The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1908-08-12

Y
IND a politician. II did not neet
~ an acquaintance with praetica
politics to know that the mem
bers OF my profession we're aetiv,
participants in the game. But AZ
time went on l was surprised tc
md the vast and farreaching innu
ence that they welded. If a man
really sets out 10 make politics
mis- profession, he would better first
study law and get admitted TO the bar
Ihe average popular impression Of a
lawyer In the submerged tenth" at
mosphere Of political surroundings. is
that he is "a confidence man. But
IN that environment this Is considered
as valuable asset. To be Slick" ."
smooth" TO be hailed as a "schemer"
hy this contingent is to have its most
profound homage. In such labyrinths
of the political catacombs their idea
or lawyer is a man who can make a
good talk and twist the law any way
TO suit the necessities Of the occasion.
But he Is always man to be looked
up to and consulted with.
The result Of this outlook on the
legal profession is to send various
young fellows to the law colleges. and
to the private offices Of fullhedged at.
forneys, in their endeavor to get adj
mltted to practice and have the right
70 hang ont a shingle." II they are
Of foreign nationality they readily ac-
qaire a knowledge Of the English Ian.
guage, and can, Of course, speak their
own native tongue. in this way they
used to pick up little practice hang
Ing around the courrooms Of the ius
uces Of the peace, particularly the DO.
lice magistrates. In those days they
DID not even need a license to practice
before a justice. And all the time they
were mixing in the primary fights, get.
ting on tho delegate tickets, running
Tor the legislature q little later on. and
even making bold "stabs' at getting
the nomination for state senators. /
ran across them in every direction
and most Of them were almost entirely
innocent OF any legal knowledge. "The
rule in Shelley's case" was no differ.
ent to them from the rule in any fel.
lows case. No reason why Shelley"
should have ANY the best Of itlp
But weren't they "hustlersi" A lot
OF them were studying law" few Of
them were admitted by favor Of a GER
tiiicate from one OF the legal mills"
otherwise known as law colleges. and
some others were practcing before
the justices on the "catch-as-catch-canp
plan Of professional ethics. and de.
pending on what is popularity known
as pull" or drag" to get their clients
on. Each justice knew about how
much influence q petitioner for anyone
mad who appeared before him. If II
was lawyer who was also an alder.
man tquite frequent occurrence).
the course Of justice was extremely
apt to be tempered with mercy" to saw
the least Fines were suspended" on
future good behaviour, men let go on
their personal recognizance." fines
We're made as low as the law allowed
and other fayors bestowed on many
of these legal lights. An alderman
who was a lawyer was expected to mt
in his time for nothing. depending on
future political favors for his reward
There was very little money in IT for
him.
The candidates for the legislature
We're occasionally numerous as legal
aspirants. Each one Of them knew
that when he got down to Spring.
field he would bump up" against ali
sorts Of legal talent: country LAWYERS
as shrewd as they make them. "slnged
cats" not SO much for looks. but
erattier than all get-out." So the
stepping-stone par excellence for law.
preference was to be a mem.
Der Of the bar When they reached
the legislature they either got in with
the "grafters" if there happened to
be grafters in that session of the MS.
sembly, or stayed on the outs de and |
put IN their efforts for just legislation.
IN the city, the lawyers had Of ne
eessity the choice Of all judicial of. |
ices Chief among these wese the
ludgeshins, and once a lawyer was |
elected judge he could usually retain |
me position for another term oftap !
Tor several terms. But he would not |
play politics" until along about time
Tor an election to take place. It
rather amused, and sometimes dis.
susted, me to see the patent hypocrisy
y these members Of the judiciary. Be
ore getting the chance to run thev
'ast dignity to the winds and were ont
liter the nomination as hot as Her.
'ules. They would get young fellows
Q chase around helping them drum M
support in the bar primary "a sort
u kissing gees by favor" expression
= the Bar association'0, and they
we're not at all too proud to shake
lands with perspiring ward workers
ma bosses" and even laugh at stale
leasantries about the outlook. But
On! What a difference in the morn
ng the morning after election
aean-if they happened to get elected
'tter the first flush Of Joy Ia victory
ad passed away, how the dignity of
nelf position would pnveion thav,s Mo..a