Arizona republican., 1906-11-25
lCopyrighted. isOsl

larger proportion, of our statesmen ano
 other public characters have practiced
 at the bar; and because the attorney
 at-law, or the lawyer. as he Is com
 monly called. Is apt to acQuire some-
 prominence. and seems to be closely
 associated with public office. the le.
 gal profession is looked upon as the
 leader of all the professions, and as of-
 fering the best opportunity for local
 state or national advancement and
 fame. Certainly the successful lawyer
 is universally recognized and respected,
 and no doubt his calling offers to him
 great opportunity for general ad
 vSncement in almost every branch of
 public life and office holding honor,
 than Is presented, all things being
 equal, to members of any other calling,
 The training of the law school, and
 the experience before the bar will
 usually make a good speaker out of
 anyone who has a fair amount of ca
 pscity for delivery. The lawyer. in the
 practice of his profession. is obliged
 to think quickly. and to think upon
 his feet IL is but natural then that he
 should become a good speaker, if he
 has any natural ability in that direc-
 ton. and it is obvious that good speak
 ing is an essential part of public life
 Granting that ;he bar unquestion-
 ably presents the greatest opportunity for noticeable success. and admitting
 that more than one-half of the men who have been, and are, in the public
 eye. are lawyers. yet the law in itself
 does not, aud can not, make the man:
 raFNr gW Ag any prominence, honor, notoriety, or intrinsic benefit. which the man. him
 self. does not deserve It is the man behind the law which makes the man and is responsible for his advance
 ment. The law and the man are distinct propositions. The able man who is not of the legal profession may not have as sure and easy a road to distinction, and it may be more dif- ficult for him to acquire the same amount of prominence which he would obtain with the same exertion were he a member of the bar; but for all that. It IS the man that progresses. the law being but a means to an end. an ac- cessory to success.
 The mediocre lawyer is not respect ed. He is invariably looked down upon and despised; and his profession offers to him absolutely no opportunity for more than subordinate advance ment- The great lawyer would be a great man in another calling. because he has in him the stuff which makes greatness. He is great anyway-fund- amentally great great in himself. The law may have made it easier for him to realize his greatness and to attain an honorable position. The law sim ply offered an opportunity for the right kind of man to help himself.
 Almost anyone or ordinary ability can become a lawyer: that is to say. ne can by close study, pass the neces- sary examinations and become a mem Der of the bar. The law school does not, and can not. go farther than to require written or oral examination; and if the candidate passes this ex animation by correctly answering technical questions. the school must necessarily present him with a diploma. and the state and national bar will liAe"lse admit him to practice. But a | khowiedge of the law does not make | lawyer any more than q knowledge | ot theology fits a man to become 4 1 clergyman. Unless the legal knowl- 1 edge is accompanied by the ability to l use that requirement, its possesso. mas no attachments of any value to | or to anyone else. Knowl- sdge stored in mind incapabIe n; distributing it is like so much unavaiI- ible junk, not worth its storage room
 It has been derisively said that there s lawyer to every case: but this is 'Naggeration. It is a fact. neverthe- ess' that the supply of lawyers. and wen of good lawyers. much exceeds he demand; and that seventy-five per 'ent of them, not excepting those of my class or grade save the highest. hieht easily be excused from practic- ng their profession. There is room md plenty of room, at the top. The | op never has been, and never will be. rowoed, in the law or in anything lse.
 mere IS also much room few steps rom the top, for even the upper rungs ave not been fully filled. To reach the op, or To get near the top. with the uperabundance of judicial minds now eiore the public-successfully meeting ms terrific competition-is almost as iincult as shovelling water up hill.
 mere are few geniuses today. aI- hough there are more geniuses now | nan there were yesterday. But we h lust look at things as the averages Z ln, not as the exceptions Hash. Only , ne genus. the great genius, can be at z ne top Of the, or at the top of any ( lher profession, or business. or trade. f therefore the boy must picture his f respects In the light of the average. i ot as they may appear in the flashes f [ the exception. and he must consider ach prospective calling in the light of S le results shown by the average per- T lns who have entered it.
 The lawyer at the top is at the very f pex of eminence. The lawyer near y ie top occupies a prominent position. q he lawyer in the middle Of the lad T er IS a man of recognized success he lawyer at the bottom if he stays q lere, IS the laughing-stock of his q lends. if he has any; is recognized 2 owhere. and practically amounts to a 1thlng. There is no other profession hlch offers so much and sc little in a e way of prominence and fame. ii There Is no easy road to legal emi- a 'nce. The goal can not be reached i series of jumps It Is hilrd work n
 the start. and hard work all along n