The San Francisco call., 1905-04-16
Ceremonies Cut
Short by Heavy
DoWnpour.
Famous Lawyer IS
EuIogized by D.
M DeInas
Prominent Men. of
Bench and Bar
Are Present.

exhibit to the eye of the present and
of future generations of lawyers
visible representation of him whose
manner of advocacy it might well be
their highest study to learn to copy,
whose career it might well be their
loftiest ambition to seek to emulate.
Thus much, at least, shall be-has
already been done. In the statue
which we unveil to the public gaze to-
day the genius of the sculptor has re-
produced the outward semblance-I
, had almost said the living form-of
Hall McAllister.
1T may not. therefore, be deemed
an inappropriate part of the present
ceremonial that those who were his
contemporaries should tell what it
was that constituted the handspring
of Hall McAllister's success as an ad-
vocate.
UNDISPUTED LEADER.
But first let the extent and scope
of that success be measured. When
he closed his eyes in his stately man.
sion at Miramonte on the 1st of De-
cember, 1898, Hall McAllister had
been the undisputed leader of the bar
of California for over quarter of a
century. During that period not only
had this coast attracted here lawyers
of the highest eminence from every
part of the Union, but the cosmopoli-
tan composition of its population, the
diversified activities of it's inhabitants,
the variety and novelty of the legal
problems presented by the foreign ori-
gin of it's land titles, the peculiar
condition of its mineral wealth. the
unprecedented local character of its
laws. opened UP new realms of lit
igation unknown and unexplored in
other communities. To be the fore
most advocate at this bar during that
period meant the ability to engage
indiscriminately in rapid succession
in any contest which might arise any
where over this vast realm of ever
varying contention. The position held
by Hall McAllister had as its chief
sanction the fact that this he could
do and did for over thirty years.
What was the source of this mar
velous versatility? Those who have
the amplest opportunities of studying
his methods will with one accord pro-
claim that the secret of his success
lay in an almost boundless natural
capacity for work, disposition and
will to tax that capacity to its utter
most and the consummate art of ex-
erting it to the best conceivable ad-
vantage.
1T may be confidently asserted
that during the years of his practice
no man in the State, whatever his vo-
cation, worked as hard as did he.
RESULTS OF PATIENT LABOR
The results of this patient labor
were manifested in the open contests
before the court. Never were causes
tried with more absolute system.
I'm public affairs he took no part.
Public occasions for the display of his
abilities he studiously and vigorously
avoided. And yet his powers of elo-
quence were of the very first rank
of forensic eloquence, be 1t said AL
ways calm, almost judicial in its meas
ured course, his speech while address,
ing court or jury moved forward with
easy grace. Its tone was never low
cred. 1t never derogated from the
dignity which beseems a man of
education and refinement. Never ex-
travagant, and always aiming at d.
rectness and plainness, 1t was always
sufficiently adorned to rescue 1t from
tameness. Thus conceived 1t had, of
course, its unavoidable limitations.
The spell which the genius of Prentiss
could throw over a jury it was not his
to cast, the inspiration which burned
in whirlwind fire the captive hearts
and minds of stern New Englanders
was not his. To such gifts he would
have been the last to lay claim. His
was the language calculated to win
the confidence of practical men Of af-
fairs-of such men as in his day con-
stituted the juries Of this city.
II have said enough, II I have sue
ceeded In showing, however imper-
fectIy, that the lesson which the ca
reer of Hall McAllister inculcates is
that the highest prizes of the law lie
within the reach of those who, by un-
swerving devotion and unremitting
toll, devote their lives to their attain
ment.
Therefore It Is that to the city in
which his life was spent and in which
his ashes repose and to the State, we
now dedicate, for time and for etern-
ity, this statue of Hall McAllister."
The statue is life size and is cast
in bronze. It rests upon a granite
pedestal eight feet high, upon which
is the following inscription,
HALL McALLISTER,
LEADER OF THE CALIFORNIA
BAR.
LEARNED, ELOQUENT, UNTTRING.
A FEAET .FSS ADUOCsATr