The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1886-06-02
Gle GRtalger5ar,
wuEGLIN0, W. va, JUNE 2, 1880.
rnn nn,a Of . Copgtsasman.

Congressman Boyle, Of the Greene
Favette. w estmoreland district OF Penn
svlvauis, has made a good Representa-
tive. But now there is a terrific on
slauCht on him because he has not been
able to give every good Democrat a good
Democratic office, because he has had two
terms in Congress, and because it Is now
the turn OF some other county than his to
supply the Congressional timber
With regard to the distribution OF the
patronage we are not well informed Mr.
Bowie may have interested himself in be-
hall of the most deserving or the least de-
serving. 1t may be taken for granted
that he got all he could for his district,
and that no human being could have
brought into the district enough to 90
round, for, in the language Of Mr.. George
William Curtis, the patriots were very
hungry and, as you may well believe very
thirsty" 1t was not in mortal man to
give complete satisfaction on this aceFe.
The other objections urged against Mr.
Boayle's denomination are worthy OF more
eminent because they are based on a
rule which obtains in many localities to
their great detriment, II a man has Ssrv'
ed two terms in Congress that is rather u
presumption in favor Of holding him there
for a third term aud a fourth. The art OF
being a Congressman is not learned in a
day.
Therefore it happens often that men OF
force at home cut no figure at all in a
single term in the House OF Representa-
tiyes. Their abilities may be great but
by reason OF in experience they are not
brought into play. Men Of mediocre
talents and long service go to the 'front.'
hold ch~airmanships Of important commit
tees, arc mentioned in connection with
every considerable public question, bear
themselves creditable in discussion and
put their stamp on legislation.
A numerous constituency makes end
less and ezacting demands on a member
OF Congress. He is expected to accom-
plish results through the committees and
the various circumlocution offices otthe ex'
eCutive departments, To succeed in this
the member must know how to 20 about
1t, have a personal acquaintance andmske
use ofit, and be strong enough in his own
place to return a iavorin kind. For these
reasons, the men who have strength in
Congress and reflect lustre on their dis
tricts are the men Of long service-the ex'
perts in the business.
ithe highest aim in the selection OF q
Congressman be 10 secure the most SER
ylceable man, 1t is the perfection OF
absurdity to object to a man because he
has already had two or four or more terms
Of that particular service. He may be an
unfit man who never ought to have had
one term; in which case the sooner he is
laid aside the better, and 10 such a man
these comments do not, Of course, apply.
The rule OF rotation by counties, which
involves also the two.term rule, Is as alb
gurd as the two.term personal objection.
The aim ought to be to get the best man
in the district, regardless Of the county in.
which he lives. To draw county lines on
a public service so iar.reaching, is to be-
little the office Of member Of the House
Of Representatives OF the United States.
The man is the important consideration,
not the county, not the weak fear that one
person may have too much Of a thing
which ought to be more generally distri-
buted, not the pressing "claims' Of some.
body who wants to slip in under cover Of
q nonsensical rule Of rotation.