The Washington herald., 1912-06-23

Il
foolish or vicious members Of that class.
i by and by returned to the South
and started to prospect in Florida for
| phosphate and to search Oklahoma and
| Texas for asphalt. I became fairly wise
to this game and picked up most OF the
tricks in the trade. Farmers were
swindled by large corporations, and I
thought, was out for graft Money then
was uppermost in my head. I came to
New York, before I was OF age, to sell
/ q tract OF land. We sat around a table
In the Wall Street district-the future
buyers. a geologist, a lawyer and my
| self.
A Lawyer and q shark.
The college professor was the whole
works. HIS expert opinion outweighed
the lawyers common sense. saw his
blunders and regarded him as a narrow,
| technical shark. The lawyer was alert.
prudent and up to snuff He, perceived.
had mingled with the world. When he
talked he was understandable. Here I
said, Is the simplicity OF genuine knowi-
edge. The geoiogist conceals what he
doesn't know by a lingo Of strange
words Education obtained wholly from
books, thought. was mere bunk.
Money ceased to hold my imagination
more desirable than wealth. I'd be law
yer. Back in Florida, at ocala, where I
had lived, Otis Green, a Northern man,
was practicIng incidentally while trying
to regain his health. He called me fool.
but 1 studied in his ONCE Two days before
1 came Of age, the examiners licensed me
to perform Unfortunately, even saying
1 might appear in the Supreme Court. Now
1 knew where meant to settle and build
up business. had gone to California,
and had seen great crowds OF people
walking in the principal street-big peo-
pie, with clear eyes, red cheeks, and
springs in their feet. Under these skies,
I said, the human race is physically per-
feet had been brought up on bonny-
clabber and sweet potatoes and my own
complexion wasn't the best Some day.
promised myself, I shall come back
here to live
But didn't start for California as soon
as was admitted to the bar. I can oper-I
ate in Florida, no doubt, but even So I
thought, III always be a one-horse law
yer. / am ignorant I'll study some more
and then hurry on to San Francisco I
was full Of juice and hope-and longed TO
put my power into use. Up to this time of
my life religion hadn't bothered me to any
extent. I had kept out Of evil ways, there
were granite walls, could see, under the
moralities Of life and the Bible was a good
book, intended for women, children, and
feeble men. but I did not act or philoso-
phiZe any further.
said He Was Crazy.
After studying a lot Of catalogues. I
decided to enter Columbian Law School,
in Washington, because it was located
at the capital OF the country and Mr.
Justice Harlan and Mr.. Justice Brewer
were members of the faculty. de-
manded a place in the senior class. The
authorities informed me, after learning
that I had only gone to school nine
months, that I would have TO be exam
ined even TO be admitted as a freshman.
I am a lawyer said, and under your
regulations am qualified to be senior. |
Moreover, 1 intend to take your whole |
course in a single year and post grad |
uate work besides
"'You are crazy the authorities sneer- |
ingly replied.
Yes. I am crazy, but what I say |
goes
1T was a great year. I studied night |
and day. Heard many trials in the Su- |
preme Court and listened to Joseph H. |
Choate and Judge Dillon contest a case |
as opposing counsel. 1 also heard Susan |
B. Anthony argue for woman suffrage. |
I'd been against the proposition. Mad |
said, when she finished her
speech, you have got my goat paid /
the secretary a dollar and have been |
roofing for woman suffrage ever since.
My law diploma followed me by mail as
I sped across the continent toward the
Pacific Coast. I beat. II there by two |
days. I was in a hurry, you must re-
member. Wanted to get among the big
people with red cheeks, blue eyes and
springs in their feet. By this time my
money was nearly all spent but rented
I sauntered into the police
court. l was twenty-five years old, but
I'd been up and down the earth more
or less. A woman asked me to take her
ease. All right I said, $. please. in
advance
You're no lawyer she screeched.
you are dock-wolloper.'
"'Oh, very WE'LL replied, '$25'
She paid the money and I got her OF
by picturing her distress to the kindly
Did chap on the bench. After that 1 de-
tended thieves and shady persons of
both sexes. murder trial gave me
some reputation. Meanwhile had edged
my way into politics, being a Democrat.
Took an active part in the oratory and
general proceedings of the Iroquois. Club.
Big thieves and little thieves were run
ming both parties.
A Hero with Clay Feet.
"A bill was introduced in the Legisla-
:ure to increase the salaries of the MEM
Oers Of the fire and police departments.
One department was Democratic and the
,ther was Republican. The bill was a
'ank steal of the taxpayers money, but
he bosses said ii should pass. / fought
he proposition in the Iroquois Club A
inc young fellow would have followed
lin of the cliffs into the Pacific Ocean
lad he whistled for me to come-turned
lis principles inside out overnight and
declared for the bill A little while later
le was made an attorney for the South
.Tn Pacific Railroad, and now lives in a
marble palace. Thus my first California
dol went to smash and my pride and
ny heart were wrenched.
well, fought the bill, and a deci-
iion was won in the Supreme Court The
Measure was class legislation and un-
constitutional by the law of the State
offers came to me from the thieves Who'll
we're managing the city. They thought
was a useful man. I was poor and
worm out by hard work. The tempta-
ion was dangerously great. had few
eliable friends, and went for counsel
o an old carpenter whom had met at
gathering Of workingmen. We talked
ar into the night. I have fought hon
stly,' 1 told him, but the men in whom
have most believed advise me to get
place at the pie counter It was the