Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1886-07-30
SHOULD RETAIN OLD SERVANTS.
some Reasons Why Senate Camden Shout
Re His own Successor.

| lie His ONh SuCCSsNoA'
/ To he Editor If the Register:
In a~nti-bellum days the States west and
| south of Mason & Dixon's line to 4 great
| extent controlled the national legislation
| of the county, and they did it from the
! fact that they seldom made changes IN
their Senatorial representatives save for
cause. But in the past few years they a V
lost their prestige and influence, by their
| insanity of constantly changing their rep
resentatives in the House and Senate OF
the United States Congress, and strange to
say they do not seem to comprehend the
fact that this constant changing has lost
them their power aud influence in shaping
national affairs.
In former years West Virginia, a. young
a State as we are in the galaxy Of State,
held power and prestige in national
affairs, for the reason that we
through our Senatorial members held
places on the most important committees
of the Senate body, and this gave us the
power. the influence and prestige we 10
not now enjoy, and why not? the question
. will be asked. The answer is ready. West
Virginia held the craftsmanship OF the APP
preparation Committee, the most import
ant committee of the Senate, while h Il
BODY was Democratic, and when the pohtl-
cal complexion of the Senate changed, we
still had place on the committee rs first oil
the Democratic States. But the moment
| the chance came we flung all this power
and influence away by sending q new man
to represent us, who could not expect to
step into the places we surrendered by our
FOLLY and ShOrtSight III making the
change we did. | do not say this
in diSparagement OF the gentleman whom
we sent as our representative when we
made the change, for they are able men In
/ law and business, but it is the rule OF the
/ Senate, memorable as the law OF the Meades
and Persians that all new members OF that
body must begin their work on the minor
committees, very often ut the tail end.
| West Virginia not being an exception to
/ the rule. any one can see ut a glance what
We lost by the change, and when we made
| the change of our Senatorial representatives
we surrendered TO the next State, on the
/ committees our power, our prestige and
| influence, which did not indulge in the
! luxury of sending new men 10 represent
it. but have learned the lesson, that
/ change only bringslOss, never ain0 OF power.
Now this being "a fact, of which there can
be no dispute, the question for our people
| to consider is, can we crafty the blatant
political PhariseeS of the party, afford TO
make another change in our Representa-
| tive in the U. s. Senate and loose the
prestige and power we ,haye gained in the
past six years? The men who are most
kpkamorous for the change care nothing for
ffhe position the StEte may occupy IN
| National affairs, this fsnothing to them; it
to their personal gain and selfish ambition
they see nothing else; we are now getting
| hack after six years OF hardsvUrk TO the
places we heldon the Important COM
mitteesswhieh we surrendered six years
AGO, when we sent new men % represent
us and we cannot again fling it aside,
Our people certainly viii not be foolish
enough to act in such FOOLISH manner
again. The siren voice Ofrthe political
huckster is again heard. Wl&e f9lew
himtO our ruin by puttinga new man in
Mr. Camden's place, or shall we hold ON to
kflnt which We have in returning him? a
glance at the Senate Committee and it will
D. Seen our State holds places on sOms OF
Heyery important committees Of this body.
live return him we are certain to get
places on more important committees in
1881, when one-third of the present Sena-
tors term of Office expires, and rs n matter
of fact such places will bring our State
power and influence in the nations affairs
| and the States which return their present
members will get these places, while the
new members will be compelled to take the
tail end of the minor committees, and win
their spurs, "a it were, by hard work.
There must be no sentiment in this matter
of returning Mr.. Camden; it isa question
of vital interest to our State and her people.
II we obtain places on the Appropriation
or Finance Committees, which we surely
VIII, is not the power and influence we
gain by such place of more Importance to
our State and her people than the gratii-
| cation of the ambition Of some one who
would only represent us on minor commit
tees and in subordinate places.
We do not care who the man is We may
be foolish enough to send in Mr.. Cam
den's place, he can not step into the
places held by Mr.. Camden nor
command his influence on the Senate floor,
hui Cnu VIC CAESNe "a" w sp1 ~ We
change we lose, if we do not we gain. Let
every man who has the proper State pride
think well of this, and ask himself, can we
afford the change, by so doing throw away
the power we have and begin all anew?
We cannot make a change at this time to
crafty q few dissatisfied politicians, and
Just at this time when the Republican par
ty are making extraordinary efforts to cap
ture West Virginia, to use the hOmely
phrase, This is no time for swapping hOr-
ses when we lose by such swap"
We do not claim that Mr.. Camden is the
ablest man In the State nor that he is bet
ter qualified to represent Us than any one
else. But we do say with
out fear of contradiction that
no man in the State can step into his places
on the Senate committees OF which he is a
member and command his influence ON the
Senate floor in shaping national legislation,
so If we change him we loose, while the
political few Of the party gain at the cost