University of Nebraska College of Law - Yearbook (Lincoln, NE)

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. CLASS OF 1906 CLASS QPFICERS FIRST YEAR Firtvl' Sczzzrsfcr Scvozzd Seuzvslm' President, Charles A. Mohrman President, Francis P. O'Gara Vice-president, D. C. Chase Vice-president, J. K. Morrison Secretary, Claude A. Davis Secretary, T. T. Johnson SECOND YEAR President, Sherman E. Black President, Geo. D. Lantz Vice-president, Alfred H. Lundin Vice-president, Martin McMahon Secretary, James A. Clark Secretary, Chas. M. Rolfson THIRD YEAR President, H. N. Mattley President, James A. Clark Vice-president, Thomas H. Martin Vice-president, James T. Begley Secretary, Albert N. Mathers Secretary, Martin McMahon The members of the class of 1906 come from various states. It would be interesting to know the circumstances that were in- fluential in bringing them to the University of Nebraska to study law. Those who were holding good positions in other lines of work found it hard, no doubt, to settle down and spend both time and hard-earned cash in obtaining a legal education. Some had no expectation of following the law as a profession, and desired a legal education merely as a foundation for a business career. Most of us had felt a sort of a thrill pass over us whenever we were in the presence of a court, or when we heard points of law or the pro- fession of law discussed: and it was this, no doubt, that influenced most of us to take up the study in earnest. The Law School of the University of Nebraska olfered our class an opportunity to organize, and as an inducement promised that if we would finish its three-year course satisfactorily we should be entitled to a sheepskin of great value, to-wit: that the lawful possessor could by virtue thereof practice law in the courts of the state of Nebraska. A reconstruction period was at hand in the law department when we entered it, and we found Dean Pound at the table of information. Our future looked bright enough when we- started from home, but after parting with a registration fee, and wandering around among strangers a day or two, the thought came to many that pos- sibly, after all, we had made a mistake in our plans, and we would E4

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PHI DELTA PHI The legal fraternity of Phi Delta Phi was Iounded at the law department of the University of Michigan in 1869, by John M. Howard, of the class of 271. Chapters are established only in law Schools of high standing. There are thirty-three active chapters at present. It is the policy of the fraternity not to antagonize exist- ing societies in a school into which it enters, but to draw members from such societies and fraternities as well as from other members of the law-student body. Its ,alumni have occupied the most eminent places in public estimation. President Roosevelt and Six of the Supreme Justices are included among its numbers. The Lincoln chapter was granted its charter in 1895. It has 28 active members and I4I alumni. The members of the local chap- ter have been selected because Of high grade work as well as be- cause of Congeniality. It is noteworthy that Theta Kappa Nu hono1's were awarded in 1905 to four members of Phi Delta Phi, and in 1906 the four highest in rank to members of this fraternity. THE FACULTY DEAN ROSCOE POUND I-I. H. WILSON XVII. G. HASTINGS J. J. LEDWITH UNDERGRADUATES 1906 A. H. LUNDIN Jas. A. CLARK E. E. SPRAGUE CLAUDE A. DAVIS V. A. DAY LEONARD A. FLANSBURG JAMES P. FISHER J. K. NIORRISON GEO. D. LANTZ P. XV. IWETZ O. M. MEXIER JAS. R. IWCLAUGHLIN J. L. VAN BURGH A. J. STRATTON ' 1907 JAY C. BAIRD HARRX' KEYSER JOHN VV. DORRINGTON VVM. C. RANISEY VVM. I-IOAR BERI' C. JOHNSON GEO. PROUDFIT O. A. BERGREN JOHN D. CLARK F. A. SCHMIDT 1908 F. A. ANDERsON CLYDE D. VVILSON EDWIN D. CRITES G. M. COWGIL 53

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get along in life just as well if we went home and worked at somee thing else. But there were no faint hearts in the class of 1906: we had come to prepare ourselves for the noble profession, and we determined to stick to it. Our work has been interesting from the first lecture, and our associations have been most pleasant. The first few days of our work left lasting impressions with us all. The library had recently undergone a change and was not in a condition to be used, so we were sent to the State Capitol to use the library there. Wfe had heard a lecture or two, but even with this knowledge of the extent of the law were surprised to see the number of books in that library, and wondered if we were supposed to go through all of them in three short years. 'We had started. Soon, however, the work increased so that our landladies exacted higher room rent to pay for extra midnight oil. Qui' first real trials came with examinations, and we found that the old motto, Ulf at Hrst you do n't succeed, try, try again, was common law in the law school. By the end of the first year we had served as jurors and wit- nesses: we had become acquainted with our classmates and the instructors, and had begun to realize the immensity of our under- taking. Time brought changes. The next year the library was pre- sided over by a woman librarian, and we were given our first les- sons in library etiquette. Most of the class took kindly to the change, but a few of us still insisted that the proper way to study law was as we had done before, when the tables were used as foot rests, and we had the privilege of telling funny, etc., stories without the necessity of retiring to the court room. The practice court work became more interesting, for we were now lawyers, and had a bunch of freshmen to experiment on. Ora- tors appeared on the scene. VVe began breaking away from the instructions of the faculty, for we found it more convenient to glance hastily through the syllabus rather than read the entire opinion. If the syllabus was clear- 'nuff saidf' The legislature was in session. A few of us had found the court house, some had actually ventured into the supreme court. From these various sources, as well as from our law school, we were slowly acquiring legal learningf' September, 1905, brought us together for our last year's work. Still the librarian refused to smile upon us. 55