The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-06-22
OLD ONES MUST ANSWER.
State Board Of Legal Examiners
FormuIates a New Rule.


The state board of legal examiners
has formulated a new rule. It is that
all persons desiring to practice law in
Kansas must take an examination
whether they have been practicing in
OLner states or not If, however. they
can show that they have been in actual
practice before the highest tribunal of
some other state for at least three
years, and have used the law as a pro-
IesslOn and not as a side line, they con-
stitute class BY themselves and will
not be put through the same examina-
tion that IS given beginners. Here is
the rule:
'An applicants who shall be other
wise qualified. and who have been ad-
mitted TO practice in the highest court
IN another Jurisdiction and have prac-
Uced there continuously for a period of
tnree years or more, and continued to
practice there or elsewhere uD to the
time OF making application here. shall
constitute class and be examined sep
arateiy, IN such manner as the board
may determine"
There were seven applicants who
came under this class before the board
OF examiners Tuesday. This is the first
time that has happened, and the new
rule was made 10 1T their cases Del
valentine clerk Of the supreme court
says that if supreme justice from
another state should come into Kansas
TO practice law he would have to take
some sort of an examination Just the
same. The bunch of seven Tuesday
We're let off with an oral examination
out the board can give any kind Of an
examination il sees fit. These seven
were Frank L. Slaughter of Kinsley. j.
~ Shea of independence H H Mont
gomery OF Sedan, ]. c. Horn of Garden
City, J. E. F. MCGEE of INDEPENDENCE
Herman Long of Wa-Keeney and d. H.
> Davis of Independence.
slaughter came from Iowa a few
months ago. He practfced law there
for seven years, but. sold out two or
I hnG =
considerably since He visited Kinsley
several months ago and got acquainted
with Fred Dumont Smith. Smith want
ed Slaughter to locate in KinsIey and
go into partnership with him. He Of
Tered TO see that Slaughter was nomi-
mated for county attorney by the Re
pubhcans this summer If he would
4 form the partnership. Slaughter agreed
I and Smith carried out mis- promise.
1 Slaughter is already the Republican
nominee for county attorney. Recently
the proposition was sprung on him by
the Popuists and Democrats that while
l he practiced law in Iowa he has never
been admitted to the bar in Kansas.
/ The only thing for him to do was TO
\ SUBMIT nlnselr Tor an examination be-
/ fore the state board of legal examiners,
/ which he did. It is known that these
exaTninatio are by no means easy.
/ and Slaughter's hair has been standing
on end for fear he would not get
| through, but it is said today that he is
safe.
The process of becoming admitted to
the bar is not the joke it was before
/ the new law went into effect placing
/ admission in the hands of the supreme
/ court and requiring applicants to take
/ an examination before a state board
! The board puts the applicants through
severe tests. not only in book law 81
I the kind they get in the text books, but
the examiners watch the court reports
for intricate problems on which courts
themselves study for months and Their
disagree.
Il doubt If most of the old lawyer.
could pass a first-class examination OF
| the questions submitted said Del Val
/ entine today. They would get caught
on the book law. After a man has beer
practicing for Is or 20 years he is ap
to get rusty on the things in the text
books that the young law student.
know all about
On the other hand the catch question:
which make the supreme court judges
study for weeks are apt to worry thu
young applicants into a state Of nerv
Gus collapse. Fortunately no weighty
matters rest on the decisions they hanC
down.
For instance, here is problem sub
mitted Tuesday which is a parallel cas-.
with the Orient-Santa Fe litigation il
n Lyon county:
The Electric Railway company own
certain lands in Topeka which are nee
essary for its own use The A T. & S
F. Railway company desires the sam,
premises, and begins condemnation
i proceedings, alleging that they are alb
solutely necessary for its use. VIVA
will be the Judgment
This problem has already been befor
the supreme court two or three times
/ Here is a question in practical polite
which some of the applicants may b
called on to solve in real life. the wal
politics in Kansas is drifting:
A and 3. are both candidates TO
appointment to an Office having a sal