The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-03-29
CURRENT EVENTS.

Abimelech, who drove him away, and de-
parted singing this Psalm;
Depart from evil and do good; seek
peace and pursue it.
The preachers in Topeka Sunday
will say to their several congresa
tions, ranging from 100 to possibly
500: II call your attention today to
the texts 1 have chosen upon which
to discourse"
The State Journal this evening di-
reefs the attention of it's congregation,
which probably numbers 100000, to
the texts above quoted from First
Corinthians XIV. SO and from Psalm
XXXIV, IA. A congregation. or audi
ence. of 100000 is named because the
State Journal has, according to the
testimony filed with the District Court
this week, $4,000 circulation. Esti-
mating four readers to the paper
which is the accepted ratio, the num-
Der of readers in the congregation is
reached.
To Topekans is particularly directed
the text: Depart from evil and do
good: evil communications corrupt
good manners"
The combined sentence of st. Paul
and David is used specifically to i'm
press upon certain lawyers their
shortcomings, and emphasize the sug-
gestion that they depart from evil and
avoid evil communications
Several weeks ago, namely on Feb
ruary IS, this writer wrote one of his
longest and most widely quoted edi-
torials; it was entitled, whats the
Matter With Topeka" Many have
commended the editorial; none have
had the temerity to condemn it or
question its truth and timeliness. 1t
pointed out a state of things existing
in this city which is hampering our
growth, handicapping our progress
and reducing our happiness; it pointed
out we were not pulling together, how
jeaiousies or envy or what not seemed
to cause one neighbor to oppose what
another is doing in the interest of the
city
How long in this town are lawyers
to be permitted to retain their respec-
liability and standing who, for hire.
''dO evil things" and for hire have
evil COMMUNICATIONS which corrupt
their good manners and their con-
duct?
How long is a lawyer going to re-
tain the respect or practice of this
community if he hires himself to ad-
vocate that which the blue sky board
declares furthers the plans of a get
rich-quick" scheme?
How long is it going to be outward
ly considered respectable for an attor-
ney claiming to be reputable, a mem
Der of one of the good churches of
| this city, to stand up in a public court
room before the Judge, jurors. lawyers
and spectators, grow red in the face,
wave his arms and shout at the top of
his voice a the man whom he has
been hired to convict and charge him.
as Larimer did so charge this defend
ant in the Crawfords case. concluded
| last Friday, in these infamous words:
| II charge you with having bought this
! witness Collins. You corrupted him.
Under the law-this lawyer was i'm
mune. Mr.. MacLennan was powerless
| to bring suit against him for Grass
SANDER and gross untruth He was
!
teeth and knock his teeth out of him
for the court would not have permit
| ted it. Yet the laws are such and the
sentiment in this town is such that
| this man goes unscathed and unde-
nounced for the vicious lie he uttered.
Is the blush on his face today burnt
into his skin as conscience scared it,
! tho the skirts of the law protected
him?
| Another lawyer in the same case in a
loud voice on a similar occasion, a few
days ago, before judge and jury point
ing his hand at the defendants attor-
ney shouted: You are just as infa-
nous and dishonest as your client"
These things are permitted Lawyer
Waters and there is no defense
Attorneys are allowed to put the
most outrageous statements by utter
ance or writings into their arguments
and into their petitions. statements
which ofttimes they know are wholly
untrue, scandalously false. The law
yers, when they say these things and
do these things are not under oath as
the witnesses are. They are hedged
about by protecting law and sloth-
full sentiment.
Moral: Let the lawyers refrain
from those evil communications
which corrupt good manners" and
henceforth depart from evil and dc
good; seek peace and pursue it,
Now endeth the third week of the
days at the courthouse mingling with
juries, witnesses, demurrers. lawyers
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