The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1908-02-12

Editorial in The State.

Senator Appelt was jumped upon in the
senate yesterday. We are Informed by those
present that The tongue. lashing administered
by irate lawyers was good and hard" The
Clarendon senator seems 10 have borne the
assault with meekncss, but upon reading that
10 which Cffepse was taken we can not see
wherein Mr.. Appelt did any man injustice, or
loVerstepped the proprieties.
In an editorial in his paper, the Manning
Times. Mr.. Applet recited the fact, that an at
| tempt has been made 10 work up sentiment
against Attorney General Lyon for employ
| Ing Georgia lawyer In his hunt for grafters
| Then the senator says that this Atlanta at
torney will expose the names OF mem bers OF
he general assembly who attempt TO us
concerns TO thwart the legislation necessary
| to uphold Attorney General Lyons hands.
| Information has already been obtained sufi-
Client TO place some men in q very undesira-
BILE attitude before the people,"
We do not know what evidence the dispep-
sery com mission has obtained or IL going TO
make public, but 1t is current report that
there was active opposition on the part OF at
torneys for liquor houses and for alleged
grafters to the appropriation OF money for the
prosecution OF grafters and further investiga-
tion OF graft.
A lawyer may believe he is justified in ac-
ceptlng any case offered TO hun, and in duty
bound TO defend the vlest criminal and
plead his innocence, kno wing him to be vile
can say nothing, except to question his ethi.
ical taste, and to predict that such belief by
some is what has already lowered III stand.
ard OF great profession, and that II It be-
comes general, will bring more dscredit up.
on the Bar. But while people are not able to
say what lawyer In his office shall do, they
can say what a lawyer in the legislature or In
Congress shall not do and public opinion all
over this country is pretty we'll crystaliZed
on the subject OF paid attorneys working as
lawmakers for legislation advantageous 10
heir clients. How does Tom Platt stand be-
tore the country :? Plat may believe With all
the sincerity and honesty Of which he Ia ca
pabie that his exr ress com pany Is deserving
of certain rights and privileges. but when he
lights the parcels post In the senate, he IL u.s.
ing his official position to oppose that which
will be in the interest OF the public, but ipju.
rious to the express companies. ls Plat
| worthy senator2 None respect him any
where. Now, then, member OF the legisla-
| ture may be honestly opposed 10 seeking
more graft, and prosecuting those already
charged with defrauding the commonwealth,
| but when lawyers retained by those a lleged
erafters and by the lisuor houses subject to
! in vestigation. are members Of the legislature
and fight the efforts of the legal department
Of the State to get money with which 10 con.
tuue its campaign against corruption. they
are offending the peoples conception of clean
| legislation they violate well-recogDiZed
standard OF ethics. They will be certainly
condemned by the public. and they can not nc,
| lhority In the country on the proper conduct
OF the lawyer.legislator.
Senator Weston said something about not
|
pers. Quite commendable we should dislike Q
doing 70 ourselves. But the rule Of conduct
referred to above is not omulgated BY
| newspapers 1t is laid down by good morals.
ard OF sound ethics II seems to us that good
lpeople have cause to thank God for news
papers.
The attack upon Senator Appelt. as we read
| between the lines, was not intended 30 much
against the offending editor as 1t was to scare
of timid editors, If there are such, and to put
others on notice as to what they might ex-
pect, II they attempt to criticise a lawyer
while sitting in the Senate, while attorney
for liquor men in their dispute with the State
as to the justice Of their claims.
Without question In our mind, such men
should be either one thing or another. 1t has
not been explained how q man can represent
the..S State while at the same time represent
| Ing the liquor claimants.
There are more than forty Senators. OF
this number some four or five became greatly
excited. One man introduced resolution
condemnatory of Senator Appelt and calling
for proof or Investigation Of his assertions
but for some reason which We do not under.
stand, he withdrew 1t, We are left to In fer
that the momentary ebulition had settled, OF
that there was fear Of an unfavorable vote
or that more ugly things might be said by ed
itors.
The contempt expressed OF newspapers un'
der certain circumstances, is some mems only
refuge. But man is something more or less
than man, If he Is Indifferent to newspaper
criticism. Aside from all this, we think an
unbiased jury would award credit to editors
for being as good and as patriotic as their as
sailants.
Mr.. Dawson once said that anybody could
sit in the United States Senate, but 1t wasn',
every man who could edit the News and
| Courier.
That there should be an entire separation
| from the State and such individuals, corpora
tlons and others whose interests conflict with
that OF the State, the Legislature itself puts
as small thing as railroad passes under the
ban, fearing that this slight advantage may
influence some weak Legislator, and yet q
lawyer may receive, not a railroad pass. but