University of Michigan Law School - Quad Yearbook (Ann Arbor, MI)

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Freshman Glass Bistorv ' ,l .i.- X 5 HE Law Class of '98 has taken but its first 7 flip step in the path along which it is to move - Q during the three short years of its existence. ' Qi But it iswith no spirit of hesitancy or chagrin , that itpresents the results of that step or lf-' ffflf 0- portrays the future into which so auspicious a beginning promises to lead.. ' I ' ' D V c The circumstances under which this illustrious body of students has come together are indeed extraordinary. The great array of lawyers, as well as their still greater array of disappointed clients, have watched with passive interest the yearly deluge of LL.B.'s that has spread itself over the country attempting to raise the scales of justice by the strength attained in two years of hurried prepara- tion, and anxiously longed for a time when the barriers through which admittance is gained to institutions of legal education would be more closely guarded, and a course be introduced of sufficient length to insure a thorough understanding of the law. The Law Department, too, not slow to realize the popular demand, has long been looking for a class in whose care they might safely place the responsibility of making the advance that will place Michigan's Law School at the head of all schools of its kind in America. Not until they were privileged to welcome the enlight- ened and promising concourse that thronged their halls on the second of last October have they seen all the necessary elements for such anattempt grouped in the being of one class. There are those, who, jealous of the dim' halo of distinction already seen slowlyiforming about the life of this their infant rival, have inti- mated that in ?98 is seen a class of insufficient knowledge to know when the are being hoodwinked, and for that reason work is being V thrust upon themfwhich others would not carry. We leave such to nurse. the soreness of their defeat. .

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that when he asks a question, he takes off one-half the mark, on general principles, if you canit repeat it to him verbatim. -- No history was ever written that did not sooner or later become a narrative of strife between great men. All institutions, whether nations or otherwise, have their great men and a crisis will bring them forward. The Class of '98 is no exception and its history soon became entangled in politics. The East, the West, and Mich- igan put their candidates for president in the field and their constit- uents swore allegiance. just at this juncture Professor Knowlton gave a little talk on standing by a client when once you had taken up his cause, even though it meant social ostracism. The strife began. The politicalmachine was there with its master-mechanic. Such wire-pulling was never before experienced. Five times did the class assemble, but with fruitless attempts at an election. Believing some are, some must be greater than the rest, a sixth trial was talked of, but no signs of a compromise appeared. At length the faculty were petitioned, and'Professor johnson responded. People who knew nothing about it said that we were not capable of electing officers alone. We say we were, but with so many men before us equally qualified, we did not want to turn one aside for another. At length the eventful day of election arrived and the scepter, though somewhat bent and scarred, fell to the hands of Mr. Berkebile of Missouri. Now we were ready to move. Wash- ingtonis Birthday came amd went, leaving us the yell champions of the day. l ' ' A lawyeris life is said to be divided into three parts, 'fgetting on, getting honor, and getting honest . Others have followed this this order, and indeed some have kept the last so far in the future that it is a question whether or not they have ever reached it. Thinking that now we are pretty well Hon , it is our purpose to reverse the usual order and take the 'fhonestu along with our course, leaving the f'honor to come in proportion as our education and wisdom will warrant. ' Q H. I. S.