Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-05-29
LAWYER, NOT COURT,
OBJECT OF CENSURE
Senator Townsend Defends
Judiciary in Address Before
Washington College of Law.
REAL AND FANCIED ILLS
SUBJECT OF DISCUSSION
Degrees Conferred Upon Members of
Glass of 1913-Special Prizes
Awarded.

! careful Philosophical investigation
Of the persistent and seemingly con-
certed attacks upon the courts of the
country for real and fancied wrongs in
the judicial branch Of the government
would frequently disclose that ii was
not the fault of the judge so much as
II was that of another branch Of the
court. viz. the lowyers declared Sena-
tor Charles L. Townsend of Michigan,
in an address 10 the graduates of the
Washington College of Law last night
al Memorial Continental Hall
u have great and abiding faith in
the judges of the land" he said M
most without exception they are WISE
conscientious and courageous men,
They recognize no favorites. and de-
eide according TO the law governing
the case. as they understand it."
In speaking of the judiciary Sena tor
Townsend said that our great and
the judiciary. and before he could con-
sent to experiments with the courts
which may result in irreparable injury
TO the life. liberty and property of the
people he must know that other in
fuences than the judges are not the
ones that cause much of whatever real
evil exists.
1t has occurred. and not infrequent-
ly. that the surgeon had opened by
mistake. and the result has been fatal
to the patient That the patient was
suffering no one could doubt. but the
surgeon diagnosed his case wrongly"
The speaker declared that experience
frequently affords the right kind of
lawyer a broader view Of his profession,
and he then comes to understand the
true relation of the lawyer to the govern
ment
Lawyer Author Of Evils.
ct have said that much OF the preju-
dice against the court Is wrongly
charged" he continued. 'Tt is properly
chargeable to the lawyers. One of the
evils of the present is the defeat of
Justice by delays and technicalities. 1t
is not an uncommon thing for suits to be
pending for years before they are deter
mined. In such cases justice has been
denied and the law has been brought into
contempt. A correct analysis of such
cases will generally show that the law
yers, either by collision or separately,
have neglected to prepare for trial.
Sometimes cases are trumpet up. as we
say, and have no foundation in right or
justice. and SO long as the lawyers fees
are obtainable the suit will be maintained.
Nothing more clearly illustrates the
baneful influence of the unworthy lawyer
than the opposition which these lawyers
have presented in state and national leg
islatures to measures intended to lessen
litigation by providing for just and equi-
table settlements of damage cases grow
ing out of injuries to working men"
LII speaking of combinations in restraint
of trade. Senator Townsend said that
every individual or corporation proposing
to unite with others to form combinations
for the conduct of business has an at
torney. and usually that attorney is wise
and learned in the law. and il ne has
proper appreciation of his high duty he
will advise his client that such COM
bina ton is unlawful If it is
Some clients hire men to tell them
how to evade the law he declared.
These should go to a shyster and not
TO a conscientious lawyer. for the lat
ter understands that ne is an officer of
the court, pledged to assist in in
and applying the law. and
therefore he cannot be party to it's
violation evasion
The lawyers duty is to assist in adj
the law fairly and i'm
he said, and neither fees nor
prejudice should swerve him q hairs
breath from the performance of that
duty.