in legal research and in other branches of his work. Every attorney should feel a love for his profession, and if this regard does not come spontaneously it should be cultivated. The question of advertising by lawyers is indeed hard to solve. Certain kinds of advertising, such as business cards and circulars announcing a change of location, or the formation of or change in a legal copartnership are conceded by all to be legitimate forms of advertising. But circulars soliciting business are unprofessional. The insertion of a business card in the advertising columns of a newspaper may or may not be professional, according to the circumstances. In a small community it is regarded as proper, but in a large city such a practice is frowned upon by the profession for reasons stated in the text. Divorce advertising is unprofessional. A lawyer has a right to mingle in newspaper discussions concerning questions of public welfare even though the natural result of such discussion will be self-advertisement. Politics are at best dubious means of advertising. The same is true of social clubs or secret societies. The employment of runners is considered by the profession to be highly reprehensible.

CHAPTER XIV

THE LAWYER IN POLITICS

SEC. 137. Its Bearing upon Ethics.

SEC. 138.

Why Lawyers are Attracted to Politics.

Honor of Public Office.

Public Office Leads to Extensive Acquaintance.

The Emoluments of Public Office.

Apparently Brilliant Opportunity.

§ 137. ITS BEARING UPON ETHICS.

We are all familiar with the fact that many lawyers enter political life. We are familiar also with the fact that politics have a tendency to develop grafters. Is there, then, such a danger in political life that the ambitious young lawyer should hold himself aloof from politics?

§ 138. WHY LAWYERS ARE ATTRACTED TO POLI

TICS.

It is common knowledge that a large percentage of young lawyers enter politics and a

still larger percentage have disappointed political aspirations.

Let us inquire, then, what are the attractions that lure young lawyers into political life. There are doubtless many, but there are three important

ones.

HONOR OF PUBLIC OFFICE

A position of honor and trust as a prize to be won through political campaign, with its enthusiasms and its speech-making, appeals to ambitious, selfconfident young men. The young lawyer especially is filled with a desire to be up and doing, to take a part in civic movements and to become a leader among men. To be a representative in the State legislature or to fill any of the various minor elective offices appeals to him as a stepping-stone to higher usefulness. Election to such an office will mark him as a man apart from the multitude who are devoid of ambition. It will give him a distinction among his neighbors and townsmen, and raise him to an equal power with men whose names are household words in the community. He will bear an honorable part in the making of public laws; his mind is perhaps already at work formulating most beneficent and sagacious legislation that will bear his name.

This is the prize that lures him. He sees a rainbow path leading to it. Along the path he sees po

litical campaigning, brilliantly lighted halls filled to the overflowing with enthusiastic partisans, himself upon the speaker's platform, blushing under the praise of his fellow orators on being called upon to speak, and meeting an unheard-of ovation. His imagination paints him the man of the hour, a sort of conqueror out for a whirlwind tour of his dominion. Then he sees the election day the bulletins watched by eager crowds; he hears the roars of victory from his supporters when the final result is announced; the next day, the newspapers full of the election news and pictures of the successful candidates.

Thus, hoped-for honors attract young lawyers to public office.

PUBLIC OFFICE LEADS TO EXTENSIVE ACQUAINTANCE

The young lawyer who turns his attention to politics sees, or fancies he sees, another reason for seeking political distinction. He will acquire an extensive acquaintance, and this, he reasons, will mean law practice. If he should retire temporarily to private practice his constituents will seek him out in large numbers for legal advice. He has seen such things occur, ex-governors, ex-congressmen, and the like, overwhelmed with business. His fancy pictures the same happy fate awaiting him also.

Here, then, is another attraction that the holding of public office has for a lawyer.

THE EMOLUMENTS OF PUBLIC OFFICE

A salary goes with the office,—not a munificent sum perhaps, but a salary, and one that is fairly earned. To the lawyer with a small practice and no resources other than his professional earnings this last temptation is the most insidious of all. Every lawyer has at first a hard struggle financially to build up a practice. He must wait for clients and for business. Why not utilize the waiting time by earning a salary, by doing something really worth while that will establish his reputation in the community, and bring him a law practice besides?

APPARENTLY BRILLIANT OPPORTUNITY

Legislative duties are comparatively light, he reasons, and he will have time to attend to his law practice before and after sessions. The whole matter seems so fair on its face that the lawyer can discover no flaw at all. The opportunity seems in truth a heaven-sent provision to set him on the high road to fame and prosperity. He throws himself into the contest for election, fights hard, spends his hard-earned money, and perhaps wins the election.