Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1913-11-25
TUESDAY. NOVEMBER IS, 1913.
AS TO sHYSTERINe
Some Pretty Strong Talk From Mr..
y j. c. Otis. - =


Some Pretty Strong Talk From Mr.
= J. C. Otis. -,r-
Discussing the disbarment proceed
ings that have originated in Spartan
burg. former Solicitor J. c. OTIS or
last Friday delivered himself to the
Herald as follows:
"As you know, I have declined tc
discuss this case, or to furnish copies
for the press, until the matter came uT
in the supreme court, next Tuesday
But inasmuch as 1t is now a court
record, will say, expect to be be.
and propose what / deem proper
order.
This matter has been under ad-
visement for nearly year. A code
of legal ethics was adopted by the 10
cal bar association, upon my motion
simply because there was crying
need for them. ] do not, say that Mr.
Sims Is the only unethical lawyer al
this bar. but he Is undoubtedly the
most notorious. II there are others
they will be brought before the court
in due time. The only wonder Is that
the Spartanburg bar has endured. and
what is worse, permitted the public to
be affiicted by shystering so long. IL
is such conduct that has caused
wholesale criticism Of the lawyers gen.
orally. / had hoped that some or the
older lawyers, and who had been MEM
hers of this bar longer than l. would
have taken the initiative in this mat
ter. The younger members OF the bar
usually have not hesitated to align
themselves for higher standard.
This is but the beginning. Every
LAWYER Is a debtor to his profession;
there is no middle ground. SUCH pro-
ceedings are not pleasant. and the man
who steps out and institutes them may
have to bear the i'll will. and be a
target for the malice OF the guilty. II
was a realization Of this which kept
some lawyers, and others. from join .
ing In this petition. The confidential
Information which we are not at lib
erty to use, and the reasons assigned
nv some people for shirking plain
duty Is enough. sometimes, to make
man lose faith in humanity. :
"The fear of being misunderstood,
of losing a client, patient, cusfo-
mer, or a vote, Is the curse or TINS
community. Shyster lawyers multiply
the bar are ultra conservative, but
they usually show more disinterested
patriotism than any other class or
profession Yet as lawyers. we nave
let this class OF lawyers run iou6h
shod over the community entirely too
long. All condemn such practices but
leave 1t to some other man to do the
housecleaning. This applies to every
class and profession. 1t Is true In
politics. 1t has been timidity and po-
iitical cowardice that has brought con-
ditions in South Carolina to where
they are. The men who know better
are too much afraid Of losing vote,
of being blackmai!ed or boycotted; the
fear of loss Of custom. patients. clients;
yes, even in the pulpit. ! fear, has
fastened many Of the evils upon US
which af1ict our community.
'T have no patience with the long
faced hypocrite who prays for Thy
kingdom come, and for law, order, de-
cency, etc., and then, for a few paltry
dollars. rents house for near-beer
stands or something worse; who critl-
cises the officials for lawlessness. and
has not the manhood to keep his name
off a petition for the pardon OF a guilty
criminal. The good man. so-called,
who shirks q public duty, is a traitor
TO his county: as much so as the man
who gives food and shelter to the
enemy" '-. I'd. i...'