The silver messenger., 1908-10-13

How they would resent the idea. the
bare idea, mind you, Of mixing in any
thing so derogatory to the Bench. tc
the sacred Bench, as politics. AS for
listening to the suggestion of who
would be a good man for clerk, OF
who might be glad to get a Job as
balm for his night and day services
for months. tut, tut, think of the
"ermine," think of the sanctity that
doth surround Judge.
But bless you, when the time began
to swing around for another election.
how easily and sincerely these good
men forgot all about that assumption
of aloofness and political chastity.
You would meet them in the little
petty back halls in the various wards.
at the downtown meetings and at the
clubs, and they always remembered
you or you were active in the party
and they always had a choice lot of
gun" about the principles OF the
party which, translated into the YER
naeular meant: Il want to hold on to
my job" Why, these fellows were
occasionally the most ungrateful and
palpably hypocritical Skates" ever
met. The most ordinary ward work
er" could see through such a game as
this without a second glance.
OF course the corporation counsers
office, with a bunch of assistants, was
a fruitful place for a bestowal of
legal jobs. 1t had many tough legal
nut to crack, and was a busy office.
Being right in the lime-light, and with
SO many matters of Importance, the
head of the office had to be somebody
who could do more than put up a bold
front" He had to be a lawyer, and
he was generally a good one. But
while this was a necessity, and while
he had to have several live, able as
sistants, he could appoint, by way of
helping out the party, a number of
assistant corporation counsels, who
could be consulted" occasionally and
draw their salaries without going into
'brain-storms" with fatigue. The num-
Der of corporation counsels the "traf-
fic" would bear varied with different
administrations. Some corporation
counsels pared 1t down to actual ne
cessities, so far as possible. Others
expanded the list until it threatened
to stretch out "to the crack of DOOM"
The city attorneys Office, being an
elective one, was a plum eagerly
sought by the more active of the pure
ly political attorneys. He had a num-
Der Of positions under him of assis-
tants in the running of the office, and
these places were regularly filled from
the legal ranks of the party. Here,
then, were more inches to be filled up
with legal timber; and if young poll
tician had been admitted to the bar
ne had chance of going in and get
ting salary from the start and an op-
portunity for experience which would
be invaluable to him. All the city at
-orneys | ever knew were orators, ex-
,epting one. They were all active in
party work and party councils, and |
graduated from this Office
either to higher political positions or
o positions with big corporations if
hey CHANGED to develop unusual ca
'acity as lawyers.
There were other departments, often
'ppointive, where legal talent was re-
luired, and there was always some
political attorney ready at the drop"
If an interview to shoulder the white
mans burden and take hack" at the
ity treasury. 1t is a noticeable fact
hat lawyers as a rule Il don't say
because l am one myself are hon
st in the practice of their profession.
mean by this that they don't en-
'ezzle money and prove unfaithful