Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1868-09-29
Assembly Nominations Practical.


In view of Conventions soon to be
held for the Assembly, aud in view
of sending representatives TO Maids
son who shall possess some influence
and be of certain usefulness as legis-
lators, especially for the west part
of the State, we make these sugges>
tons:
That men of fair if not first rate
ability be chosen, and such as are
we'll calculated for the work of law
making; that Legislature experience
be looked upon as of the greatest i'm
portance, for without a previous ex-
perience in legislation st least OF one
term in the Assembly, a member
may almos be said to be nobody
during tho term to be able to make
laws and be good judge of law
making AMI SO the better qualified
for a legislator, man should possess
some knowledge of law, and the
more such knowledge the better
He should be wise man in all things,
especially in law. We very well
know about the usual objections to
electing lawyers, but such objections
originated 10 ignorance and are usu>
ally held by men who envy rather
than respect those possessing more
ability than themselves. Lawyers,
when worthy and of good integrity
make the best legislators--in fact
they are the men who lead and drive
business and it would seem to be
wisdom to not only assign to them
the business of legislating as gener-
al rule, but to train the legal frater-
nifty for that business, especially the
younger men of that profession. OF
course we do no: respect the small
prejudice entertained by persons
naturally suspicious and who seem
TO charge the over Legislation and
deformed legislation to the depravty
of the lawyer members. The truth
is, excessive legislation is mainly
chargeable TO the inexperienced
membets who always hold a MAORI
ty. Let all see to i that legislators
of experience and ability be elected
TO the Assembly from Grant County
The west part of the State needs
some Of the benefits of legislation,
and there is no way to secure the
like but by electing the right men.
Our best and most useful employ
eos on the farm, in the store, in the
work shop are always men Of good
experience F.; and we find that such as
have made the business which they
have been hired to do a patient study
are all the more useful on account oil
training or education. And we aim
to keep year after year our mos,
faithful hands, and always avoid il
in our power the hiring of new and
inexperienced help; especially do we
avoid even the taking on trial of ig-
norant persons-men who do not
make study OF the business they
are expected to conduct. Then in
Gods name why 10 it we turn off al.
most every legislator at the close Of
a single term in the legislature ? Ii
is because the people are tboughtless
and because their eyes are blinded tc
their own interests by other aspirants
for legislative honors who arc bound
to go down into mcrited obscurity al
the close OF a single term as did most
of their predecessors. For the mar
who accepts place for which hi
possesses no qualifications thereby Sc
Injuries himself that he rarely there
after rises TO his meritcd level No
man has ary right to attempt climb
ing above his level, and he who doe,
it is sure to meet the fate of the mon
key who, the higher ne climbed the
palmer he showed his latter end. O
the fifty Legislators in Grant County
of the past dozen years, not above
ten could be re- elected, because o.
manifest failure upon first trial
Quite the entire fifty are among oul
most estimable men. What we ask
is, that the ten successful ones to b,
sought for and made candidates thi
fall and elected and then kept il
the legislature just as long as they
can afford to serve-year after yea
for score of years. The peopl,
have been over>damned enough by
experimental legislators, and by in
tellectual short horns.
We have tried to express sucl
thoughts without reference 10 mine
to any person, but only to the sub
ject and to the kind of men for leg
islators must be seen to and remedied
for in other counties the people ar,
alive to it and mean to place a high
er estimate than before upon expert
ence and intellectual culture, educa
| ton, law knowledge. &c.