
The hall was tastefully decorated, aud
the stage was banked high with palms
and exquisite floral decorations. The as
semblage comprised the relatives and
friends Of the graduates, and the ovations
given each of the students as they wax
ed forward to receive their diplomas were
most hearty and enthusiastic.
In his address Senator Dolliver highly
complimented the class and expressed his
hope and belief that its members would
eventually attain prominence in their
chosen profession. He strongly advocated
the policy of young lawyers deserving the
already overcrowded Eastern cities and
establishing themselves In the growing
West. He also voiced his own conviction
that the day is fast approaching when
women will have the opportunity to rise
in all professions to an equal with men.
Senator Dolliver said In part:
1T is very great pleasure for me to
you in these commencement exercises.
81 have had considerable trouble in de-
Gliding what ought to say to you. After
1 had consented to talk to you, the COM
mittee came -timidiy back to me and re-
quested chat 1 should not conduct my
little speech according to the prevailing
rules Of the Senate and House.
Man With the Pencil.
The profession of the law has become
one Of the most Intellectually prominent
professions In the world. II requires its
followers to have great force and a fin.
command Of the English language. Every
time lawyer Rises to plead a case now
adays. there is. the Indispensable man
with the pencil,i right at his elbow, TAX
ing down his Words in black and white
Such conditions require the lawyer who
would be SUCCESSFUL to have his facts at
his finger tipE and present them clearly
and forcfbly. without fear of their being
repeated.
The study Of law is not 20 much the
preparation CT great lawyers. The law
schools I'M themselves are OF little practi-
cal value If had my way would do
away with most Of the schools in favor
of the actual practice in law office. The
schools. at best. do not make lawyers.
Nv nj w I'M tpG1 Mt
case ought to be conducted. After gradu-
alton the embryo lawyer must rub up
against the world and its stern realities
This will give him an understanding of
what the great bustling world of today
requires and bring with II broadening
Of the ideas and knowledge that has been
gained in the class room.
You can fill your heads chock full of
book learning and school room notions,
but by the time you've been out in the
world six months you will have forgotten
nearly everything you learned. When l
was a boy l attended the little country
school where lived. Among other things
/ learned while there was great mass
Of geography. We had an enormous
geography book. and J mastered every
thing in 1t, from beginning TO end. That
was a great achievement in those parts
and ] was duly proud OF II. But I had
before l had forgotten everything in that
precious book. and was just about as igno-
rant as before.
Vast Amount of Details.
1.-THE trouble lay in the fact that we
had been obliged to master a vast amount
OF details without knowing the funda-
mental principles. / had learned that
in ~; v,,1<r bod nd IA
ital at Damascus: but had not learned
why he did it, where Damascus was. or
any OF the main facts regarding the event
But when the budding lawyer has re-
ceived his sheepskin and stepped out into
the world of realities continued sena-
tor Dolliver. he plants himself in a lit
tie hole Of an Office in a great city, al
ready far overcrowded with lawyers, Just
as soon as he can get his little sign struck
of. Every year there are 5000 or 5000
men graduating from colleges of law
throughout the country. With compare
lively few exceptions. this vast army
plants itself in the modern catacombs OF
small Offices in great cities. Here they
either dry up and slowly sink into total
obscurity or, like William Mckinley
emerge with the experience and princi-
pies that will subsequently, place them in
the ranks of the country's great.
my advice to the embryo lawyer is to
shun the large cities, where he will be
passed by, and go out into the undeveiopad
towns, where he can familiarize himself
with conditions and grow up with the
country. Thousands of young people are
sinking in the mlre in big cities every
year who might easily succeed in less
crowded parts of the country
And TO you young ladies' who have
just completed your course in the study
Of law / offer my most sincere con-
CALCULATIONS. You have done nobly, and
! heartily wish you success. There is no
reason in the world that ] can see why
you SHOULD not be successful in your
work. much so as the men. The time
Is rapidly coming when women will have
a splendid opportunity to show what
they can do. There is only ono standard
that amounts to anything In the world in
my estimation. and that is the standard
that counts the ability OF men and wom-
en- as equal. Women are rapidly com
1ng to the front In all conceivable pro-
LESSONS and trades that few years ago !
were considered the sole property Of the |
on taxing q text. l am not one OF the |
the time to come when they will have
sust as much right to preach the gospel |
and practice law as men.
Better Get Married, Young Women.
But must confess that have somc-
what old-fashioned IDEAS on this subject. |