Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1888-08-14
The denomination of Mr.. w.
L. Wilson.
From the Washington Sentinel

From the Washington Sentinel.]
he-Democrats of the Second Dis
trict of West Virginia honored them
selves and the State in again nomina-
ting Mr.. Wilson as their representa-
tive in Congress. He is now serving
his third term, and from the first day
of his service to the present time he
has gained in estimation and in
creased in value to its constituents.
Few of our public men have in SO
short an experience, and without eff
fort or artful expedients in seeking
popularity, acquired so broad and SO
sure reputation. Intrinsic merit
and faithful discharge of duty, avoid
ing all parade of selfish notoriety,
are the basis of this good fame, and
give assurance of it's stability.
In the consideration of the revenue
reform bill, and its discussion before
the House, Mr.. Wilson bore an i'm
portant part and proved that he had
studied the subject in all its bear
ings. and was fully qualified to con
front and overcome the devices and
pretexts employed by the advocates
of monopoly and oppressive taxation.
lightened Statesman should do. Not
from political standpoint and with
references to partisan advantages,
but rs Il measure of relief intended
for the benefit of the whole people,
and esp ecially to take off the bur
dens now loaded on the back of la
Dor and to improve the wages and
social condition of the workingman.
As sound and reliable legislator,
equipped with valuable resources
and with large outlook, Mr.. Wilson
has few equals in the House, and he
is destined to fill an important place
in public affairs, if he continues to
advance at the rate of progress that
has marked his Congressional career.
Six years ago he came to Washington
as a member of the Forty eighth Con-
gress without any previous training
in national affairs, giving up the
presidency of the West Virginia Uni
versity to accept this trust.
How we'll he deserved that conf
dence and how uprightly he lived up
to it. the second, the third land now
the fourth denominations attest bet
ter than any other evidence could do.
The foolish habit which has obtained
in too many of the States of relcga-
ting members to private life after q
second term in the House of Repre-
sentatives, has operated most injuri-
ously to their interests.
At the very time when n member,
if he has any fitness for the position,
has become really useful by the prac-
ticaI knowledge of parliamentary
usages and by some experience on
the committees, he is dismissed for a
novice who must go through this
school of training before he can eff
liciently serve his constituents.
This sort of experience has given
Kelley, Randall, Cox, Reed, Cannon,
and others who have been wisely re-
tanned in the House commanding in
huence in Legislation by. their SUI
perior knowledge of the rules and
practices which govern it, and which
no new member without previous leg
islative knowledge can be expected
to possess.
Rotation in office conforms to the
safe principle of free government,
but applied 10 representation, unless
there he good reason for it, harm in
stead of benefit is likely to he the
result. A legislator is not born like
a poet. He grows like a star plant
into full development. There is not
many who attain .eminence. in this
calling.
In the House of Commons, number
ing six hundred and seventy mem
hers, the great business for three
hundred millions of subjects scatter.
ed over the globe is done by less than
fifty members. And we are fast get.
ting to this pass in the United States.
There are 325 members of the House
of Representatives, and the most i'm
portant legislation is virtually direc.
ted by the majority of half dozer
committees. Hence the immense
value of such Representatives as Mr..
Wilson, who belong TO. the whole
country and to no section of it.