Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1911-12-30
Brief History
Of Marion Co..
Bar Association

The attorneys of this county have
maintained an organization from times
when the memory of man runneth not
to the contrary This does not mean
that they have always had a formal
and highly articulated organism, with
committees and salaried officials, and
constitution and bylaws But they have
existed mostly with an unwritten con-
stitution, fast and loose organization
generally boasting a president and a
secretary, and assembling convenient
ly when there was occasion to take
any action. A very democratic body
are the members of the legal profess
sion, and every man Jack Of the sacred
order is a member of the bar associa-
tion whether he wants to be or not
The present officials are:
John H. McNary, president.
Thos. Brown, vice-president.
Grant Corby, secretary.
The former is district attorney of
the Third judicial district, and the
latter is city attorney Of the city of
Salem, and both gentlemen can prob
ably hold their jobs II they want to,
at least for the term for which they
are elected, and then some. The re-
call is in the hands of the people, and
If they do not exercise it during a
mans term of Office they can have a
chance when his term expires, and the
Bar Association itself has the power
to recall its officials. But the indica-
tions are that both president and sec
retary will escape for an indefinite
period. The only time member Is
removed from the Bar Association is
when he is served with a summons
from that land whence no one has
ever returned to acknowledge service,
and which cannot be even reached with
notice publication. Then a committee
is appointed and the departed friend
is treated with that unvarying kind
ness that recites all his virtues and
forgets all his defects II he had any.
Knows No Laws.
There are no rules and regultions
governing the conduct Of the members
of the Marion county bar. In the
older days 1t was attempted to adopt
a code of ethics and promulgate a
schedule of fees to be charged the
unfortunate or the fortunate clients,
but it was finally abandoned and left
to the conscience and honor of each
individual member. The relation be-
tween attorney and client is so inti-
mate and is based on such variable
factors that no hard and fast rule can
be contriyed that will apply and op-
crate fairly to both Sides Sometimes
the fee that would be right to charge
and nnllanf Ipxt 81
ashamed to ask or receive on account !
OF the circumstances Of the client. On |
the other hand the fees that lawyers |
receive and have to accept are some
times so out of proportion to the SER
vice rendered that the more modest |
members of the craft are almost |
ashamed to accept them. So there is |
no way to adjust this but to leave it |
IN every case to the lawyer and his
client to come to agreement
Lawyers Busy Men.
The members of the Marion County |
Bar association are so busy they do
not have time to hold meetings or
attend any perfulctory sessions There
is not even roll of the. members but |
every attorney in the county is sup
RCS~N " bOAphb anu uutS DtlOHb u
the organization. When one of the
profession is elevated to a judicial
position or one of them goes to his
reward in the next world the associa-
tion meets and takes formal action.
The bar has lost some of it's older
and most highly respected members
In the past few years. A strong group
of younger men are most active in the
profession, and those who were young
sters as 1t seemed Just a few years
ago are becoming veterans in the pro-
fession The morals of the profession
are OF high standard in Marion
county, generally the unfit being
driven out and returning to callings
better suited to their natures and
where there are fewer relations based
purely upon honor, for be it said to
the credit of the profession they ham
die more thousands of money and
property without giving n dollar of
bonds than bankers and more solemn
condolences than even ministers of
the gospel,
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