Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1880-06-26
The Legislature.

We call attention 20 the Importance Of select
fne for tits place, men able 70 command influence
and shape legislation. We want TO wake up our
county pride and make our people appreciate the
peculiarly valoe OF being represented BY Ell
Client and capable men.
Every one wishes TO see this good old county
loom up from obscafity aud take Der just rauk
along side OF Ohio, Wood and kanawha. There
i. as much talent In jefferson as ia Wheeling,
Parkersburg or Charleston, and we do not get
credit for whatwe have because wedo not select
our beet men 10 represent u. The material Is
here, but we do not use It. We are liae a stupid
merchant who hides his finest goods under
counter, aud Oilers 10 public view only thirdrate
merchandise. Strangers estimate county by
the samples she sends abroad.
Itlsa great mistake TO undefrato the pecuaia-
rs value Of distinguished men 10 the community
In " hich they reside. Il would be worth vast
sum did we have such a man as Thurman or Bay
nId haiiing from jefferson: we wOnid feel tue
benefit Ia thousand different ways. For exam
pie. the other day several gentlemen were appt-
cants for census erumerat0r, but there was rot
single man in jefferson OF sufficient reputation TO
write even litter OF rec0mmendation,-not one.
Again The patronage OF Tie State Is almost
500 Co., and yet 80 far rs orr share IS concerned
we mig IA; as well be a backwOoGs county taxed az
$500. 4 nd once again. II Is most melancholy
fact, but none the less notorious, which brings
upon us rldieuc and disgrace, that our county
does n ot exercise the slightest influence In State
politics aud has no voice whatever in shaping
legislation.
In shis connection vi publish in sorrow and in
shame the most Attending fact that for several
years this county has not offered - e.hes the
SENATE or House single, solitary law prepared
by her oNn representative. Somebody else wrote
Che bill and our man oalg went through the cere-
mony Of repeating Mr.. Speaker, l offer the
following bill" There was rot one word more.
But worse vet, not single measure OF pubic
D 4 fasf.
son, except one, and that was not original and
was cot prepared By the gentleman who proposed
IL.
10 other words, there is not solitary line on
the statute book 10 The credit OF this Intelligent
ADD wealthy county. We stand side by side with
iAe lakewood, counties, without position, with
oct voice aud wilhou; influence.
These melancholy facts bring disgrace upon
our boassed intelligence. But depend upon II, we
Will never attain even moderate responsibility
as compared with other counties until we pick out
for the Legislature men who are able to write
their own bills and competent TO DO their own
thinking.
It seems SELF evident proposition that legis-
lstor will not be respected and trusted by his as
sociatcs when It Is notorious that he ia utterly
incompetent to Originate and prepare even the
simplest law. Ia the very nature OF things, IL is
absolutely i'm possible for such man 60 carry any
weight or 10 exercise any influence.
But we do not disparogc the gc0;lemen who
ere seeking this Office. II Is no disgrace T. n
merchant that he cannot shcc horse. Il IS out
side Of his line. II is rel ection upon farmer 70
say that he IS not qualified for the Legislature.
II requires one kind of trimming to make wheat
aud another kind 10 make laws. itrc9uires as
much education to succeed at the one at the
other, only the uatitGe md character OF that
education is different We DO not belittle agri-
culture, all VIC cav - that a successful fsrmer Is
apttO be n failure IN the Legislature, but we are
free 90 admit that Johu Burns would beat Daniel
Webster q; making wheel on our Buli-skin land
II is trne. several eminent statesmen ore rner-
chants, doctors farmers by profession, but;hesc
exceptions 90 not shake orr proposition, that
man who has never turned his attention to public
affairs. cannot possibly pick up in a week that
vast mass Of Information, which Is entirely for
eli On to his business and which it takes long years
% patient study TO acquire Ond without which 10
can be successful aud efficient member Of
the Legislature. ,'UXirs.
concluded neat ,rcek