Evening star., 1928-06-17
What's Wrong With the Bar

tingent fee basis, without retainer, and
with the assurance that the ladies ought
to collect $26, 900 apiece, at least. Incl
dentaily, Roe g. Doe have their "own''
doctors. who will testify to any and all
injuries, and particularly nervous break
downs resulting from 'ishock."
We have, on the other hand, lawyers
who adjust" cases while an injured
man Is on his deathbed, and by the
cure the release Of their clients from
legal and moral liability OF many thou
sands.
Skilled In ".Skinning."
We have lawyers who are skilled and
adept In the "skinning" of the estates
OF bankrupts and deceased persons, so
that the creditors of the heirs often re-
ceive less than the attorneys. have In
mind, for instance. the case OF man
killed through the negligence Of his en-
ployer. A lawyer of the Roe G Doe
type brought suit for the widow "a
wonanT unable to read or speak Eng
lish). settled the case for $500 before
trial, and secured an allowance Of $500
from the probate court. The widow
ACNSAtC& 6AVAS S6VVs "a va R0JntCAAk VI
court costs. A reputable Arm OF attor.
neys could have obtained at least S.
600 for her-And justly so-but Roe
d Doe reached her first.
We have political lawyers, exceed
ingly active In ward politics. who reap
their reward In appointments to receiv-
ershipS and In the uniformly favorable
decisions of certain magistrates. Justices
Of the peace and police court judges.
We have entirely respectable" law
yers, who BY resort to continuances,
technical trivialities, dilatory pleadings
and unjustified appeals seek to tire
their opponents clients, exhaust their
resources and force unjust settlements.
A survey made some years ago revealed
that from one-third TO one-half the
time OF our courts was consumed In
the argument and decision Of points
Of law involving not the real merits Of
the cases but mere technicalitieg Of
evidence and procedure.
In one Western state, for example,
the conviction Of man charged with
murder was set aside by the Supreme
Court because the constitution provided
that indictments should be worded to
show that the crime was committed
against the peace and dignity Of the
state"-and In the indictment In this
case the second "the" was omitted
Undoubtedly such technicalities served
q useful and humane purpose a few
hundred years ago. when the English
law defined 100 crimes punishable by
death. Now they serve oil too frequent
ly only to delay Justice: and Justice
delayed Ii justice denied"
I have perhaps overstressed the
weakness OF the legal profession so that
~ xx n kAk T. =.
selves are aware OF the business OF some
Of the criticism directed at our judicial
system.
Other Side Of Picture.
On the other hand. merely to men.
ton all the great variety of worthy,
necessary. indispensable. honest, con-
structive services rendered to clients
and to the community by the vast ma
jority OF the lawyers Of the nation Is
utterly impossible within the limita-
tions Of allotted space.
BY their own definite code OF ethics,
and by the weight and force OF public
opinion and confidence, lawyers are
held TO o high standard OF professional
conduct. They are intrusted with con-
bring ruin to their clients. They are
intrusted with the responsibility OF ex-
ercising decisive Judgment in the affairs
OF their clients. TO their Judgment and
integrity are intrusted mems lives.
mems honor and mems property. And
not once In q thousand cases Ia the
trust betrayed Honor. fidelity and in
tegrity: these are the attributes. the
proud possessions Of the lawyers Of the
nation.
No man. no woman. no child need
ever suffer injustice or injury for lack
OF q lawyer. There are scores OF or.
ganized legal aid bureaus. which render
service without charge. and the indi-
give freely and gladly OF their time and
Skill TO those whose only possession ID
q Just cause.
No profession Is more active and zeal
Gus In policing itself. The records Of
the grievance and ethics committees Of
bar associations throughout the country
furnish proof Of the vigilance Of law
yers 10 uphold the honesty. the honor
and true dignity Of the profession.
Have Highest Ideals.
For every lawyer who Ia dishonest, or
dishonorable. or a menace rather than
help TO his community and clients.
there are q hundred who are actuated
In the practice of their profession by
the highest ideals, and who render In.
dispensabls service 10 society as
whole.
The lawyer, of course. has nothing to
sell but service: service to his client.
service to his country and most impor-
tant of all. service TO his ideals.
Ever since the framing OF our Federal
Constitution the lawyer has been re-
garded as the leader OF constructive
thought In this country. Lawyers al
ways have been, and probably always
will be. the most potential factor In all
governmental affairs. II is now Gus
tomary 10 call upon the lawyer not only
TO diagnose the dificulties arising In all
the vast fields OF social. business and
economic problems OF our time. but TO
require him to prescribe the remedy
for their solution, Why is this SOP Is
II not because the lawyer is presumed
TO have trained and disciplined mind?
He Is assumed to be able to reason ac-
curately from premises To conclusions.
II II he who looks at conditions OBJ
iectiveiy. and who resolves difiiculties
on general principles, uninfiuenoed by
his silfish interests. his pfe1udices OF
his emotions
He must not only have these attri-
butes. but he must possess also the will
In disttn otiigh hAtmeAys ptAirt ara ypFnn0