The Washington herald., 1913-10-19

on the theory that certain Of the members
Iof the firm are experts IN going out and
getting business, while certain other mem-
bers OF the firm are experts In doing the
business once II r. obtained. This plan
|is in successful operation IN ALI large
cities. But when q young man starts
lout alone he must be qualined both 70
get and to transact business.
IT practiced in Nashville for long
time. frying cqses before . cross-eyed
Justice Of the peace and In the Supreme
Court OF the State and writing promis-
sorry notes so- s1fp, as well as marriage
contracts calling for considerable sums
| Of money Once Twas in q murder case.
THE evidence was circumstantial. but We
convicted the man whom Eeloed 10
prosecute. But rncst OF my business at
an times was far removed from the
criminal courts"
.sHow did YOU become Assistant Attor-
lney General of the United StatesT
.'Mr. Knox. the Attorney General, was
looking for some one to try crses In the
supreme Court. A man who knew both
4 OF US recommended me. came to WASH
lington at the Invitation OF Mr.. Knox.
| We sat down in this very room. Inside
of fifteen minutes the bargain was closed.
"I thought Il was a flhe chance. pro-
OCCASIONALLY, to represent the United States
mo ones future was depending on me.
and so I gave up my Nashville prac-
tiee and my place as professor OF law
at Vanderbilt University and moved to
Washington. After serving three years
and a half In public ONCE. established
myself In New York"
| An Answer 10 IIuchral<ers.
Senator Knox, Of whom you have
been talking" said, became Attorney
General at President McKinley's request.
He abandoned practice which paid him
$1s0, 900 the last year he was in Pitts
burgh for a place In the Cabinet. the
salary OF which was then but 5000 q
year. You. toe, must have sacrificed
your personal interests when you entered
President Wilson'S cabinetT
| "Yes. but all of us know beforehand
Just what pay we shall receive. Sym
pathy, therefore. is wasted when ex-
tended to US. We are persuaded to be-
Iieve, you understand, that We owe some
thing TO the public. But when We get
into office we suddenly discover that q
good many of the people think that pub
lie men are dishonest Indeed. the man
taking office must actually prove that
he isn't. The Burden Is always on him.
'T have been around Washington for
ten years and say that public men are
I
occupying obscure positions in the gov
ernment Is remarkable. I recall a case
involving millions of dollars. 1t had
been tried over and over again and the
United States had always lost in the
courts,
"a law clerk, whose name, perhaps.
win never he known outside of this de-
partment. stuck to the case through one
defeat after another. He maintained
that the position of the government was
sound and that the cause ought never
to be abandoned. Finally, after working
years at his desk and over law hooks,
he brought the matter to my attention.
I sat up with Il at night and concluded
that he was right The case was tried
once more and the decision OF the cou.i
was for the government
"Why. the lawyer who argues the
governments cases in the United States
Supreme Court is paid but 5000 a year.
Not only Is the government getting con-
lscientious and capable service. but II Is
getting honest service from the men In
public Office"
(copynsht, 1873. By James B. MOrOvJ