next speaker is the Hon. George M. Palmer, minority leader of the
Assembly. [Applause.] He is going to speak on 'The Lawyer in
Politics,' and I am very glad to assure you that his politics are
of the right kind."]


MR. PRESIDENT AND MEMBERS OF THE BAR ASSOCIATION OF THE STATE OF NEW
YORK:--Through the generous impulse of your committee I enjoy the
privilege of responding to this toast. I was informed some four weeks
ago I would be called upon, the committee thinking I would require that
time in preparation, and I have devoted the entire time since in
preparing the address for this occasion. "The Lawyer in Politics." The
first inquiry of the lawyer and politician is, "What is there in it?"
[Laughter.] I mean by that, the lawyer says in a dignified way, "What
principle is involved, and how can I best serve my client, always
forgetting myself?" The politician, and not the statesman, says, "What
is in it?" Not for himself, oh, never. Not the lawyer in politics; but
"What is there in it for the people I represent? How can I best serve
them?"

You may inquire what is there in this toast for you. Not very much. You
remember the distinguished jurist who once sat down to a course dinner
similar to this. He had been waited on by one servant during two
courses. He had had the soup. Another servant came to him and said,
"Sir, shall I take your order? Will you have some of the chicken soup?"
"No, sir; I have been served with chicken soup, but the chicken proved
an alibi." [Laughter.] A distinguished judge in this presence said he
was much indebted to the Bar. I am very glad to say that the lawyer in
politics formed a resolution on the first day of last January to square
himself with the Bar, and he now stands without any debt. [Laughter.] I