The Roswell daily record. [volume] (Roswell, N.M.) 1903-current, 1909-01-30
NEW YORK BAR ASSN.
MEETS At BUFFALO.

Buffalo, Jan. 28.-The ethics of the
legal profession we're sharply and
clearly defined today BY Francis
Lynde Stetson, of New York, presi-
lent of the New York Bar Associa-
ton, in an address on The Lawyers
Livelihood" before a meeting of the
bar Association here. During the
course of his speech. Mr.. Stetson
spoke of the popular resentment
against certain corporations and said
that undoU btedly there will be fur
ther experiments in legislation, both
state and federal, to the continued
repression Of business enterprises.
Mir. StetSon said:
What is the object of our activi-
ties in. the practice of law? For the
overwhelming majority of lawyers.
| there is, and there can be, but one
answer, ito gain a living. Notwith-
| standing our splendid opportunities
of public service often to be awaited
of and lever to be disregarded, the
pressing duty of most is to support
| one family and to keep u of har-
rowing debt.
But the lawyer who chooses or VINO
pursues his profession primarily, or
even principally, as a money-getter,
falls into two-fold error. First, he Sc
lectS for his purpose AN inferior in
strument, for, as already observed, in
money-making, as in the opportuni-
! ties for money-making, the lawyer
lags behind h trader of equal abili-
ty, and, second, he comprises his own
tone, and CORRESPONDENCE h stand
ing of his profession, which will be
| privileged so long, and only so long,
as it preserves it's distinction as a
learned profession. The lawyer out
classed by the merchant in h COM
petition for great riches will win only
p~atronizing condeScenSion. But if he
shall retain and maintain his tradi-
tional familiarity with the Science of
the law, entering into and shaping the
affairs of even the most resourceful
laymen, he will command and will re-
ceive from the public as we'll as from
his fellows, respectful consideration
and esteem.
TIC the mere m-oney-seeking law
yer indeed the love of money will
| prove the root of all evil.
1.-THE lawyer is bound always to ad-
wise conformity to the clear require
| mentS of every valid law. AS a
breach of this duty might involve
considerable personal Inconvenience
we may assume that it is observed
by those who are conscious of it's ex-
istence. How painful may become the
performance of this duty none know
DStIeT tHdu SOI1e Ol us WHO d1 LILIES
have been compelled to insist that at
the cost of social approbrium. the
client must tell the whole truth, or
at other times have been compelled
to declare to interpose a defense de-
sired by some tender hearted burt err
ing and distressed man or m
Whether or not a lawyer shall give
advise as to any particular transac-
tion not within the express prohibit
ton of law, or Of morals, is already
intomated, is a question of his own
judgment. But his judgment must be
exercised with a full sense of his re-
sponsibility as a man and a citizen,
and with the certain expectation of
public disapproval if his participation
shall G to be out of harmony
with his general reputation or shall
seem to involve injury to the public
interests"
Mr.. Stetson, referring to a state
ment of former Senator, of Kentucky,