The silver messenger., 1908-10-13

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politics to know that the mem
bers of my profession were active
participants in the game. But as
time went on | was surprised to
md the vast and far-reaching influ-
ence that they welded. IL a man
really sets out to make politics
his profession, he would better first
study law and get admitted to the bar.
The 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"
by this contingent is to have its most
profound homage. In such labyrinths
OF the political catacombs their idea
OF a 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 a 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 full-hedged at
torneys, in their endeavor to get ad-
mitted to practice and have the right
to hang out shingle." If they are
OF foreign nationality they readily ac-
quire a knowledge of the English Ian
guage, and can, of course, speak their
own native tongue. In this way they
used n IN n
Ing around the courtrooms of the JUS
tices of the peace, particularly the DO
lice magistrates. In those days they
did not even need a license to practice
before Justice. And all the time they
were mixing in the primary fights, get
ting on the delegate tickets, running
for the legislature 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 fell
lows case. No reason why Shelley"
should have ANY the best of it,"
But weren't they "hustlers!" A lot
of them were studying law" few of
them were admitted by favor of GER
tificate from one of the legal mills"
otherwise known as law colleges, and
some others were practicing before |
the justices on the "catch-as-catch-can
plan of professional ethics, and de-
pending on what is popularly known
as pull or drag" to get their clients
on. Each justice knew about how
much influence a petitioner for anyone
had who appeared before him. If it
was a lawyer who was also an alder
man (quite a frequent occurrence),
the course of justice was extremely
apt to be tempered with mercy" to say
The least. Fines were suspended" on
future good behaviour, men let go on
their personal recognizance," fines
were made as low as the law allowed.
and other favors bestowed on many
of these legal lights. An alderman
who was lawyer was expected to put
n his time for nothing, depending on
'uture political favors for his reward.
There was very little money in 1t for
lim
The candidates for the legislature
we're occasionally numerous as legal
lspirants. Each one of them knew
hat when he got down to Spring
ield he would bump up" against all
iorts OF legal talent; country lawyers
IS shrewd as they make them, "slnged
ats" not so much for looks, but
'raftier than "all get-out." So the
tepping-stone par excellence for law
making preference was to be a men,
Ter of the bar. When they reached
he legislature they either got in with
he "grafters," II there happened to
'e grafters In that session of the as
embly, or stayed on the outside and
tut In their efforts for just legislation.
In the city. the lawyers had Of ne
'essity the choice of all judicial of.
Ices, Chief among these were the
udgeships, and once a lawyer was
elected judge he could usually retain
he position for another term, often
or several terms, But he would not
play politics" until along about time
or an election to take place. 1t
ather amused. and sometimes dis.
'usted, me to see the patent hypocrisy
II these members of the judiciary. Be
ore getting the chance to run they
'ast dignity to the winds and were out
'fter the nomination as hot as Her.
'ules. They would get young fellows
o chase around helping them drum up
support in the bar primary "a sort
II kissing goes by favor" expression
" the Bar association), and they
we're not at all too proud to shake
lands with perspiring ward workers
md BOSSES" and even laugh at stale
'leasantries about the outlook, But
oh! What difference in the morn.
ng"-the morning after election,
nean-if they happened to get elected
After the first flush of Joy in victory
lad passed away, how the dignity of
heir position would envelop them and
'nfold them and swathe them with
layers of self-esteem until
hey could swell up and out no longer.