The advocate. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1901-1913, 1907-05-02
THE NEGRO LAWYER,
From The National Rav,aw

l -
T.: = THE NEGRO LAWYER.
From The National Review
| me Negro lawyer, In each section
on our, country. Is coming into his
oWn. Unto his own he came for
! as, ana they received him not. A
- notetut sfgn. the most hopeful sign
Ia the heavens. at the present time
IS the appreciation the great huIk ~
| negro people Is beginning to mani
rest. not In words alone hnt Nv
| oeeds, unhid and bold. for their nro.
Iesslonal element. Years ago the Me-
! gro physician and surgeon nut. the
prejudice their own had Against tn cir
services under their feet. In certain
sections OF the country this pre3udica
| was born of desire on the part Of
happy disappearing element in
the Negro race to appear smart"
| seeking always the services of white
| DOCTORS and entists, and Chilly re-
terrlng TO the skill OF their own in
tsT"s neHher> digntfied nor warrant
ed. This gold-toothed, eye-glassed
pomposity or rather idiocy, common
to the society Negro, who Is In 40
! many ways a positive disgrace and
weight to the Negro generally, is
now neither as bold nor az numerous
| as once 1T was. In other sections Of
Inc country, particularly In the
south, the prejudice dentists, sur
| geons and physicians among Negroes
| once experienced, especially in the
smaller communities, sprang more
! from fear than from a lack OF con
hdence. But to the lawyer-another
day for an essay.
| There have always been iawyers
among this people, who stood out as
men OF learning, in full enjoyment
or the perfect confidence of the en-
| tire community In which they lived
and moved. duly impressing the bar
| and bench with both their knoWl-
edge. grace and. character. Stewart.
In New York; McLged. In ,Missiasippi
la most learned and successful law.
yer; Morris. in Chicago; Settle and
| Napier, in Tennessee; Smith and Hill
In Texas; the brilliant Mollison, at
| Vtcksburg, and many another. But
until here In the last Ave years there
was never anything like proper, and
very often, deserved appreciation Of
| them on the part OF their, own kind
In the smaller cities. Personal OBJ
seryation, made in different sections
Of the country, especially In the
| South, happily, we may say, tnspir-
! tngly, conVinces, the writer that
are no more. The Negroes are look
Ing up, mot only to the proper atti-
tude towards their lawyers, but to
the urgent necessity of employing
them, and resting In them, their con-
| fidence. and morally supporting
them. The years are but few before
| the Negro lawyer shall assume his
natural sphere in the life OF his peo-
| pie, and stand out as their protector,
| even as the editor, In the not distant
| future, shall he given his place TN
their affections and, In their admira-
tion, standing out as their defender,
| and leader way beyond, reckoning
| the hosts hence! Deus Diet!
| In New York City the Negro law
| yers are many, and for the most
part, are distinct asset in the SUM
total OF their profession. They are
none the less Of service and orna-
mentation to their own. In time, and
even now, they enjoy a large measure
OF it's practice and regard, they will
| be more widely and loyalty supper
ted by their race. MILFORD II. Smith
standing at the top Of his profession
in this giant throbbing city; Doug
las Wetmore, q recent and valuable
addition; James l.. Curtis, an addi-
ton new and distinctly happy and
prepared; Cowan, for years dignity
! and service; Carr; valued member Of
the Law Department Of New York !;
| Wheaton, ELOQUENT and capable OF
finer work; Leavelle; all Of these
men and most OF their brothers are
SUI cceeding In the practice Of the
law and in educating their own to
q Just measure Of the dignity and
worth of their individual characters.
Atkins, Collins & Spurgeon, whose
senior member Is the sanest, and one
OF the most capable financiers the
Negro race has ever produced, being
treasurer and manager Of the Metro
politan Mercantile and Realty, the
Negroes greatest business organiza-
ton, are" almost wholly given over to
the work Of that company, although
they appear In other work. now and
then, and have attained high stand
ing at the bar and In the community
w. 70. Mollison Is known as the
most brilliant lawyer, without re-
gard to color, In Mississippi. He has
the respect, the admiration, OF the
entire judicial system Of the State.
As q Jury lawyer, he stands peerless.
His eloduenCe is part Of the history
OF most every circuit In the system.
E"Don't let Mollison talk last" is al
ways the wall Of opposing counsel.
He is q Latin scholar Of wide note,
and Is often consulted in the inter
| probation OF befuddling legal phra-
SEES, maxfms and laws by the judges.
He has for number Of years, ever