Page:The Green Bag (1889–1914), Volume 18.pdf/427

 396

THE GREEN BAG

THE SOUL OF THE PROFESSION BY CHARLES F. CHAMBERLAYNE AT irregular intervals, now rapidly les attention, or more appropriate to such an sening in length, a note of warning comes occasion, than that of the necessity for a to us from some admittedly authoritative radical change in the attitude of legal ad source, that the client's money too largely visers toward clients seeking to violate or dominates professional morale; that rising circumvent the law of the land. No enemy tides of commercialism stifle the cry of its out hath done this. It is our own familiar raged conscience. With suggestions of this friend, the man who has at heart the honor, worth, and dignity which we ourselves are kind coming from other quarters the pro fession is entirely familiar. To them, in bound to cherish. Ample reason exists why lawyers who deed, it is fairly wonted, if not absolutely hardened There has not been with these seek to do their whole duty should consider estimates sufficient appreciation of actual with care whither we are drifting. Signs conditions to make unfavorable criticism of are not lacking if one will but watch the any value. The profession, therefore, has bank. A single issue of a New York daily not been greatly affected, beyond the point narrates the proceedings against a metro of mirth, by English or other satirists who, politan lawyer of national reputation for in very unjudicial perturbation of mind, subornation of perjury; against a judge of a prominent city court for levying blackmail; have sought to revenge the unpleasant en forcement of pleasantly incurred debts by against local attorneys for the purchase of claims against public service corporations. taunting the venality and greed of their per secutors. The wit has been enjoyed, the Other pages tell of several personal injury bitterness pardoned. There has been no actions against such corporations, attorneys sting, for the sting of satire lies in its truth. promoting the litigation upon contingent Allowance, under such conditions, is easily fees, aided by medical experts also finan made for ignorance and prejudice. Mentally cially interested in the result. As an offset, self-conscious of its rectitude the profession with some faint color of justification in the need for self-protection, a prominent street has serenely gone its way. But a change has occurred both in the railway company interposes the professional source of criticism and the vehemence of ''jury fixer" between itself and what an its insistence. Eminent and well-esteemed eager public, outraged by its monopoly counsel, like Edmund Wetmore, of New and extortion under perfectly devised legal York, Alfred Hemenway, of Boston, or forms, is anxious to mete out to it in verdicts. Henry St. George Tucker, of Virginia, Would these were temporary and excep suitably equipped by study, experience, tional happenings! They are constant and and familiarity with the subject, address symptomatic. Is, then, the profession drop ing professional brethren under full sense of ping into a business? Is a lawyer merely responsibility, unhesitatingly point out cer a useful tool of organized capital or the tain prevailing tendencies which they regard brains of assaults upon it? Is it indeed as detrimental. Hon. John F. Dillon, with proper or permissible that he sell anything all the force attendant upon his distin he has at any lucrative offer, with as little guished position, reiterates the statement. compunction as a merchant would sell his A conscientious President of the United goods, careless of the purpose? Has the States, addressing the alumni of his alma situation here hinted a cause? If so, has it mater and of her law school association, finds a remedy, and how best may such a remedy no topic more pressing in its claims upon his be reached and applied?