Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1886-05-25
MISCELLANEOUS.
Communicated.


Some newspapers of this State as
sert that, at the Congressional Con-
vention held at Fairmont in 1880,
plot or conspiracy was entered into
by scheming politicians whereby the
offices were to be filed in rotation.
Congressional candidates were to be
nominated alternately from each side
of the mountain, to fill the terms in
rotation. If any such conspiracy was
consummated it is pernicious and
damaging to the interests of our
State, and the delegates and manipu-
lating politicians who completed ii
were acting without authority and
only scheming in the interests of q
few individuals who themselves aspire
to office. Delegates were sent to
that convention for the sole purpose
of selecting competent man to rep
resent the State in Congress, and not
for the purpose of advancing the in
terests of self-seeking politicians.
Only small minority of the people
are informed upon public affairs, for
the reasons, first, their time is occu-
pied in their daily business, secondly,
they have no timeto inform themselves
upon public questions, and thirdly,
they have been so frequently misled
or ignored by calculating and schem-
ing politicians that they have lost
most of their public spirit, and pre-
fer quiet life to the unsettled condi-
ton of politics. What is the remedy
for this evil? To rise up in body,
denounce and break down all plots,
schemes and conspiracies among
rascally politicians.
We want men in the Legislature
and Congress who are qualified to
make laws, and who are best acquaint-
eel with public duties. Experience
is the best teacher, and he who is
elected to an Office several times is
best qualified to fill that office. Only
few Congressman attain distinction,
because they are not in Congress
long enough. The thing to do is to
select an honest, sober, industrious,
competent man, and then send him
to Congress as long rs he serves
faithfully, and manifests interest in
public legislation by his every act
and deed. We want men who will
work for the interests of the State.
and will not spend their time in
scheming and placing party patronage
to secure their reelection.
No Congressman ever commanded
extended influence until he had served
several terms. 1t is by his knowl-
edge of public wants and needs, and
by the intelligent position he takes in
regard to the same, that he estab-
fishes his influence and ability. This
was never done in n single term. 1t
requires several terms If the gem
eral public understood the importance
of giving competent Congressman
time to improve the condition of his
State, every citizen would denounce
and work against the practice of
changing our officials. If Wilson and
Gibson, who have risen above the
average, are to be removed, then we
earnestly insist that their successors
be competent men, and be elected
term after term, provided they prove
themselves efficient and worthy of
public trust. Not that we are from
selfish motives advocating the election
of these two present Representatives,
but that we desire to see just legisla-
ton and pure craftsmanship. We
are favorable to them because, and
only because, they have done some
good service to our State, and years
of experience will inform them on
public issues, and better enable them
to fill their offices faithfully and i'm
partially. They have shown compc-
tency, and greater experience will
inform them more thoroughly on
public questions and enable them to
advance the interests of our already
unjustIy oppressed State. Let them
be their own successors, or let their
successors be whom they may, we
strongly insist upon the importance
of pure representation and just legis-
lation.
ThansanHs Saw 60