The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-02-08
THE BIRMINGHAM BAR
By ETHEL ARMIES, e Story of Coal and Iron in Alabama"

"It. Is a fact said a leading attorney yesterday, that no young lawyer with high ideals can practice law in Birming- ham and keep his ideals. The conditions here are unspeakable."
 A moments pause. Can anyone, man or woman, enter into this community with the heart and the mind bent on public service. with desire to work for great issues for the public good, and not get kicked for it?
 And a lion dies of asses kicks" So?
 Well, in the long run cannot a lion triumph over thousand asses? Some times, yes. but not always. The Woods Are Full Birmingham is chucked so full of donkey heads-donkeys, jackals, coyotes. weasels-all that kind, rampant in the law business, and also in other profes- sions and trades as well,
 Of course. Is not every city?
 Fortunately there are, however, in the law business as in others, some few men with brains, with heart and conscience, and with the true spirit of patriotism and the power of leadership. Judge Grubb, for instance, for one.
 Just what is the true spirit of patriot ism and civic pride? John T. Milner, the founder of Birmingham. had the right ioea.
 Is it to be a "wind-jammer," hot air artist,' and to cry aloud to the housetops:
 Great Is Birmingham! am proud of Birmingham. It is a glorious city none better on the continent. Hurrah for Birmingham. It's just all right!'
 Rather Is it not for each citizen to say: Birmingham is very young. It is be- ginning to get false ideals. It is follow ing a ragged standard It's getting pretty rotten. What causes this? How can the city be made sound and wholesome : What can I do to help eradicate the evils, to arouse a spirit of truth, of justice, of fair play, anu simple, common human decency?"
 A Start Is Made
 A certain little group of earnest young lawyers here, who are students and patriots, are beginning to look at things just like this. Isadore Shapiro Is one of them.
 Nothing is ever accom- plish ed that has not back of 1t the sincere spirit. This is realized. That is one of the great needs here In Birmingham-the sin : cere spirit. Endowed with that, one can see facts-great truths-clearly, and will not lack the moral ,coura ge to fight for them.
 If ever a bar association in the United States needed a general clear ing out it is the Bif fminghnm Bas as sociation. The ambulance chasing law yers "at, work here, from Atlanta attaches" detectives. outside men. ct cetera. number 200, according to well informed citigen here.
 Quid Pro Quo
 These articles are being written and published in the interest of clean bus mess. in behalf of the citizens of Jef- ferson county as whole, and in the hope that the ethical, legal and con- mercial standards of the Birmingham district may be viewed simply and ex- actly as they are.
 In The Age Herald of February 5 in a keen, discriminating. courageous statement of facts relating to the Bir- mingham Bar association. Mr Shapiro the young Ys,e graduate heretofore mentioned. takes issue with these ar ticles on one particular point: fOnly the industries side of the case has been presented" he says. He is correct. All phases, all aspects of this question cannot be taken up all at once The field is wide and the fight Is long Only one small section of the battle ground has been accommodated so far All the rest in good time Then the fight will be on in Birming- ham,. And there will be fight. at the First Outlook The main fact that appeared upper most to one interested in industrial life and conditions here is that certain, oi the Industries are running the risk, oi being eaten alive if the fool and false damage suit tdsness continues to TUT the town Also that the legal profession as a profession, is rapidly becoming a farce and a delusion
 These two points alone have been con sidered so far. and they only partially considered. ~ ~ | J. R. Hornaday said off-hand yester. | day: Why, heard, of man whose ! leg was cut off while he was doing hi. wori1-and he sued the corporation tha' was responsiblel Think of suing cor pora ton just because his leg was cu | offv' ~ The pleasant little sarcasm might jus as we'll be put back in pocket-and kep l there bit 7
 The Mote and the Beam g"And these companies;" said another