Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1889-08-02
LANcAsTER, PA, August 2, 1889.
a Demccrat eor Stehmar,, Place.

Davies to not issue writ for the election
Of the late Senator Stehman's successor,
may not fully realize what they are
doing. That the vacancy exists Is indis-
putable, and from the peremptory IAN
e1age of the constitution which he Is
sworn to support, Lieutenant Governor
Davies has no possible escape. 1t says
"Whenevern--tha IL as soon and as
often as and every time-a vacancy
shall occur in either House, the presid-
ing officer thereof shall issue writ of
election to fill such vacancy for he re-
nsaindcr Of the tym.n This l. iinpera
tive, sweeping and IL is impossible to get
away from II without shameful and
nagrant violation of the law.
The lieutenant governor cannot ex-
cuse himself on the ground that II in
wolves the public in unnecessary ex-
pense, for the choice can be made with
out extra cost, at the general election
now coming on. He cannot plead that
no immediate necessity exists to fill the
vacancy because in the first place, he is
not the Judge Of that and the constitu-
ton leaves no such loophole, and, In the
second place, having issued a writ for
Delaware county, he is estopped from
this plea.
The truth is that the vacancy exists
and must be filed. The lieutenant gov
ernor's neglect of duty cannot prevent
that. If the Republicans make no
nomination, the Democrats will. Their
nominee will be elected, and no consti-
tutional power lawfully exercised can
prevent him from taking his seat for
the remainder Of Stehman's term. TINS
might be great public fortune. The
Legislature of Pennsylvania has long
needed an infusion of such men Ms the
: Democrats could send to it from Ian
caster county.
1t has been many year since this
county has sent TO the Legislature a
man qualified and equipped for the posi-
ton he is expected to fill, that of law
4 nounces himself to the people for leg
islative Office there seems to be no
thought or inquiry as 10 his particular
fitness for the Office. VIII the ring take
him up? Has he e'money to manipulate
voters? Can he deliver his district :?
These are the test questions by which
the availability Of the candidate is
weighed. No one inquiries whether he
: IL fitted by natural endowment or edu-
cational accomplishments to take part
in the making of laws which measure
aud limit our lives and our property.
Has he common sense enough to even
appreciate the difficulty and danger OF
law-making? Or is he usually so Oh.
tuse that like the fool he rushes in where
angels fear to tread?
Men in the legal profession perhaps
more than any other class of citizens
know the dangers of repeating, altering
and making laws. And they too know
better how many legislatures NY bung
ling statutes and amending laws hav,
endangered lives and property. Ofter
: it were better indeed they had passed
no laws at all. 1t is the curse of oul
political constitution that our legisla
lures meet so often and legislate so much
Except to pass the necessary appropria
tion bills once In ten years would be toe
often when il is remembered the dam
age they do in unsettling the laws and
rendering property insecure.
But our Legislatures do meet and viii
meet, whatever be said of them. III,
only thing for good-minded aud law
abiding people to do is To send as thei
representatives good, intelligent men
and there ought to be as much selection
in electing state senator or representa-
tive as there is in filling the judiciary
Unless the only duty of a senator be tt
draw his salary, have at his disposal d
paster or folder and have his faye" ol
may" recorded in accordance with the
commands Of the boss he ought to bs
made Of stern, manly, vigorous stuff,
Instead of having the welfare of his
party at heart he should legislate for the
people. With intelligence enough to
comprehend he must have moral hero
ism enough to stick to the right courag,
enough TO eschew what he knows TO h,
base and low, and conscientious desir,
TO benefit the people he represents. In
other words, he must have an honest
head and Sirile brain.
The matter of the making of law. il
no easy task. 1t requires knowledg,
of technical legal phraseology, which
comes only with experience. 1t requires
depth of mind sufficient for the compre
hension Of the principles of right an,
Jurisprudence which lie back of the form
expression. 1t requires "a knowledg,
Of the practical working of laws in tn,
concrete, and keen discernment of tn,
trend of public sentiment. The Legisla
ture Is not the place for the theoretica
dreamer any more than it is the reward
of the blatant politician and numbskull
This thing of making statute law is seri
Gus business, and needs men of sount
judgment and good sense. Let III
reward our 'mere politicians Will
almost any other oilice-make then
governors, mayors and county cour
officials. They can do little harm il
these positions. But for the sake of tn
good name Of our state, don't let them &,
to the Legislature. Let us send there mel
Of serious mind and sober thought mel
Of honest heart and lusty brain. GU
Legislature undoubtedly needs such men
and II the Republicans of the Four
teenth district cannot find one I'M In,
next three months the Democrats will
~ No More Hazjny.