The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-07-31


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porter l took the regular course, and
got eighteen months OF logic, French. and
other academic studies that I believed
would be beneficial Having been grad
pated. l thought OF New York and Chi
cago. I wanted room. and plenty Of ii.
so tlNt / couldn't be stopped if I had
any ability. That was my theory-the
larger the place the greater the success IL
one is energetic and competent But
New York, l learned. hands it's law busi-
ness down by inheritance. The grandson
OF Brown. the merchant or banker. re-
tains the grandson Of Smith. the attor-
ney-at-law and counselor Chicago. on
the contrary, was new and unwalled by
ancient customs.
Gets Needed announcement.
Il had about $25 when l got here and
the useless but conventional letters OF
recommendation. The lawyers to whom
was thus introduced were courteous
with promises 20 let me know when
they needed help. After ppdestrianizine
for n day or two without results, I or
ganized a systematic campaign. street
by street. would ride up to the
top OF a building in the elevator and
walk down. stopping at all the Offices on
each floor When I got into an Office
that was lean OF books or unprosperous
In its looks. I backed out ! met with
no success. one day, after a week OF
such effort. talked with Frank J. Smith.
one OF the best lawyers az the Chicago
bar. He eyed me coldly. but his advice
was encouraging. Don't lose heart.
he said. Keep on and YOU will win His
words did me good. because they were
an Endorsement Of my policy. Three or
four years afterward I married Mr.
Smiths daughter.
AT last-I had been walking down
buildings for two weeks-I was given a
clerkship In the office Of Col. Robert
Rae. a maritime lawyer, enjoying a good
practice. You may go 20 work at s. a
week. he said II you are satisfactory.
I'll give you more In a day or two he
asked me TO ascertain the obligations OF
a tug 20 its tow. Tugs were running into
bridges TO the damage OF the vessels
they were pulling. I looked up the law
and the decisions, making an abstract OF
the same. and then wrote an opinion OF
my own. Col Rae looked my work over
and grunted. ] was not familiar with
his signs and sounds at the time, and
couldn't interpret his meaning. In dav
or two l saw him hand my papers TO a
client and heard him say that his fee
was $500
Opens office OF HIS Own.
MY salary was increased occasionally.
but only few dollars at a time, and the
conviction was pressed in upon me that
1 ought to be in business for myself. Nv
experience as reporter was my most
valuable ready asset. II taught me how
TO get the facts. 10 put them together
consecutlvely and plainly. 10 Judge their
Importance 20 meet people and 10 start
a conversation. extended my acquaint-
anceship. and after working Tor Col Rae
nearly a year I rented a little office.
bought some secondhand furniture. and
started 10 practice
Times were dismal for two or three
years. Nevertheless I kept up appear
ances. had no bad habits and did
everything possible 10 build up my per
sonal credit II I ran out OF money. I
borrowed IT, taking particular care
promptly 70 meet the interest and 10 pay
the debt in full when due At times. ]
owed as much as 5000 Men were al
ways willing 10 lend me money as an in
vestment I was industrious. sound in
health. and morally respectable What
I did IN the way Of borrowing can be
duplicated by any young man i'm any
city. Older men are always willing 10
take chance II they think they can be
helpful.
Used word "Wby!" to Advantage.
Presently. ! was clear Of debt and had
a 1Ourishing business. Then I was ap-
pointed county attorney and accepted the
the place at financial sacrifice that I
might extend my opportunities and gain
new experience. I carried my reportorial
why into my Official duties. Men were
drawing salaries and performing no Ia
Dor. Why? asked, and payments
ceased thereafter. Taxes were due and
uncollected Why? I inquired. and money
came into ;he treasury. The little word
Why rs the trained reporter uses It. is
tho ablest policeman in the dictionary.
I was reappointed. and later went to
Washington as special attorney and
served under James r. Garfield in the
Bureau of Corporations. President
Roosevelt made me solicitor OF the De-
partment OF Commerce and Labor and
then United States district attorney in
Chicago
Before taking my Office in this city.
however. I went 10 Alaska, and reported
the case Of our seal fisheries, which were
being aided by japanese pOachers. The
day before l reached Pribilof Islands the
natives had killed four or five japanese
and captured ten or a dozen others as
they came on shore from their schooners.
] ran into that situation. The matter was
adjusted. I am glad to say, and Japan
gave US no further trouble"
Copyright. 1910. by james B. Morrow)
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