Omaha daily bee., 1909-01-31
PLEA FOR HIGHER ETHICS
Bar Association President Discusses
Reform Of Corporations.
ORGANIZATIONS MAY NOT BE EVIL
Protection Not to he Found In More
Legislation, but in a Higher
standard of Right
e~ousness.

BUFFALO, Jan. S0.-The ethics of the
legal profession we're sharply and clearly
defined by Francis Lynde Stetson OF
New York. president OF the New York
State Bar association, in an address on
The Lawyers Livelihood" before a meet
ing Of the bar association here. During
the course of his speech, Mr.. Stetson spoke
Of the popular resentment against certain
corporations and said that undoubtedly
there will be further experiments in legis-
lation. both state and federal, to the con-
tinued repression of business enterprise.
MIR. Stetson said:
What is the object Of our activities in
the practice of law? For the overwhelming
majority of lawyers there is and there can
be but one answer ito gain a living y
Notwithstanding our splendid opportuni-
ties of public service often to be availed
of and never to be disregarded, the press
ing duty of most is TO support ones. fam
lily and to keep out OF narrowing debt.
But the lawyer who chooses or who pur-
sues his profession primarily, or even prin-
cipally as a money. getter. falls into two
fold error. First, he selects for his pur-
pose an inferior instrument, for, as already
observed, in money making, as In the OPP
portunities for money making, the lawyer
and, second, he compromises his OWL tone,
and correspondingly the standing of his
profession, which will be privileged so long,
ana only so long. as Il preserves its dis
%tinction as a learned profession. The
lawyer, outclassed by the merchant in the
competition for great riches, will win only
patronizing condescenslon. But IL he
shau retain and maintain his traditional
familiarity with the science of the law.
even the most resourceful laymen, he will
command and will receive from the pub
lie az well as from his fellows, respectful
consideration and esteem.
To the mere money seeking lawyer, in
deed, the love of money will prove the root
of all evil.
Advise Conformity to Law.
The lawyer is bound always to advise
conformity. to the clear requirements of
every valid law. As a breach of this duty
might involve considerable personal in
observed by those who are conscious of
its existence. How painful may become
the performance of this duty none know
better than some of us who at times have
been compelled to insist that, at the cost
OF, social opprobrium. the client must
tell the whole truth. or at other
to nterpose a defense by some tender
hearted, but erring, distressed man or
woman.
Whether or not a lawyer shall give
advice as to any particular transaction
not within the express prohibition of law,
or Of morals, as already intimated, is a
question for his own Judgment. But his
sense of his responsibility as a man and a
citizen, and with the certain expectation
of public disapproval il his participation
shall appear to be out Of harmony with
his general reputation, or shall seem to
involve injury to the public interests.
Corporations Not Root of Evil.
Mr.. Stetson, referring to a statement of
former Senator Lindsay Of Kentucky, that
great corporations are proving themselves
the greatest instruments for evil man has
ever devised" said:
Judge Lindsan is entitled to high respect.
but l would venture to question whether
in and of itself the corporate form of
organization is the specific germ OF the
ills depicted or predicted by him. The
dislike and popular resentment of that
axtra ordfn ri1v aIICoacafu1 business Lnnuyn