Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1916-09-01
.bORAH ASKS FOR
MORE INTEREST.
AMONG LAWYERS

1
| CHICAGO, Sept. IA plea for a
more general interest in legislation on
The part of the country's lawyers was
made before meeting of the American
Bar association here today by Sena-
tor William e. Borah, of Idaho. The
purpose Of legislation would be served
more fully, he said. were the same i'm
partial care exercised in it's framing
as is given it in its Interpretation by
the courts.
Scrutiny and criticism by great law
yers, acting solely in the public in
fiuence for good when laws are being
moulded.
Our courts are being constantly as.
sailed for constructions placed upon.
statutes" said Senator Borah, bur,
candidly, the marvel to me is, in view
OF the influences which surround leg
islation, the careless and Indifferent
manner in which bills are drafted. the
selfish and sinister influences which
warp our statutes in the making that
the courts have done as we'll as they
have in interpreting them. If the
American bar would look upon our
great statutes somewhat as the great
lawyers in private life looked in on af-
fairs in 1858 and 1887 it would be a
whole some influence the extent Of
which could be measured neither by
time nor words.
you say this is a great deal to ask
:. great deal to expect that men turn
aside from their personal concerns to
help with the work which others have
been selected to do. But reply there
is vast amount at stake and further
give it as my deliberate opinion that
these institutions of ours cannot be
kept intact if we are to depend alone
upon those who hold public Office"
Lawyers, said Senator Borah, owe a
particular duty to the community in
the work of framing laws because o.
their special knowledge.
1.-THE difference in responsibility be-
tween a man in public Office and the
citizen in private life is one of de,
gree only" he said, "but if the lay
citizen owes something to the public
far greater obligation of a lawyer. AL
most every conceivable question, al
most every matter of moment to the
citizen at this time involves in some
way knowledge of the law and the
training which enabled us to adjust
well known legal principles to our new
industrial and social conditions"
Senator Borah declared the lawyer
who becomes a public official has no
right to hold retainer while writing a
law in the public interest, and law
that may affect his client adversely.
"A member of congress-" he said,
lis in an indefensible position who is
called upon to legislate concerning
those matters in which his clients may
have an interest and which may con-
Germ them vitality. Men do not give
large retainers to the men engaged in
public service in order that these men
may more thoroughly look after the
public interest. They give them be-
cause they expect them to be amen
able to reason in an emergency and IN
order that they may be sufficiently con-
sentative in not yielding to that Yad-
icalism which takes alone into con-
sideration the public interest.
Il venture to prophesy that the peo-
pie will in due time insist that their
representatives in congress shall stand
as free from the relationship of client
'R1d attorney with reference 10 all those
matters upon which they are called to
egislate as now characterizes the great
tribunal which passes finally upon the
constitutional'ty of the laws which We
make"